If you're looking for a delicious, cottage cheese bagel option that doesn't sacrifice taste, you've come to the right place. This high-protein bagel recipe is taking over breakfast for a good reason.
Quick Look: Cottage Cheese Bagels
- ⏱ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 25 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 4 bagels
- ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe: It's quick and easy with minimal ingredients- and high-protein is a big bonus!
- 🍪 Main Ingredients: cottage cheese, flour, egg and baking powder
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy
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Jump to:
- Quick Look: Cottage Cheese Bagels
- 🧑🍳 Why This Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe Works
- 🧑🍳 Key Ingredients
- 🗒 Substitutions
- 🥄 How to Make the Cottage Cheese Bagels
- Air Fryer Method for Cottage Cheese Bagels
- 🍲 How to Serve High Protein Bagels
- 🗒 Best Toppings for Cottage Cheese Bagels
- 🤔 Common Questions
- 🗒 Party Menus - Cottage Cheese Bagels for Brunch
- Cottage Cheese Bagels
❤️ I love these cottage cheese bagels for busy mornings because they feel like a real bagel, but they're quicker, easier, and more filling than a traditional version.
After testing both versions, I found these cottage cheese bagels worked equally well with self-rising flour or all-purpose flour and baking powder.
🧑🍳 Why This Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe Works
Let's be real-nobody has time for fussy recipes in the morning. That's why these high protein bagels are a game-changer! Here's why you'll love them:
- Quick & Easy: No yeast, no rising time, and minimal ingredients make this a must-try.
- High in Protein: Cottage cheese is the secret weapon to keeping you full and fueled.
- Totally Customizable: Want a sweet version? Add a little cinnamon and honey. Need something savory? Toss in some everything bagel seasoning.
- Delicious - Chewy, flavorful, and downright addictive.
- Whether you're into meal prepping, fueling your workouts, or just love a bagel that keeps you full, this guide has everything you need to know about these bagels -without the complicated steps. These bagels pair perfectly with my Ricotta Egg Bites Make-Ahead Breakfast Strata, Bacon Straws, Cinnamon Roll Hack, or my Brioche French Toast Casserole.
🧑🍳 Key Ingredients
If you're a cottage cheese lover, try my Pasta with Cottage Cheese Sauce- (High Protein Alfredo)!
Cottage Cheese - The secret ingredient that makes these cottage cheese bagels high in protein while keeping the dough soft and tender. I recommend full-fat cottage cheese for the best texture and flavor.
Flour - All-purpose flour works perfectly, but self-rising flour can be used for an even easier version. If using self-rising flour, simply omit the baking powder and salt.
Baking Powder - Gives the bagels their lift without the need for yeast or rising time.
Egg - Brushed over the top before baking, the egg wash helps create that beautiful golden-brown bakery-style finish.
Everything Bagel Seasoning - My favorite topping for a savory cottage cheese bagel. It adds garlic, onion, sesame, and poppy seed flavor in every bite.
🗒 Substitutions
• Flour Substitution: You can use self-rising flour and omit the salt and baking powder.
• For gluten-free high-protein cottage cheese bagels, use 1 cup of a quality gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum. Mix it with 2 teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
• You can substitute Greek yogurt for the cottage cheese.
🥄 How to Make the Cottage Cheese Bagels
- Blend or mix cottage cheese until smooth.
- Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and cottage cheese.
- Form the dough into four bagels.
- Brush with egg wash and add toppings.
- Bake until golden brown.
Air Fryer Method for Cottage Cheese Bagels
Preheat the air fryer to 350 for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray and air fry for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown and no longer doughy in the center.
🍲 How to Serve High Protein Bagels
I like to serve these Cottage Cheese Bagels with my Ricotta Egg Bite recipe.
Savory
Classic Style: Toasted with a smear of whipped cream cheese or Greek yogurt for extra protein.
Savory Upgrade: Top with avocado, smoked salmon, and a sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning.
Egg & Cheese Sandwich: Layer with scrambled eggs and cheese for the ultimate high-protein breakfast sandwich.
Pizza Bagel: Toast it with marinara, mozzarella, and turkey pepperoni for a fun twist.
Sweet
Sweet Treat: Spread with almond butter and a drizzle of honey for a protein-packed breakfast. And if sweet is you jam (get it:) then try my Brioche French Toast Casserole recipe.
Cinnamon sugar: Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle ever a buttered bagel. My favorite when I was little.
Berry cream cheese- And for a fun twist, add fresh berries on top.
These bagels aren't just for breakfast either-they're great for lunch, snacks, or even dinner when paired with a hearty soup or salad! You can even make bagel chips!
🗒 Best Toppings for Cottage Cheese Bagels
My favorite version is the savory garlic onion cottage cheese bagel because it tastes like a bakery-style cheese bagel but has extra protein from the cottage cheese.
Savory Cottage Cheese Bagels
- garlic (minced)
- onion (dired)
- Parmesan
- Cheddar
- Everything seasoning (garlic, onion, sesame, poppy, salt)
- Poppy seeds
- Sesame seeds (white or black)
- Coarse sea salt or pretzel salt
- Minced dried garlic
- Minced dried onion
- Parmesan or Asiago cheese (grated)
- Fresh rosemary + flaky salt
- Shredded cheddar
- Gruyère
- Pepper jack
- Chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds)
- Cream cheese dollops (for stuffed effect)
Sweet
- Cinnamon sugar
- Turbinado sugar
- Dried blueberries or raisins
- Brown sugar + cinnamon mix
👝 How to Store Leftovers: Cottage Cheese Bagels
Allow the bagels to cool completely and store them in an airtight bag at room temperature (not in the refrigerator, which can make them stale faster) for 3-4 days.
🤔 Common Questions
Yes, freeze them immediately for up to 4 months.
Regular bagels are mostly carbs, while high protein bagels recipes add ingredients like cottage cheese, to boost the protein count.
Nope! Cottage cheese blends seamlessly into the dough, adding moisture and protein without any cottage cheese flavor.
🗒 Party Menus - Cottage Cheese Bagels for Brunch
These cottage cheese bagels are one of my favorite additions to a brunch spread. They're easy to make ahead, packed with protein, and pair beautifully with both sweet and savory dishes.
For a savory brunch menu, serve them alongside my Ricotta Egg Bites or Make-Ahead Breakfast Strata. If you're craving something sweet, my Brioche French Toast Casserole is always a crowd-pleaser. Add fresh fruit, coffee, and a simple salad, and you've got an effortless brunch that feels special without a lot of work.
Or any of these recipes!
If you tried these Cottage Cheese Bagels or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 5 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Cottage Cheese Bagels
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour May need ¼ cup if really dry.
- 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese
- 2 teaspoons baking powder * See notes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg beaten for egg wash
- Seasoning ideas: everything bagel seasoning shredded asiago cheese, poppy or sesame seeds, coarse salt, dried onion flakes, dried garlic flakes.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 and position the rack to the top position.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Blend cottage cheese: Add cottage cheese to a mixing bowl use an immersion blender and blend on high until smooth. Alternatively, Place the cottage cheese in the food processor or blender and pulse or blend on high until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Note: If you don't want to blend the cottage cheese they still come out great. The dough may dryer but will come together with kneading.
- Add flour: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until completely combined and the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a generously floured work surface and knead the dough 8-10 times, until smooth. Add more flour to the work surface as needed until the dough is no longer sticky. But don't over-add the flour.
- Shape and season: Roll the dough into a ball and divide it into 4 equal balls. Roll each ball out into a 6-7-inch rope, about 1-inch thick. Join the ends to make a circle and pinch the seam tightly to seal. Brush the tops with a beaten egg and top with a seasoning if desired.
- Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Bagels stay fresh in an airtight container at room temp for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Flour Substitution: You can use self-rising flour and omit the salt and baking powder.
- Air Fryer Method: Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Transfer the bagels to the air fryer basket in batches without overcrowding and air fry at 280°F 15 to 16 minutes, or until golden. No need to turn.
- Oven Method: Preheat oven to 375F. Place parchment paper or a Silpat on a baking sheet. Bake on the top rack of the oven for 25 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting.
- Important: Let cool at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Dayna says
I was so impressed with myself after making these! lol Super easy and delicious too!
Lauren Lane says
Yay! That makes me so happy! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Kari Ivie says
Have made this recipe several times now. My entire family loves them! We don’t eat much meat, so happy to know we are getting the extra protein in as well.
Lauren Lane says
I hope you love these as much as I do. I prefer them to the traditional full-carb version! Enjoy!
Beverly Craven says
I wondered if you could substitute almond flour? I follow a keto diet and can’t have flour. Thank you!
Lauren Lane says
I haven’t tried that yet.
Lauren Lane says
I would think so but I haven't tried that. Let me know if you do!