Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats contain 37 grams of protein per serving and are a great source of whole grains for complex carbohydrates. A great option for those who prefer starting the day with something sweet.
If you tried my Protein Overnight Oats with Greek yogurt, you may also love this cottage cheese version!
I’m all about setting goals in life and squashing them with all my might, and this is one of those great recipes that accomplishes many goals in one go.
We are nailing a quick and easy breakfast that is highly customizable and easy to make in bulk. In addition, we are getting in 37 grams of protein in one sitting as well as complex carbohydrates and fiber.
Not to mention, the macronutrient breakdown can easily be tweaked depending on your individualized targets.
For those who love a sweet breakfast and also prioritize protein, this quick and easy cottage cheese overnight oats recipe honors both your sweet tooth and your daily protein goals.
Plus, it’s ideal for busy mornings!
If you’re into cottage cheese recipes, also be sure to try my Cottage Cheese Banana Breakfast Cake.
Let’s chat about the simple ingredients for cottage cheese overnight oats, as they each play an important role. The great news is you can find the full list of ingredients for protein oatmeal at most grocery stores.
Ingredients for Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats:
Quick Oats or Rolled Oats: Choose your oats depending on the texture you enjoy. Use quick oats for a softer texture or rolled oats (or old fashioned oats) for a chewier texture.
For gluten-free overnight oats, use certified gluten-free oats. I use gluten-free sprouted oats.
Cottage Cheese: Our main protein source! Cottage cheese adds creamy texture and tangy flavor with the big benefit of protein. You can experiment with the portion of cottage cheese to milk ratio depending on your protein goals, palate, and the consistency you’re going for.
Milk of Choice: Pick your favorite type of milk. I usually go with a non-dairy milk like oat milk or almond milk, but cow’s milk works great too. Coconut milk, cashew milk, soy milk, and hemp milk all work.
Pure Maple Syrup: The sweetener here. The recipe is written according to my personal preference for sweetness (which isn’t very sweet), so adjust the amount according to taste.
You can also use honey, brown sugar, or coconut sugar.
Protein Powder: Another protein source. I like adding unflavored unsweetened protein powder such as goat whey protein or egg white protein.
This ingredient is optional, so if you aren’t as concerned with the protein content, omit it.
Hemp Seeds or Chia Seeds: Adding a boost of nutrition, hemp hearts or chia seeds bring some omega-3 fatty acids to the table.
If you use chia seeds, you may need to add more milk to the overnight oatmeal, because chia seeds absorb quite a bit of liquid. Flax seeds are a great option here too.
Pure Vanilla Extract and Ground Cinnamon: A splash of vanilla and some ground cinnamon adds warm flavor to this healthy breakfast recipe. You can use both, one, or skip them.
Recipe Customizations:
- Omit the protein powder if you aren’t as concerned about the protein content. Doing so still wins you 24 grams of protein.
- Use more milk if you enjoy a thinner consistency in your oatmeal and less milk if you like thick oatmeal.
- Swap out the pure maple syrup for a different sweetener like honey, brown sugar, or sugar-free sweetener.
- Add the scrapings of a vanilla bean for more vanilla flavor.
Now that we’ve covered the healthy ingredients for this high protein breakfast, let’s make it.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats:
Add all of the dry ingredients for the overnight oats to a large mixing bowl or sealable container. Mix well until everything is combined.
Add the wet ingredients to the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients.
Stir well until all of the ingredients are well combined.
Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap (or seal the airtight container) overnight. Overnight oats are ready in about 4 to 5 hours, but I keep life simple by preparing the recipe the night before and enjoying them the next morning.
In the morning, stir the oats well and give them a taste. If you’d like, add more milk or pure maple syrup to your personal taste.
Once ready, divide the overnight oats among three small pint sized (or smaller) mason jars or meal prep containers.
Enjoy cottage cheese overnight oats with your favorite mix-ins or toppings. I go with fresh fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, or sliced banana, honey, and a sprinkle of nuts or granola.
Add almond butter or nut butter of choice for some healthy fats. Go heavy on the blueberries for a great source of dietary fiber, or add some Greek yogurt for extra protein.
Store overnight oats in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can use this as a base recipe for all your protein oat adventures. Add extra flavor by mixing in some additional ingredients.
Here are some different ways you can customize your breakfast.
Overnight Oat Flavor Ideas:
- Lemon Poppy Seed: 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds
- Carrot Cake: ½ cup finely grated carrot, ¼ cup raisins, ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Chocolate: 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and serve with chocolate chips
- Cranberry Orange: 2 to 3 teaspoons orange zest, ⅓ cup dried cranberries
This easy meal prep idea makes the perfect breakfast for weekday mornings. Simply whip it up the night before, store it in mason jars, and you’re in for a healthy high-protein meal that is balanced with carbohydrates.
This easy recipe is a great way to get a good source of protein in the form of creamy cottage cheese.
If you’re looking for more healthy breakfast ideas, try out these favorites:
More Sweet High-Protein Breakfast Recipes:
- Cottage Cheese Muffins
- Protein Banana Bread
- Cottage Cheese Pancakes
- Oatmeal Protein Waffles
- Blueberry Protein Muffins
Enjoy this perfect make-ahead breakfast!
Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 to 3 cups oat milk or milk of choice*
- 4 Tbsp pure maple syrup to taste
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch sea salt
- 2 cups quick oats or rolled oats
- 6 Tbsp protein powder
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds or chia seeds
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients for the overnight oats to a large mixing bowl or sealable container. Mix well until everything is combined. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap (or seal the airtight container) and refrigerate overnight. Overnight oats are ready in about 4 to 5 hours, but I keep life simple by preparing the recipe the night before and enjoying them the next morning. In the morning, stir the oats well and give them a taste. If you’d like, add more milk or pure maple syrup to your personal taste.
- Once ready, divide the overnight oats among three small pint sized (or smaller) mason jars or meal prep containers. You can also store overnight oatmeal in the same large bowl or airtight container you used to prepare it.
- Enjoy cottage cheese overnight oats with your favorite mix-ins or toppings. I go with fresh fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, or sliced banana, honey, and a sprinkle of nuts or granola. Add almond butter or nut butter of choice for some healthy fats. Go heavy on the blueberries for a great source of dietary fiber, or add some Greek yogurt for extra protein.
- Store overnight oats in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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This is a great idea! I didn’t see it in the recipe. After you mix up the ingredients, does the mixture need to overnight in the fridge or can it be outside of the fridge?
Hi Mary! Oops, I can see how my instructions were confusing 🙂 Overnight oats should chill in the refrigerator overnight and shouldn’t be kept at room temperature. I hope you enjoy the recipe! Let me know if you have any more questions.