Description
This Buffalo Chicken Cottage Cheese Bowl is a high-protein, easy lunch featuring spicy buffalo chicken, creamy cottage cheese, and crunchy veggies. It’s quick to prepare, customizable, and perfect for meal prep or a satisfying midday meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (Frank’s RedHot or homemade)
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Pinch of salt & black pepper
- 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat)
- 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots (optional)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional)
- 2 tbsp crumbled blue cheese or feta (optional)
- Chopped fresh parsley or green onions
- Extra buffalo sauce, for drizzling
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and slice into bite-sized strips. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil if needed. Cook chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove and let rest for 2 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine buffalo sauce and melted butter. Add warm chicken and toss to coat evenly. Let sit for 2-3 minutes for extra flavor.
- In a small bowl, mix cottage cheese and Greek yogurt until smooth. For creamier texture, blend briefly with an immersion blender. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed.
- Dice celery, cucumber, carrots, and red onion.
- To assemble, add cottage cheese mixture to the bottom of a serving bowl. Layer chopped veggies around the edges. Top with buffalo chicken in the center.
- Scatter blue cheese or feta, sprinkle parsley or green onions, and drizzle extra buffalo sauce over the bowl.
- Crack fresh black pepper on top. Add sliced jalapeños or extra hot sauce if desired.
- Serve immediately while chicken is warm, or chill for a cold lunch. For meal prep, keep components separate and assemble before eating.
Notes
For juicier chicken, marinate in buffalo sauce for 20 minutes before cooking. Drain cottage cheese if watery. Toss veggies with a pinch of salt for extra crunch. Use a meat thermometer for best chicken texture. For less spice, use mild buffalo sauce or stir in honey or extra Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 2 cups)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: buffalo chicken, cottage cheese bowl, high protein lunch, meal prep, healthy lunch, gluten-free, easy recipe, spicy chicken, protein bowl