Cottage Cheese Macro Salad Recipe (Vegetarian, High Protein)
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Jump to RecipeThis cottage cheese macro salad recipe is a light, refreshing, and high protein option for lunch – with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs drizzled with a delicious and tangy vinaigrette dressing. This macro bowl is high in protein, making it a great filling snack or meal idea!
Ready in 15 minutes, this bowl has 37 grams of protein per serving and is a great vegetarian option. It’s creamy, filling, and a great way to elevate cottage cheese by adding crunch and flavor!
Want more great cottage cheese recipes? Try our Caprese cottage cheese salad and our favorite cottage cheese alfredo pasta sauce!
If you’re looking for a great vegetarian macro recipe, this tasty cottage cheese and vegetable bowl has incredible flavor and texture, AND can easily be made in 15 minutes! I love cottage cheese, as it’s a high protein option that is so versatile. Usually I see recipes with cottage cheese and fruit together, but I wanted to make a savory macro bowl with less sugar, and this recipe turned out perfect!
I love how versatile this recipe is – it makes a great option for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. Or you can add in your favorite vegetables or herbs too! Enjoy this bowl as a post workout meal or meal prep a few bowls for the week.
Why This Recipe Works
- It’s light, refreshing, crunchy, and creamy!
- There’s no cooking required, and it’s easy to make.
- Add your favorite veggies into this versatile bowl – see our suggestions below.
- Great for meal prepping or making ahead.
- Anyone can successfully make this recipe by following our simple step-by-step photos and directions below.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
The base of this recipe is cottage cheese, and you can use any variety you like that fits in with your diet. Whole milk or 4% cottage cheese will be the creamiest, but it also has the highest fat. You could also use non-fat or low-fat 1% cottage cheese (which is what I used).
Canned chickpeas make a great addition to this bowl as well, full of texture and plant-based protein.
I like the bright, fresh flavors of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh parsley for a delicious addition to this macro bowl. It’s a great way to enjoy some produce, and the fresh herbs give the bowl a light and delicious flavor.
And I like to add a drizzle of olive oil and red wine vinegar to this bowl, as a light and easy dressing. The olive oil gives the bowl a bit of added creaminess, and the vinegar adds a wonderful pop of flavor. You can finish the dish with salt and pepper if desired.
Additions and Substitutions
Add in your favorite vegetables! Other great options could include fresh chopped bell pepper, green onions, grilled vegetables (like mushrooms, zucchini, or eggplant), fresh spinach, or massaged kale.
You can omit the olive oil for a lower fat version.
You can add in extra protein if desired: grilled chicken, tofu, or tuna would be great additions to this bowl.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Prep your ingredients: chop the cucumber and parsley, drain and wash the chickpeas, and halve the tomatoes. Add them to a bowl with the cottage cheese.
Step 2: Drizzle the olive oil and red wine vinegar over the bowl.
Step 3: Mix all the ingredients together until well-combined.
Step 4: Taste, and add salt, pepper, or more fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
This recipe has 37 grams of protein per serving, making it a great vegetarian option that is high in protein. I used 1% lowfat cottage cheese, but the variety of cottage cheese you use may vary slightly in protein and fat count, so be sure to calculate your nutrition amounts at home with your ingredients.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container, and enjoy with in 3 days. Give the cottage cheese a good stir before enjoying again.
Yes, this recipe is great for meal prep! Prep a few of these bowls at once so you can have ready-made meals throughout the week.
Expert Tips
- Want to double this recipe? No problem! These cottage cheese macro salad bowls are great to make two batches of at once.
- When chopping the tomatoes and cucumbers, make them roughly the same size. You want the pieces small enough to be bite-sized and consistent throughout the salad.
- Season to taste. Everyone’s preferences for salt and pepper vary. Before fully digging in, taste the cottage cheese and add a bit more salt and pepper (or fresh parsley) if needed.
More Easy High Protein Recipes
- Tuna Salad with Greek Yogurt Recipe
- Copycat Olive Garden Herb Grilled Salmon Recipe
- Mango Shrimp Avocado Salad with Citrus Dressing
- Instant Pot Chicken Marbella
- Oven Baked Chicken Shawarma Skewers
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Cottage Cheese Macro Salad
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cottage cheese I used low-fat 1%
- 1/2 cup chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: chop the cucumber and parsley, drain and wash the chickpeas, and halve the tomatoes. Add them to a bowl with the cottage cheese.
- Drizzle the olive oil and red wine vinegar over the ingredients.
- Mix all the ingredients together until well-combined.
- Taste, and add salt, pepper, or more fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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