The sweet and savory combination of these Cottage Cheese and Fruit Parfaits is simply the best! Try one of three delicious versions for an easy high-protein breakfast or snack.

cottage cheese and fruit in small glasses on a wooden plate

Cottage cheese has been having a moment lately and I am HERE for it!

As a long-time cottage cheese fan, I am so glad the rest of the world is starting to catch on. But if you find yourself still on the fence about it, I think these Cottage Cheese and Fruit Parfaits are a great starting point for giving it a try. The sweet and savory combo is just so good. (If it’s the texture you aren’t a fan of, check out this hack!)

And did I mention, cottage cheese is super nutritious too?!

Why This Registered Dietitian Loves Cottage Cheese!

It is an excellent source of calcium. A one-cup serving provides up to 20% of your daily calcium needs, which is a mineral essential for building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth.
It is rich in protein. One cup gives you approximately 25 grams of protein, meeting the recommended 25-30 grams per meal. Including a good source of protein at each meal can help you feel fuller for longer and help manage hunger between meals.
It is affordable. With sky-rocketing grocery prices, consuming adequate protein on a budget can definitely be a challenge. Compared per gram of protein, cottage cheese is often less expensive than other protein foods like meat, seafood or nuts. I can usually find cottage cheese at my local grocery chains for about $3-4 per 500 gram container.
It is versatile. With its mild flavor, cottage cheese goes well with sweet or savory flavors and can be easily incorporated into meals or snacks to boost their overall protein content.

parfait ingredients in small glass and wooden bowls laying on a white marble counter top

The Best Fruits To Eat With Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese goes well with SO many different types of fruit whether fresh, frozen or even canned. Pick your favorite (or whatever you have on hand) and give it a try!

Here are some of my favorite fruits to eat with cottage cheese:

pineapple
peaches
strawberries
blueberries
nectarines
mandarin oranges
blackberries
melon

Simply enjoy your cottage cheese with fruit or add some fun toppings like nuts, seeds, granola, cereal or jam – like this Easy Strawberry Rhubarb Chia Jam!

Check out these three cottage cheese & fruit parfait variations below for more inspiration!

How To Make These Parfaits

Making these parfaits is super easy. No matter the ingredients, the method is the same:

Prepare any fruit, if necessary (eg. chop strawberries, drain canned peaches)
Gather the rest of your ingredients and serving cups
Layer the cottage cheese, fruit and toppings in your cup

Three Cottage Cheese & Fruit Variations:

strawberry cottage cheesecake parfait in a small glass cup topped with a fresh strawberry with a spoon digging in

1. Strawberry Cottage-Cheesecake

graham crackers crumbs
fresh strawberries
cottage cheese
strawberry jam

2. Peach Honey Almond Granola

peaches
cottage cheese
almond granola
honey

cottage cheese parfait with peaches on the bottom of the glass, topped with granola, almonds, honey and peach, sitting on a wooden platter

small glass and metal spoon on a wooden tray. The glass contains cottage cheese and pineapple and is topped with shredded coconut

3. Tropical Pineapple

cottage cheese
pineapple
shredded coconut

What If You Hate the Texture of Cottage Cheese?

I hear you. I get it. Some textures, I just… can’t (looking at you scrambled eggs).

LUCKILY FOR YOU, I have got a great tip so that you can still enjoy these parfaits and benefit from incorporating cottage cheese into your diet. And that is to blend the cottage cheese first!

Just throw cottage cheese into a blender, food processer or use an immersion blender and blend until silky smooth. Use this whipped cottage cheese as you normally would.

three variations of cottage cheese parfaits with fruit on a wooden platter and marble countertop with a metal spoon

Meal Prep Parfait Tip

These parfaits are perfect for a nutritious breakfast or snack at work or on-the-go. Preassemble parfaits in sealable glass containers or jars. Package any dry or crunchy ingredients (like granola) separately and top your parfait before eating so it doesn’t get soggy.