Healthy High-Protein Breakfast Recipe (No Eggs)
Makes: 1 Serving
Per Serving: 35g Protein | 285 Cal
When you start to prioritize protein for breakfast, you probably immediately think of eggs. And while eggs are super versatile, a great source of protein, and easy to make in so many different ways (including egg bakes and other meal prep ideas), after a while, eggs can feel a little bit boring. If you have egg sensitivities, intolerances, or allergies, this high-protein staple isn’t even an option. Lucky for you, though, I’m well-versed in all kinds of high-protein breakfasts—including egg and egg-free options.
If you’re looking for high-protein breakfast ideas that don't include eggs, I’ve got you covered. No matter why you’re looking to expand your options—maybe you have an egg allergy or maybe you're just on the hunt for egg-free breakfast options to give you a little variety—you’re going to absolutely love this Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cottage Cheese Bowl recipe. Super creamy, swirled with cinnamon, and packed with protein, this super delicious breakfast idea will keep you full and energized ‘til lunch. It’s quick, easily customized, and ready in just a few minutes with just a handful of basic ingredients—and perfect for actually hitting those protein goals.
Topped with sweet and crunchy breakfast cereal, this is one healthy breakfast that’ll feel like a real treat.
Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cottage Cheese Bowl Recipe
Tons of protein, no eggs required: Each serving of this cottage cheese bowl contains 35g of protein. The cottage cheese and protein powder work together to give you serious staying power.
Nostalgic comfort: If you grew up loving sugary-sweet breakfast cereals, you’ll love this cottage cheese bowl recipe. Packed with cinnamon and topped with crunchy cereal, it’s like your morning bowl of cereal got a serious, protein-packed upgrade.
Smooth and creamy: Blending your cottage cheese will give you a super creamy, pudding-like consistency, so you might find that you like this even if you don’t normally reach for cottage cheese.
Great for any time of the day: Sure, this is a wonderful high-protein breakfast, but it’s also a great choice for an after-workout snack or even a healthy, late-night dessert.
Balanced macros: This quick and easy cottage cheese bowl is high in protein, low in fat, and balanced with some healthy carbs, so you can be confident that you’re making a healthy, balanced choice.
Quick and easy to make: This soon-to-be breakfast staple comes together in no time at all, making it the ideal protein-rich breakfast for busy mornings.
Ingredients
¾ cup cottage cheese (2% or fat-free)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Pinch of salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
For the Topping:
¼ cup Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Cereal (or any cinnamon-flavored cereal you love)
Extra sprinkle of cinnamon for good measure
Instructions
Blend the cottage cheese: Put the cottage cheese, scoop of protein powder, maple syrup, salt, and ground cinnamon in the bowl of a blender or food processor. Blend on high until smooth and creamy (it’ll be like a cheesecake texture or thick yogurt consistency).
Add cinnamon: Transfer the blended cottage cheese to a bowl and sprinkle with some extra cinnamon.
Add the crunchy cereal: When you’re ready to eat, add the cinnamon cereal. Don’t add it early because it’ll get too soggy. Enjoy!
Nutrition Info (Per Serving - Makes 1 Serving)
Calories: 285
Protein: 35g
Carbs: 22g
Fat: 5g
Swaps & Substitutions
Make it dairy-free: If you can’t tolerate dairy, use a dairy-free cottage cheese (or even a plant-based yogurt) instead. You’ll also want to make sure your protein powder is plant-based (like one made of pea protein, for example).
Cut down on the sugar: If you’re trying to limit your sugar consumption or need to watch your sugar levels, try making this bowl with a sugar-free maple syrup, monk fruit, stevia, or another sugar-free sweetener.
Amp up the flavor: If you want to make this breakfast bowl even better, try adding some extra flavorings. Use a little vanilla extract, add a dash of nutmeg, or swap in some pumpkin pie spice for a fun seasonal twist.
Try adding fruit: Top your cottage cheese bowl with sliced bananas, fresh berries, apple chips, or even diced apples tossed with a little cinnamon. You could add cereal too or swap the cereal out in favor of the fruit.
Add some crunch: Everything is better with a little textural contrast. Top the creamy cottage cheese base with crunchy granola, protein cereal, hemp seeds, crushed graham crackers, or toasted nuts.
My Best Cottage Cheese Bowl Pro Tips
Make sure you don’t skip blending the cottage cheese: Blending the cottage cheese makes it so thick and creamy. It’s the best!
Don’t add the cereal too soon: To keep the cereal (or any other crunchy garnish) crunchy and fresh-tasting, make sure to add it right before you dig in—adding it too soon will make it go soggy.
You can make it ahead: If you want to make your cottage cheese bowl ahead of time, blend the base the night before and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat in the morning, pull out your bowl and add your toppings for the best last-minute breakfast.
FAQs
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Yes, though it’s not the most ideal meal prep recipe. If you want to make this cottage cheese bowl in advance, store the portioned out blended base in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add the crunchy topping fresh before you eat.
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I can’t promise anything, but even if you don’t typically enjoy eating cottage cheese (I get it!), you might find that you actually do like it when it’s prepared like this. When you blend the cottage cheese, it really does change everything. Blending makes the consistency super smooth and creamy—none of the chunky curds that turn some people off—and you can flavor it however you’d like (in this case, with cinnamon and maple). You might find that you can’t even really tell that it’s cottage cheese!
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You sure can. It'd be a great way to switch things up. Whether you prefer the taste of Greek yogurt or you just happen to have some on hand, it's still a pretty high-protein choice—no eggs (or cottage cheese) required. The end result will be a bit tangier than the version made with cottage cheese, but it's a protein-packed breakfast that you can feel good about eating. Top with crunchy cereal, creamy almond butter, fresh fruit, or a drizzle of honey for a delicious twist on the most important meal of the day.
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If you don’t want to top your cottage cheese bowl with cinnamon sugar cereal (something like Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Cereal or another high-protein cereal you love), there are so many other options for you. I’d recommend focusing on adding some texture, but you could also add fruit or nut butter, if you’d like. Consider banana slices, diced apple, diced pear, fresh berries, a tablespoon of natural peanut butter, high-protein granola, grain-free granola, crushed rice cakes, crispy roasted chickpeas, toasted almonds, or a mixture of crunchy seeds. Just about any of your favorite toppings would be super delicious.
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It definitely can be! Ultimately, it’s going to depend on your overall goals and nutrition needs, but this healthy breakfast bowl contains over 30 grams of protein, but under 300 calories, which means that it’s a filling option without being super calorie-dense. When you’re looking to lose weight, making choices that keep you feeling fuller for longer, but aren’t too high in calories, can help make the process much easier.
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If you're looking for a healthy and filling post-workout meal or snack, this cinnamon cottage cheese bowl would absolutely be a good contender. Packed with protein to help you recover (and keep you full until your next meal), plus the influx of healthy carbs will boost your energy levels. It's an easy way to get a little extra protein in and recover from a tough workout.
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There's already plenty of protein in this recipe, but if you'd like to up the protein content even more, try adding an extra half of a scoop of your favorite protein powder, a tablespoon of chia seeds, or a drizzle of your favorite nut butter.
Looking for even more high-protein breakfast ideas that don't include eggs? Try my Protein Pancakes or Overnight Oats recipes for breakfast foods that will start you on the path towards getting enough protein in your day. Whether you're a sweet breakfast person or just looking to expand your horizons, this cottage cheese bowl is a recipe you definitely need to try.
Cinnamon Crunch Cottage Cheese Bowl
This high protein breakfast (no eggs) is just the thing you need to start your day on the right foot. Easy to make (you just need a blender), super nostalgic, and packed with protein, it’s great for breakfast, post-workout snacks, or even dessert.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup cottage cheese (2% or fat-free)
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- For the Topping:
- ¼ cup Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Cereal (or any cinnamon-flavored cereal you love)
- Extra sprinkle of cinnamon for good measure
Instructions
- Blend the cottage cheese: Put the cottage cheese, scoop of protein powder, maple syrup, salt, and ground cinnamon in the bowl of a blender or food processor. Blend on high until smooth and creamy (it’ll be like a cheesecake texture or thick yogurt consistency).
- Add cinnamon: Transfer the blended cottage cheese to a bowl and sprinkle with some extra cinnamon.
- Add the crunchy cereal: When you’re ready to eat, add the cinnamon cereal. Don’t add it early because it’ll get too soggy. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
285Fat
5 gCarbs
22 gProtein
35 gNutrition facts are calculated by adding every ingredient and dividing it by the number of servings.
