cottage cheese bagel recipe 3 ingredients, High Protein, Easy Bake

Name: Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe 3 Ingredients
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or whipped); 1 cup self-rising flour; 1 egg (optional for shine)

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If you’ve ever stared into your fridge thinking, “How can I make a quick, high-protein breakfast with what I’ve got?”, you’re going to love this 3-ingredient cottage cheese bagel recipe. It’s trending across TikTok and food blogs—and for good reason. These bagels are fluffy, satisfying, and shockingly simple. Using just flour, cottage cheese, and baking powder or egg, you’ll have fresh, golden bagels in under 30 minutes. In this article, I’ll share how this became one of my go-to creations, break down each step, answer common baking questions, and guide you on how to get bakery-quality results without the fuss.

How I Discovered These Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe 3 Ingredients

From deli breakfasts to sous vide experiments

Hey there—I’m Enzo, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that a little patience and a perfectly heated water bath can work miracles in the kitchen. But this story isn’t about sous vide—it’s about a moment of desperation that led to discovery. One morning, I woke up craving a warm, chewy bagel like the ones my dad used to whip up at our family deli in Chicago. Problem? No yeast. No hours to spare. Just some cottage cheese, flour, and a dream.

I remembered seeing a few viral recipes online—simple bagels made with Greek yogurt or even cottage cheese. The idea was outrageous but oddly practical. So I grabbed a bowl, tossed in 1 cup of full-fat cottage cheese, a cup of self-rising flour, and a pinch of salt. That’s it. Ten minutes later, I was staring at soft, golden bagels. The kind that actually pull apart just right and don’t taste like health food cardboard.

Why this cottage cheese bagel recipe is special

This recipe works for busy mornings, lazy Sundays, or those “I forgot to meal prep” situations. The cottage cheese makes these bagels super moist and protein-rich, while the flour gives them structure and that classic bagel chew. No waiting around for dough to rise. No boiling. Just mix, shape, bake—or air fry. They freeze well too, which is a win if you’re into batch prep. Honestly, they remind me of the spontaneous recipes my dad used to cook up—just using what we had, trusting the process, and somehow landing on something delicious.

How to Make the Best Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe 3 Ingredients Only

Step-by-step instructions for beginners

Making a high-protein cottage cheese bagel recipe with 3 ingredients doesn’t require a culinary degree—just a bowl, a spoon, and a little heat. The core ingredients are:

1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or whipped)
1 cup self-rising flour (or all-purpose + baking powder)
1 egg (optional but improves browning and texture)

If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt. You’ll still get a light, airy result with the perfect chew.

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of cottage cheese with 1 cup of flour. Stir until a dough forms. If it’s sticky, add a touch more flour.
Divide the dough into 4 equal parts. Roll each into a log, then connect the ends to form a bagel shape.
(Optional) Brush each bagel with a whisked egg for shine. Top with sesame, poppy, or everything seasoning.
Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown.

You can also cook these in an air fryer. I break it down in full detail over at my Cottage Cheese Bagels Air Fryer recipe, which makes the crust crispier in less time.

For those counting macros, check out this breakdown: a single 3-ingredient bagel has roughly 11–13g of protein and fewer carbs than a traditional one. More exact details are available on my Cottage Cheese Bagels Calories page.

Tips to perfect your cottage cheese bagel recipe every time

• Use full-fat cottage cheese for richer flavor and better moisture retention. Whipped varieties blend easier and lead to fluffier results.

• Don’t over-knead. Mix until just combined. Overworking the dough can make it dense.

• Bake on the top rack. This encourages better browning and helps lock in texture.

• Want more variation? My Cottage Cheese Bagels with Bread Flour version adds a slight chewiness ideal for sandwich builds.

This bagel recipe works because it balances simplicity with function. The cottage cheese keeps it soft and boosts the protein count, while flour provides the structure. No boiling like New York-style bagels. No yeast, no rise time. You get the results in one bowl, one bake, and in under 30 minutes.

How to make cottage cheese bagels step by step

Variations on the Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe 3 Ingredients or Less

TikTok-famous twists and celebrity favorites

When a recipe like this goes viral, you know it’s hitting a nerve. The 3-ingredient cottage cheese bagel recipe exploded on social media thanks to creators like Bethenny Frankel, who whipped up her own spin. Her version uses whipped cottage cheese, flour, and a little baking powder to keep it extra fluffy. I gave her version a test run and wrote it up in my Bethenny Frankel Cottage Cheese Bagels post. It’s surprisingly light, almost croissant-like in the center.

But there’s more than one way to mix up a 3-ingredient bagel:

Add garlic powder or onion powder to the dough for a savory punch.
Use oat flour to keep it gluten-free—check my Gluten-Free Cottage Cheese Bagel version for a tried-and-true option.
Skip the egg entirely for a 2-ingredient bagel recipe—just cottage cheese and flour. Yes, it works! You’ll want to read my detailed breakdown on the 2 Ingredient Bagel with Cottage Cheese if you’re going egg-free or veganizing this.

These tweaks don’t complicate things—they actually make this recipe feel more customizable. Whether you’re keto-ish, low-carb curious, or just trying to hit your protein goals with fewer ingredients, this cottage cheese bagel recipe is adaptable to nearly every lifestyle.

Comparing high-protein options: cottage cheese vs. Greek yogurt bagels

If you’re torn between using Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, you’re not alone. I’ve tested both. You can find my full results in the Protein Bagels with Greek Yogurt article, but here’s the cliff notes:

Ingredient	Protein (per 1 cup)	Texture Result	Flavor Notes
Cottage Cheese	25g	Slightly chewy and soft	Mild, slightly tangy
Greek Yogurt	20g	Fluffy, cakier	More acidic bite

For people focused on texture and staying fuller longer, cottage cheese tends to win. It adds a creamy body that doesn’t bake out. Plus, it pairs better with both sweet and savory toppings.

And if you’re wondering whether these are truly healthy: not only are these bagels baked, not fried, but they also skip preservatives and refined sugars. As I detail in the High Protein Cottage Cheese Bagels Recipe, each bite is nutrient-dense without feeling like “diet food.”

Served cottage cheese bagel with toppings

FAQs About Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe (3 Ingredients) + Wrap-Up

What are the 3 ingredients in cottage cheese bagels?

The classic cottage cheese bagel recipe with 3 ingredients includes:
1 cup full-fat or whipped cottage cheese
1 cup self-rising flour (or all-purpose + baking powder)
1 egg (optional for golden color and structure)
Technically, the egg can be skipped, making this a 2-ingredient cottage cheese bagel recipe, like the one I cover in the 2 Ingredient Bagel with Cottage Cheese version. But for best results, the egg helps hold moisture and gives that glossy bakery finish.

Can I make cottage cheese bagels without self-rising flour?

Absolutely. Just combine 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder and ¼ teaspoon salt to mimic self-rising flour. It’s a small adjustment but helps maintain the simplicity of the cottage cheese bagel recipe using only 3 core ingredients. You can also explore alternative flours in my Cottage Cheese Bagels with Bread Flour for added chew.

Are cottage cheese bagels healthy for weight loss?

They can be. These bagels are high in protein and low in sugar, making them ideal for high-protein or calorie-conscious diets. One bagel contains roughly 11–13g of protein, helping you feel full longer. For a detailed macro breakdown, visit my Cottage Cheese Bagels Calories guide. They’re far better than store-bought bagels full of fillers and sugar.

Can you bake cottage cheese bagels in an air fryer?

Yes—and they turn out even better in some cases. Air frying gives a crisp exterior with a soft center, using less time and energy. Set your air fryer to 330°F (165°C) and bake for 10–12 minutes. I break this process down in the Cottage Cheese Bagels Air Fryer tutorial. Perfect when you’re short on time but craving a fresh-baked bite.

Final Thoughts

I always recommend baking with intention, and this recipe proves that less really can be more—especially when you understand how ingredients like cottage cheese function as both a binder and a protein booster. If you’re curious about the science behind it, Healthline has a great breakdown on why cottage cheese is a high-protein powerhouse that supports everything we’re doing here.

For more bagel nerds like me, you’ll appreciate how these differ from traditional boiled bagels. Want to dive deeper? Serious Eats offers an in-depth guide to what makes a “true” New York ba gel, which helps you appreciate just how radically simple this version is in comparison.

And if you’re wondering how this compares nutritionally to store-bought options, Mayo Clinic explains why homemade meals with whole ingredients like this are generally a better pick than processed ones lining the bread aisle.