Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats
These tasty overnight oats get a boost of protein from creamy cottage cheese! They’re a satisfying breakfast that is perfect for busy mornings!
I’ve been loving overnight oats lately. From my banana bread version to peanut butter oats, I’ve had fun experimenting with different combinations! I’ve recently started eating more cottage cheese because it’s an easy way to add protein to my diet. It got me thinking, why not add cottage cheese to my oats? It worked beautifully and created satisfying, rich, creamy oats — thanks to all the protein! You’ll have a tasty breakfast ready in no time!
Why I Love This Recipe
- These overnight oats are protein-packed
- You can make this healthy breakfast in advance
- There are lots of substitution options
- It’s absolutely delicious!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rolled oats: Also known as old-fashioned oats, these oats have a hearty, chewy texture. You can also use instant oats. Do not use steel cut oats as they don’t soften the same way.
- Almond milk: I used almond milk but you can use any milk you like.
- Cottage cheese: I used 4% milk fat but 2% works well, too. Cottage cheese is a good source of protein and calcium. You can also make this recipe with Greek yogurt if you don’t have cottage cheese.
- Honey or maple syrup: Feel free to substitute with any sweetener you like.
- Vanilla: A splash of vanilla extract adds a little sweetness but you can skip it if you don’t have it.
- Fresh or frozen berries: I used a blend of frozen raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
How do you make overnight oats?
until combined.
topings and enjoy.
Making overnight oats is easy! All you have to do is soak raw oats in milk to soften them. It creates a creamy texture without cooking. There are plenty of ways to customize overnight oats, and this particular recipe uses cottage cheese for added protein and berries for sweetness!
How do you add protein to oatmeal?
For this recipe, I added cottage cheese to give this oatmeal a protein boost. But there are other ways you can increase the protein! Add half a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder to the mix. Adjust the sweetener to taste. Or you can add a tablespoon of flaxseeds or chia seeds to increase protein and fiber.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make this recipe vegan? This recipe relies on cottage cheese for flavor and texture so I don’t recommend a substitute. But you could make my vegan overnight oats instead!
- Can I use other fruit? Absolutely! Try it with strawberries, cherries, or mango! This recipe works great with fresh or frozen fruit.
- Can I make it sweeter? Feel free to add more honey or maple syrup to adjust the sweetness, if needed. Sometimes I use stevia if I don’t want to add sugar.
- Is this recipe gluten-free? Most oats are naturally gluten-free but if you have an allergy, be sure they’re marked as certified gluten-free.
- Can I add more toppings? Yes! I love adding a sprinkle of granola, but it’s also good with shredded coconut flakes or additional fresh berries.
- Do I have to use a mason jar to make overnight oats? No, you can use any airtight container. As long as you can stir the oats and seal it up, any bowl or container will be fine.
- What has more protein oatmeal or cottage cheese? Oatmeal is a whole grain so it does have protein, but only about 5g per 1/2 cup. Whereas cottage cheese has around 14g of protein per 1/2 cup serving.
- How can I make it thicker? If you want a thicker consistency, add two teaspoons of chia seeds. Stir them in with the rest of the ingredients. They’ll make the cottage cheese oats super thick!
- Can I add more protein? Yes! If you really want to increase the protein, add half a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder to the mix. Adjust the sweetener to taste.
Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chill Time: 2-3 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These tasty overnight oats get a boost of protein from creamy cottage cheese! They’re a satisfying breakfast that is perfect for busy mornings!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup rolled oats (uncooked)
- 1/3 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a jar and stir. Top with a lid.
- Place in the fridge for 2-3 hours or overnight, until the oats have softened and the mixture is thickened.
- Add additional toppings if desired.
Would it be okay to use Oat Milk instead of Almond Milk?
Definitely!
Was looking for a way to boost protein in overnight oats without adding a protein powder. The use of cottage cheese is brilliant! I don’t enjoy the chunky texture in cottage cheese so I blend mine before mixing with the oats, milk, vanilla, and honey/maple syrup. I used some freshly zested lemon peel and frozen blueberries. Tasted like cheesecake; yummm!
Cottage cheese is really having a moment lately and I’m here for it! Always loved it and I don’t know why it never occurred to me to use it in overnight oats instead of yogurt. This was great!
These overnight oats are very convenient! I always have to wake up early and this is my go-to breakfast meal. So yummy and satisfying!
These are my go to breakfast item!!!
They are so easy to make ahead of time and I can grab one on my way out of the door and eat it when I get to work. So much better for me than the sausage roll I used to grab at the bakery by the office.
I sometimes add mango to them as well as the berries.
This was really good. I typically eat cottage cheese and jam for breakfast but this was a fun change. Will definitely make it again.
We absolutely loved these overnight oats recipe. Made it last week when we knew it was going to be a hectic week. It was nice to have this breakfast ready to go! Topped with berries and walnuts.