High Protein Cottage Cheese Bagels
Always looking for more ways to pack protein into your day? These high protein cottage cheese bagels are the perfect choice for a quick and healthy breakfast or snack. 10 grams of protein per bagel with only 176 calories!
Now is this recipe for cottage cheese bagels going to give you an authentic NYC-style bagel at home? Okay, no. But even though these bagels might not meet the standards of a traditional bagel snob, they do offer a fantastic alternative that’s tasty and nutritious. I know it’s a cliche to say “I’m obsessed with this recipe,” but I kind of am—they’re surprisingly good!
Made with protein-packed cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, these bagels are tender, flavorful, and way lower in calories than a traditional bagel, making them a great option for anyone who’s watching their macros. Even if you’re not normally a cottage cheese fan, you might make an exception for this recipe. Baking it into bagels is a game-changer!
Ingredients for High Protein Cottage Cheese Bagels
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- All-Purpose or Bread Flour – Bread flour has more gluten, which will give your bagels a chewier texture.
- Full-Fat Cottage Cheese – This adds moisture, richness, and, of course, all that protein!
- Plain Full-Fat Greek yogurt – For a tender crumb and a little bit of tanginess. Also: more protein!
- Kosher Salt
- Egg – This helps the toppings stick and gives the bagels a nice golden sheen.
Topping Ideas
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Cheese – Like Shredded cheddar or asiago
- Pretzel Salt
- Sesame or Poppy Seeds
- Garlic or Onion Flakes
- Cinnamon Sugar
How to Make Cottage Cheese Bagels
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full printable instructions.
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 375˚F and position the rack in the top half. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat; place it in the oven.
- Process. Blend the cottage cheese in a food processor until smooth. Pulse in the Greek yogurt until combined.
- Finish the dough. Transfer the cottage cheese mixture to a bowl, add the flour, and mix with your hands. Knead the dough on a floured surface 10-12 times until it’s smooth.
- Form the bagels. Roll the dough into a ball, divide into 4, and shape into bagels by creating a hole in the center or forming a rope and sealing the ends. Brush the bagels with egg wash and add your topping of choice.
- Bake. Place the bagels on the preheated baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Tips for Making Cottage Cheese Bagels
Here are some helpful tips to ensure your cottage cheese bagels turn out perfectly every time.
- Don’t skip pureeing the cottage cheese. Blending the cottage cheese until it’s smooth helps achieve a uniform dough consistency and keeps your bagels lump-free.
- Shape with care. When forming your bagels, ensure the hole in the center is fairly large; the bagels will puff up when baked and if the hole isn’t big enough, it will disappear. (Your bagels will still be delicious though, don’t worry!)
- Allow for cooling time. While it’s tempting to eat your bagels right away, letting them cool helps set their texture.
- Make them in the air fryer. I have instructions to bake these cottage cheese bagels in an air fryer in the notes of the recipe card. It’s faster than the oven and it works really well!
More Flavor Ideas
Here are a few more flavor ideas to try.
- Herb bagels. Mix dried herbs like oregano, basil, or rosemary into the dough. Herbs de Provence would be fantastic too!
- Jalapeño cheddar bagels. Fold finely chopped jalapeños and shredded cheddar into the dough.
- Sun-dried tomato and basil bagels. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil to the dough.
How to Store and Reheat
Store your cottage cheese bagels in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag. You can keep them at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, place them in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. If you’d like to keep them even longer, these bagels freeze really well too. Wrap each bagel individually in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
To reheat your bagels, you have a few options:
- Microwave: Warm bagels for 15-20 seconds for a softer texture.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350˚F, wrap a bagel in aluminum foil, and heat for 8-10 minutes, which will restore its freshly baked texture.
- Toaster: Slice the bagel and toast it for a few minutes to achieve a crispy exterior and warm interior. (I’ve noticed that when toasted, the cottage cheese and yogurt flavors are a little more prominent.)
Serving Suggestions
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy these high protein bagels:
- Cream cheese
- Avocado and egg – These Brown Butter Basted Eggs would be incredible here, although a little bit messy. Use a fork!
- Smoked salmon and capers – Or spread leftovers of this Easy Smoked Salmon Dip onto your bagels.
- Peanut butter and banana
- Hummus and veggies – Like Hummus Avocado Toast, but on a bagel.
- Sandwich – Use your bagel as the base for your favorite sandwiches!
More Cottage Cheese Recipes
- Easy Cottage Cheese Toast
- Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip
- Easy Bacon Cheese Egg Bites
- Easy Amish Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
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Get the Recipe: High Protein Cottage Cheese Bagels
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose or bread flour
- ¾ cup full fat cottage cheese
- ¼ cup plain full fat greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Toppings: Everything Bagel Seasoning, Shredded cheddar, shredded asiago, pretzel salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic flakes, onion flakes, cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375˚F and position the rack to the top half of the oven.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place the baking sheet in the oven while you make the bagel dough.
- In a food processor or blender, blend the cottage cheese until smooth scraping down the sides as needed. Add the greek yogurt and pulse to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and add the flour. Using clean hands, mix the flour with the cottage cheese mixture until combined and the dough starts to hold together.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead the dough 10-12 times until smooth. Add more flour as needed until the dough is no longer sticky.
- Roll the dough into a ball and divide into 4 equal balls. Shape the balls into bagels by flattening slightly then pressing your thumb through the center to create the hole. Alternatively, you can fill the balls into a 6 inch top and join the ends of the rope to form a circle. Be sure to pinch the seam tightly so it holds together.
- Brush the tops of the bagels with the egg wash and top with your favorite seasoning.
- Carefully arrange the bagels on the preheated baking sheet and bake until puffed up and golden brown, approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
- Bagels will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Notes
- To Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Coat the basket with olive oil and arrange the bagels in the air fryer being sure to leave room for them to expand. You may need to work in batches. Air fry the bagels at 355 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown.