Cottage Cheese Strawberry Oats (Print Version)

Healthy overnight oats layered with cottage cheese and fresh strawberries for a creamy morning boost.

# Components:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk, dairy or unsweetened non-dairy alternative
03 - 2/3 cup cottage cheese, low-fat or full-fat
04 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Layer

07 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup, optional

→ Topping

10 - 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
11 - Additional sliced strawberries for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine oats, milk, cottage cheese, chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
02 - In a separate small bowl, mash half the strawberries with lemon juice and maple syrup until slightly chunky. Fold in the remaining chopped strawberries gently.
03 - Layer half of the oat mixture into two jars or airtight containers. Add a layer of strawberry mixture, then top with remaining oat mixture.
04 - Cover containers and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight to allow oats to hydrate and flavors to meld together.
05 - In the morning, stir gently and adjust consistency with additional milk if needed. Top with graham cracker crumbs and fresh sliced strawberries. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Tastes like cheesecake but you can eat it guilt-free because it's packed with 17 grams of protein.
  • Actually takes 10 minutes to assemble, then breakfast makes itself while you sleep.
  • No cooking required, which means you can make this even when your kitchen feels too warm or you're just too tired to heat anything up.
02 -
  • If you add the maple syrup to the oat mixture and then to the strawberries, it can make the whole thing too sweet—taste as you go and adjust based on your own preferences and how ripe your strawberries are.
  • The cottage cheese will seem lumpy at first, but it smooths out beautifully overnight and actually dissolves into the oats, creating creaminess rather than staying chunky.
03 -
  • If you want an even richer cheesecake flavor and your kitchen feels forgiving, mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of softened cream cheese with the cottage cheese—it's indulgent but worth it.
  • The lemon juice in the strawberry layer is non-negotiable because it brightens everything and keeps the berries from tasting flat or one-dimensional.
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