Cottage Cheese Strawberry Oats (Printable)

Creamy oats layered with cottage cheese and fresh strawberries for a nutritious start.

# Components:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened non-dairy alternative)
03 - 2/3 cup cottage cheese (low-fat or full-fat)
04 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Layer

07 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)

→ Topping

10 - 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
11 - Additional sliced strawberries

# Method:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine oats, milk, cottage cheese, chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
02 - In a separate small bowl, mash half the strawberries with lemon juice and maple syrup until slightly chunky. Fold in the remaining chopped strawberries.
03 - Layer half of the oat mixture into two jars or containers. Add a layer of strawberry mixture, then top with remaining oats.
04 - Cover and refrigerate overnight (at least 6 hours) to allow the oats to soak and flavors to meld together.
05 - In the morning, stir gently and top with graham cracker crumbs and additional sliced strawberries if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually tastes like cheesecake for breakfast, which feels like you're getting away with something delicious.
  • Your protein intake climbs effortlessly thanks to the cottage cheese and oats working together, keeping you full until lunch.
  • Zero cooking means you can stumble to the kitchen and eat within minutes of waking up.
  • The layering technique makes it Instagram-worthy without any fussing in the morning.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the strawberry layer or you'll end up with pink oats instead of distinct layers—fold gently and accept that some texture variation is exactly what you want.
  • The cottage cheese needs to be somewhat smooth going in, so if yours is very chunky, give it a quick blend or mash before combining with the oats, otherwise you'll get weird pockets of graininess.
03 -
  • Quality cottage cheese makes a noticeable difference, so don't grab the first container you see—taste matters here because it's the main flavor player.
  • If your overnight oats end up too thick in the morning, thin them out with a splash of milk rather than assuming you did something wrong; thickness is personal preference.
Return