Quick answer: This chia pudding gets to about 29 grams of protein from chia seeds, blended cottage cheese and Greek yogurt — no protein powder involved. It needs about 5 minutes of hands-on time, then sits in the fridge overnight.
Why This Snack Works
Three ingredients each pull real weight here: chia seeds contribute fiber and a few grams of protein as they gel, cottage cheese adds the single biggest protein contribution once it’s blended smooth, and Greek yogurt rounds out both the protein count and the tang that makes this taste like a dessert rather than a health food.
Blending the cottage cheese is the part that’s easy to skip and shouldn’t be. Left as-is, cottage cheese curds sit unpleasantly in a pudding that’s meant to be smooth. A quick blend turns it into something closer to a thick, creamy base you’d never guess started out lumpy.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp (24g) chia seeds
- ½ cup (113g) cottage cheese, blended smooth
- ½ cup (113g) plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk of choice
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (35g) berries, for topping
Protein & sodium breakdown (per serving, preliminary)*
| Ingredient | Amount | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chia seeds | 2 tbsp (24g) | ~4g | 0mg |
| Cottage cheese, blended | ½ cup (113g) | ~12.5g | ~200mg |
| Greek yogurt, plain | ½ cup (113g) | ~11g | ~35mg |
| Milk | ¼ cup (60ml) | ~2g | ~25mg |
| Honey | 1 tsp | 0g | 0mg |
| Berries | ¼ cup | ~0.3g | ~1mg |
| Total | ~29g | ~261mg |
* Preliminary estimates based on standard ingredient weights. Pending verification against USDA FoodData Central.
How to Make It
- Blend the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until completely smooth, with no visible curds.
- Whisk together the blended cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, milk, honey and vanilla until combined.
- Stir in the chia seeds until evenly distributed.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
- Top with berries just before serving.
Tip: Stir Once After the First Hour
Chia seeds sink and clump if you leave the mixture completely undisturbed overnight. Giving it one good stir about an hour after it goes in the fridge — before the mixture has fully set — spreads the seeds evenly and avoids a dense layer at the bottom.
Substitutions
- Milk: any kind works — dairy, almond, oat. Dairy milk adds a little more protein than plant-based options.
- Sweetener: maple syrup instead of honey, or a sugar-free sweetener if you’d rather skip the added sugar.
- Topping: swap berries for sliced banana, a spoonful of nut butter, or a sprinkle of granola.
Storage & Make-Ahead
This is built for making ahead — it needs the overnight rest anyway. Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It thickens further the longer it sits; stir in a splash of milk if you want to loosen it back up before eating.
High Protein Chia Pudding with Cottage Cheese
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Blend the cottage cheese until smooth.
- Whisk with Greek yogurt, milk, honey and vanilla.
- Stir in chia seeds.
- Refrigerate at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, stirring once after the first hour.
- Top with berries before serving.
Notes
- Stirring once early on prevents the chia seeds from clumping at the bottom.
- Keeps up to 4 days refrigerated.
FAQs
Why do I need to blend the cottage cheese?
Texture. Unblended, the curds sit in noticeable clumps throughout the pudding. Blended, it disappears into a smooth base that tastes like part of the pudding rather than an add-in.
How is this different from your breakfast chia pudding?
This version is built around a full cup of dairy (cottage cheese plus Greek yogurt) specifically to hit this pillar’s 25g protein target in a snack-sized portion. Check our High Protein Chia Pudding in the breakfast collection if you’re after a morning-sized bowl instead.
Can I use flavored yogurt instead of plain?
Yes, though flavored yogurts usually have added sugar, which will push the calorie count up without adding protein.
Can I skip the overnight wait?
Four hours is the minimum for the chia seeds to fully gel. Overnight gives a thicker, more pudding-like texture than a shorter rest.
Is this good for meal prep?
Yes — it’s designed around it. Make a batch of 3-4 servings at once and portion it out through the week.
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Related Recipes
- Loaded Cottage Cheese Snack Bowl — the savory counterpart to this one, same cottage cheese base
- High Protein Chia Pudding — the breakfast-pillar version, for a morning-sized portion
- High Protein Snacks — the full pillar this recipe belongs to
