Soft And Chewy Cottage Cheese Bagels Made With Just 3 Ingredients

This cottage cheese bagel recipe is a simple, delicious, and healthy way to enjoy homemade bagels without all the fuss! They're made with just three ingredients and come together in no time at all. Best of all, they have the perfect chew to 'em, and they toast incredibly well too. 

My Take on Cottage Cheese Bagels

If you're looking for a tasty twist on traditional bagels - especially one that offers a bit of extra protein - you're in the right place.

But before we go any further, I just want to say for years and years, I've been making the ever-famous 2 ingredients Greek yogurt bagel recipe,  and I think these cottage cheese ones might have those beat.

This recipe has a more muted, tangy flavor and a texture that is just as close as you can get to the real thing. Make some breakfast bagel sandwiches with them, and you can thank me later.

Plus, each bagel has 10 grams of protein, so they pair perfectly with a variety of other high-protein breakfast and lunch options like smoked salmon, chicken salad, or egg salad.

Now, just so you know, I like to add some "Everything But The Bagel Seasoning" to the tops of my cottage cheese bagels, but that's totally optional. Feel free to use whatever you have in your pantry, or try some classic bagel flavors like sesame seed, cinnamon raisin, or poppyseed. 

They also taste great as is without any additional toppings or seasonings. My wife and kids especially love the plain ones I make. They toast them with a bit of butter, and they're usually devoured as quickly as I make them.

So, whether you like these cottage cheese bagels plain or dressed up with your favorite bagel toppings, I have a feeling you'll love them as much as we do.

Joe Tip (like "pro tip" but better): I baked my cottage cheese bagels in the oven, but you can also use the air fryer, too. Just spray the air fryer basket with oil and fry the bagels in batches at 280°F for 16 minutes or until golden. You'll still want to let them cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Ingredients

You only need three simple ingredients to make these delicious bagels:

• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 ½ tablespoon "Everything But the Bagel Seasoning"

Not too shabby, eh?

By the way, you can find the "Everything But the Bagel Seasoning" just about everywhere nowadays (thanks, Trader Joe's!). But if you're short on time, you can make your own concoction blending sesame seeds, sea salt flakes, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, black sesame seeds, and poppy seeds.

How to Make Cottage Cheese Bagels

Making these cottage cheese bagels is as easy as one, two, three. So even if this is your first time making homemade bagels, I promise you'll have fresh, chewy bagels ready in under 30 minutes.

Plus, there's minimal prep time and no special equipment required. All you have to do is prepare the dough, shape and season your bagels, and bake!

Alright, let's get right down to it. 

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), then line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This will ensure that your bagels don't stick and bake evenly.

Start preparing the dough in a bowl by combining the self-raising flour and cottage cheese.

Step 2: Work the Dough

Stir everything together with a spoon until a dough forms. When it does, you can knead the dough with your hands until it becomes smooth.

By the way, if the dough is too sticky, I recommend gradually adding more flour to the dough - one tablespoon at a time - until it's easy to work with.

Step 3: Prepare the Bagels and Bake

Divide the dough into four equal balls. Then, place them on the prepared baking sheet, flatten each one slightly, and poke a hole in the center to form a bagel shape.

Next, brush a little water or milk on top of each bagel, then generously sprinkle the "Everything But The Bagel" seasoning over them.

Finally, transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the bagels are golden brown.

Step 4: Cool and Serve

Allow the bagels to cool down to room temperature before slicing and serving them. Then you're ready to enjoy them with your favorite spreads and toppings!

How to Store These Cottage Cheese Bagels

This recipe makes 4 bagels, which usually covers breakfast for my family of four. But if you want to make a bigger batch for meal prep or a party, there are easy ways to store this recipe.

With that in mind, these homemade high protein bagels are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.

To store them even longer, you can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for roughly a week. Or, you can freeze them in a freezer bag for up to a month.

How to Reheat This Recipe

It's also super easy to reheat these bagels. When you're ready to enjoy them again, simply pop them in your toaster or toaster oven until they've warmed throughout. If you're using frozen bagels, there's no need to defrost them—just toss them in as is!

FAQs About Cottage Cheese Bagels

Why is my bagel dough too sticky?

If your dough is too sticky, it might be because of the moisture content in the cottage cheese. Just gradually add more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough is easier to handle and you can fix the issue.

Can I use plain flour instead of self-raising flour?

I don't recommend using plain flour instead of self-rising flour.

The good news, though, is that it's super simple to make homemade self-rising flour. Just combine 1 cup of plain flour with 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and a pinch of salt.

My Final Thoughts

These cottage cheese bagels have been a game-changer as we try to get my kids to eat a bit of extra protein. Plus, my wife and I get to sneak some extra protein into our day, too.

And as I said before, these bagels couldn't be easier to make. With just three ingredients - and no need for yeast or boiling - making bagels doesn't get much easier than this.

Not to mention, they taste fantastic too.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy making and eating these cottage cheese bagels as much as we do!

More Healthy Recipes

If you're looking for more healthy recipes to try next, give one of these a shot:

• Low calorie chocolate chip cookies
• Low calorie pancakes
• Low calorie chocolate cake
• Cottage cheese bread
• Cottage cheese pancakes
• Cottage cheese brownies
• Cottage cheese mashed potatoes
• Cottage cheese taco bowls
• Cottage cheese cookie dough
• Cottage cheese quiche

Oh, and as always, you can checkout my Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube pages for even more deliciousness!