Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats

Name: Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups rolled oats; 5 tablespoons chia seeds; 5 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey); 2 1/2 cups cottage cheese; 2 1/2 cups milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)

By Arman Liewpublished on May 14, 2026

Jump to Recipe ▼

Comments (0)

Total Time 2

Servings 5 servings

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

I love these cottage cheese overnight oats for a make-ahead breakfast, as they sneak in 20 grams of protein without protein powder. They are thick and creamy and require just 2 minutes of prep.

cottage cheese overnight oats in jars with various toppings, including granola and cranberries, crushed nuts and blueberries, and kiwi and peanut butter.

Overnight oats with cottage cheese is my new meal prep breakfast

Adding cottage cheese to my overnight was a complete accident. I ran out of yogurt while meal-prepping my protein overnight oats and used what I had on hand. It’s since become my new go-to. The trick is to make sure the cottage cheese isn’t salty, though- it will ruin your breakfast (yes, I made this mistake). Here’s why it works so well:

Like yogurt, adding cottage cheese softens the oats and adds creaminess.
Each serving sneaks in 20 grams of protein with no protein powder needed.
I get one of those 1-pound tubs, make four or five servings, and, like regular overnight oats, you can add any toppings you like.

Key Ingredients & Swaps

Here’s what goes into cottage cheese overnight oats, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.

Rolled oats. I prefer rolled oats to quick oats because they yield a thicker, heartier texture. For a gluten-free option, I like to use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oats.
Chia seeds. Chia seeds add about 5 grams of fiber per serving, but their real job here is absorbing the residual liquid from the cottage cheese and milk. If you omit it, cut back the milk by about 1/4 cup.
Cottage cheese (any fat %). I actually tested this with whipped cottage cheese first, but the extra effort wasn’t worth it. In terms of brands, I like Good Culture or Daisy cottage cheese. These are mild and don’t taste salty.
Milk. I like using almond milk, but regular dairy milk is fine.
Maple syrup or honey. I’ll be honest- you will need to add some sweetener to this, otherwise the base will be quite bland. I find a full tablespoon is enough to add ample sweetness. Sugar-free sweeteners like keto maple syrup are fine to use.

Flavor and recipe variations

Like classic overnight oats, the fun is in the toppings and mix-ins.

Toppings. For fresh fruit or jelly, add them before refrigerating. For frozen fruit and crunchy toppings, like nuts, granola, and nut butter, add just before enjoying.
Extra protein. To add an extra 20-25 grams of protein (approx.) per serving, fold in 1 scoop/1/4 cup of protein powder. You will likely need to add more milk before enjoying, as protein powder thickens the base.
Chocolate. One of my favorite ways to flavor the oats. I fold through 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder straight after the chia seeds.

How to make cottage cheese overnight oats

step-by-step process for making cottage cheese overnight oats.

You’ll mix the oats with the chia seeds, then add the maple syrup. Drop in the cottage cheese, finish with milk, and cover. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, then add toppings and enjoy.

overnight oats with cottage cheese in five jars with various fruit, granola, and nut butter toppings.

Tip: If the mixture is too thick before enjoying, add milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Meal prep and storage

Cottage cheese overnight oats keep well for up to one week. If you make them on a Sunday, you can enjoy them for the week ahead before prepping a new batch. I don’t recommend freezing them.