The 5-Minute, High-Protein Breakfast I Make All the Time

Apparently, cottage cheese has made a “comeback.” While I like to believe that I am in-the-know on all things food trends, this tidbit of food news surprised me. I guess I missed the downfall of cottage cheese in the early aughts, because this versatile, creamy concoction has always had a place in my heart, and in my refrigerator.   

I prefer savory applications of cottage cheese to sweet (though I won’t turn my nose up at a big scoop atop a bowl of fresh fruit). But my favorite way to enjoy cottage cheese is mixed into soft, fluffy scrambled eggs. It’s my go-to for busy weekday mornings because it’s healthy, filling, and ready in under five minutes. 

The cottage cheese melts deliciously into the eggs, adding a layer of rich and creamy flavor without making the dish feel heavy. It’s also a great way to add an extra boost of protein to your morning eggs.

What Type of Cottage Cheese To Use

For my scrambled eggs, I prefer small-curd cottage cheese with a higher fat content. The small curds melt nicely in the time it takes for the eggs to cook, but large-curd varieties still make a delicious scramble. Fat-free cottage cheese has a higher water content and tends to separate slightly after the eggs are cooked, but it will still be delicious if that’s what you’ve got on hand.

Can I Use Egg Whites?

I don’t recommend completely swapping the eggs for egg whites. Egg whites have a much higher water content than yolks, and because the cottage cheese itself adds liquid to the mixture, I was not successful when I tested this with egg whites only. However, swapping one of the eggs for two whites (or 1/4 cup of liquid egg whites), or adding one or two egg whites to the original recipe works great.

How To Make My Cottage Cheese Scramble

For 1 to 2 servings, you’ll need:

• 3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons cottage cheese, preferably small-curd with 2 to 4% milkfat
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon butter or nonstick cooking spray
• Chopped fresh chives, optional

In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the cottage cheese, salt, and pepper until well combined.

Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray. When the butter is melted or the pan is hot, pour the eggs into the pan. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until they are just cooked, 1 to 2 minutes.  

Transfer the eggs to a plate. Garnish with chives and freshly ground black pepper if desired. Enjoy immediately.

Delicious Additions

There are infinite variations to this base recipe. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Stir chopped fresh jalapeño and half an avocado (finely diced) into the eggs before scrambling. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
• Slice some of your favorite pre-cooked sausage, brown it in the pan you plan to cook your eggs in, then pour the eggs into the pan and scramble. Garnish with thinly sliced scallions.
• Sauté a handful of spinach in the pan you plan to cook the eggs in. When the spinach is wilted, pour the eggs into the pan and scramble.

More Easy Cottage Cheese Recipes

• Spiced Cottage Cheese Dip
• Chili Crisp Cottage Cheese Toast
• 4-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Pancakes
• 3-Ingredient Creamy Egg Salad