High Protein Cottage Cheese Egg Bake

Name: High Protein Cottage Cheese Egg Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 95 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp Butter (grass-fed); 1 Onion (sliced); 2 cups Spinach; 10 Eggs; 16 floz Egg Whites; 3/4 cup Cottage Cheese; 1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded); 2 tbsp Potato Starch; 1 tsp Sea Salt; 1/3 cup Smoked Ham (diced)

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This easy Cottage Cheese Egg Bake is creamy, packed with protein, and made with just a handful of real food ingredients, and packs in about 20 grams of protein. It's the perfect meal prep breakfast or weekend brunch dish-made with eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, ham, and sharp cheddar. Just blend, bake, and slice it up for the week!

High Protein Egg bake in a white braising pan.

As a former nutrition coach, one of the most common struggles I saw, and something I personally dealt with for years, is finding a breakfast that actually keeps you full. So many of my clients started the day with something quick like toast or a smoothie, only to be starving an hour later and reaching for snacks.

I used to do the same thing and wondered why I couldn't stay satisfied until lunch. That all changed once I started making this egg bake with cottage cheese. It's loaded with protein from real food ingredients like eggs, cottage cheese, and ham-no powders or processed stuff. It's simple, nourishing, and something I meal prep for quick grab-and-go breakfasts all week long.

If you are looking for other High Protein Breakfasts check out my Sheet Pan Breakfast Hash, Cottage Cheese With Fruit Breakfast Bowl, Cottage Cheese Egg Bites, or Cottage Cheese Blueberry Muffins.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
Substitutions And Variations
How To Make This Cottage Cheese Egg Bake
Nadia's Expert Tips And Notes
High Protein Egg Bake Meal Prep And Storage Tips
What To Serve With Cottage Cheese Egg Bake
Recipe FAQs
More High-Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You'll Love!
High Protein Cottage Cheese Egg Bake

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Perfect For Meal Prep: Say goodbye to morning chaos! With the option to prep ahead, these easy baked cottage cheese eggs turn crazy mornings into a breeze.
Protein Packed: Start your day off with a high-protein breakfast bake that tastes great! No protein powder needed!
Customizable: This recipe uses simple ingredients and is flexible. You can mix things up by swapping in your favorite meats, veggies, or cheeses.

Ingredients You'll Need

High Protein Egg bites Labeled ingredients.

Grass-Fed Butter: Kerrygold Butter is my favorite brand. You could also use ghee if you like.
Onion: Sweet yellow onion is ideal, but a regular yellow, red onion, or white onion will work just fine.
Spinach: Use fresh spinach, organic if possible.
Eggs: Organic cage-free large eggs. Check out Vital Farms, or grab a dozen from your local farmers market.
Egg Whites: Organic cage-free liquid egg whites.
Cottage Cheese: My favorite brand of cottage cheese is Good Culture. You will want to use a full-fat cottage cheese or a low-fat cottage cheese.
Cheddar Cheese: Use your favorite organic cheddar cheese. I usually go for a raw, grass-fed sharp cheddar, which adds so much flavor!
Potato Starch: This helps things from getting soggy. You can also use arrowroot powder or gluten-free flour.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper: Salt and pepper help bring all of the flavors together!
Smoked Ham: Use your favorite organic smoked ham, just dice it up into bite-sized pieces. Leftover Dutch oven ham also works great!
Cooking Spray: Avocado oil or olive oil spray. This ensures nothing sticks!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions And Variations

Dairy-Free: If you want to keep this dairy-free, you can use dairy-free cottage cheese and dairy-free cheddar.
Experiment With Add-Ins: The best part about this easy egg bake is that you can tweak any of the ingredients. Try using Pepper jack cheese, feta cheese, fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, or mixing in different veggies.
Veggie Packed: Try adding in some extra veggies. I love adding sautéed red bell pepper, green bell peppers, or mushrooms to this dish.
Extra Protein: To add even more protein, you can swap out the ham for breakfast sausage, ground turkey, chicken sausage, Italian sausage, turkey sausage, crispy bacon, or turkey bacon.

How To Make This Cottage Cheese Egg Bake

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 320 degrees.

Step 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, then add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook the onions over low heat until they are soft and slightly golden. About 10-15 minutes.

Fresh spinach and onions in a white braising pan.

Step 3. Add the spinach to the onions and cook until wilted. Dice your smoked ham and set it aside.

Blended eggs, egg whites and cottage cheese in a blender.

Step 4. Add the whole eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, potato starch, and salt to a high-power blender. Blend on high for about 30 seconds or until everything is combined and smooth.

Egg mixture being poured into a pan with onions and spinach.

Step 5. Pour the egg mixture into a lightly greased baking dish. Next, add the ham along with the onion and spinach mixture and distribute it evenly over the egg mixture.

High Protein egg Bake in a white baking dish with spinach and a green napkin.

Step 6. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the egg bake has set and is no longer jiggly. Allow the egg casserole to cool for 15 minutes before cutting.

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Nadia's Expert Tips And Notes

For an extra fluffy egg casserole, place a second casserole dish filled with hot water on the bottom rack of your oven. Next, place the casserole dish with the egg mixture on the oven rack above it.
Full-fat cottage cheese will yield you a creamier result than using low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese.
Let it cool before slicing, this helps it hold together.

High Protein Egg Bake Meal Prep And Storage Tips

This cottage cheese egg bake is one of my go-to meal prep breakfasts because it holds up so well during the week and still tastes great reheated. Here's how to make sure it stays fresh, flavorful, and convenient:

Cool Completely Before Storing: Let the egg bake come to room temperature before slicing and storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can lead to a soggy texture in storage.
Portion and Pack: Slice the make-ahead egg casserole with cottage cheese into even squares once cooled, then store individual servings in airtight containers. I like to use glass meal prep containers with dividers so I can pack it alongside roasted veggies or fruit.
Label and Date: If freezing, always label your containers with the date and contents. Egg bakes freeze well for up to 3 months.
Freezing Instructions: Wrap each slice tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap. Then place wrapped slices in a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container to avoid freezer burn. You can also freeze slices on a baking sheet before transferring them to a bag to prevent sticking.
Thawing: Transfer to the fridge overnight to thaw slowly.
Reheating: You can reheat this egg bake with cottage cheese in the oven at 250 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until it is heated through. I have found that this method preserves the texture best. You could also reheat it in the air fryer at 300 degrees F for 5-7 minutes, however, you will have a slightly crispier edge.
Best Time to Make: I usually make this on Sunday evening and eat it through Friday morning. It's a lifesaver on busy mornings!
Add-Ons for the Week: I like to switch up toppings throughout the week to keep it interesting. Try avocado one day, hot sauce the next, or serve with a rotating side of fruit, toast, or roasted potatoes.
Make Two Batches: If your family loves it (or you don't want to run out mid-week), make two at once. One for the week, one for the freezer.

What To Serve With Cottage Cheese Egg Bake

Toppings: Try a drizzle of hot sauce, chopped chives, or a scoop of whipped cottage cheese on top.
Breakfast Pairings: Pair with roasted potatoes, smoked bacon, Traeger smoked salmon, avocado toast, or a green smoothie.
Snacks: Enjoy cold as a protein-rich snack or alongside cottage cheese with berries or cottage cheese banana bread.
Additional Sides: Serve with a side of fruit salad, smoked asparagus, or a hash brown patty.
Drinks: Iced maple latte, coffee, or a protein shake all work great.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use all eggs instead of egg whites?

Yes, you can also use fewer eggs and more egg whites if you are looking for a lower-fat option.

Can I customize the ingredients based on dietary preferences?

You bet. Whether you're vegetarian, follow a low-carb or keto diet, or have specific dietary restrictions, you can easily tailor the ingredients to meet your needs

Can I freeze this high-protein egg bake with cottage cheese for later use?

Yes, you can! If you find yourself with leftovers or want to prep multiple servings at once, freezing your casserole is a great option. Ensure it's tightly wrapped or stored in an airtight container to maintain freshness. When you're ready to enjoy it, simply thaw and then reheat the meal.

Why is my egg bake soggy?

Be sure to use potato starch or gluten-free flour. This will help remove a lot of the excess liquid and will prevent your casserole from ending up soggy.

High Protein egg Bake pieces stacked on top of each other.

More High-Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You'll Love!

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