Savory Cottage Cheese Bowl With Tomato, Cucumber, and Everything Seasoning

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Fast, high-protein, and satisfying with minimal prep.
• Fresh, crunchy vegetables balance the creamy cottage cheese.
• Everything-bagel seasoning and olive oil add big flavor with almost no effort.
• Works for breakfast, lunch, or a snack, and scales up easily.

Grocery List

• Produce: tomatoes, cucumber, red onion
• Dairy: cottage cheese
• Pantry: extra-virgin olive oil, everything-bagel seasoning, black pepper, kosher salt (optional), whole-grain bread or whole-grain crackers

Full Ingredients

For the Cottage Cheese Bowls

• 2 cups (480 g) cottage cheese (2% or 4% recommended for best flavor and texture)
• 1 cup (180 g) tomatoes, chopped (about 2 medium tomatoes)
• 1 cup (140 g) cucumber, chopped (about 1/2 large cucumber)
• 1/4 cup (40 g) red onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons everything-bagel seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, optional (add only if needed)

For Serving

• 2 slices whole-grain bread
• Optional swap: 12 whole-grain crackers (about 6 crackers per serving)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Toast the bread (or prep crackers)

If serving with toast, toast 2 slices of whole-grain bread until golden and crisp. For an oven method, place bread on a sheet pan and toast at 400°F (205°C) for 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through. If using crackers, portion them out now so everything is ready to eat right away.

Step 2: Chop the vegetables

Chop the tomatoes into small bite-size pieces (about 1/2-inch). Chop the cucumber into similar-size pieces so every bite feels balanced. Finely chop the red onion (smaller pieces distribute the sharpness more evenly).

If your tomatoes are extra juicy, you can briefly drain them in a fine-mesh sieve for 1 minute to prevent the bowl from getting watery.

Step 3: Build the cottage cheese base

Divide the cottage cheese between two bowls, using 1 cup (240 g) per bowl. Use the back of a spoon to spread it into an even layer so the toppings sit nicely on top.

Step 4: Add the fresh toppings

Spoon the chopped tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion over the cottage cheese, dividing them evenly between the bowls. Aim for an even scatter so each bite gets creamy, crunchy, and fresh.

Step 5: Season boldly and finish with olive oil

Drizzle each bowl with olive oil (about 1/2 tablespoon per bowl). Sprinkle with everything-bagel seasoning (about 1 teaspoon per bowl) and add freshly cracked black pepper (about 1/8 teaspoon per bowl).

Taste and add up to 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt total only if needed. Everything-bagel seasoning can be salty, and cottage cheese varies by brand, so seasoning after tasting is the safest move.

Step 6: Serve immediately

Serve right away with whole-grain toast or crackers for scooping. This bowl is best fresh, while the vegetables are crisp and the toast is still warm.

Pro Tips

• Choose a thicker cottage cheese: Small-curd cottage cheese is typically scoopable and creamy without being runny, which keeps the toppings perched on top.
• Cut vegetables evenly: Matching the tomato and cucumber size makes the bowl easier to scoop onto toast or crackers.
• Control onion bite: If your red onion tastes very sharp, soak the chopped onion in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain well before using.
• Don’t over-salt: Taste after adding everything-bagel seasoning; many blends are already quite salty.
• Make it extra satisfying: Drizzle the olive oil right at the end so it stays glossy and aromatic.

Variations

• Spicy: Add 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce on top.
• Herby: Add 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 tablespoon chopped chives for a bright, savory finish.
• Mediterranean twist: Add 2 tablespoons chopped kalamata olives and swap everything-bagel seasoning for 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano.

Storage & Make-Ahead

This bowl is best assembled and eaten immediately. For make-ahead, chop the tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep cottage cheese sealed in its original container. Assemble just before serving to keep the vegetables crisp and prevent the bowl from becoming watery. Toast should be made fresh right before eating.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate, per serving (1/2 of recipe, including 1 slice whole-grain toast): 320 calories, 20 g protein, 18 g carbohydrates, 18 g fat, 4 g fiber, 650 mg sodium. Values vary by brand of cottage cheese, bread, and everything-bagel seasoning.