Quick Meal Prep Cottage Cheese Taco Bowls Recipe
This Quick Meal Prep Cottage Cheese Taco Bowl is a healthy, protein-packed meal perfect for busy weekdays. Featuring seasoned ground beef layered over creamy cottage cheese, topped with fresh pico de gallo, shredded cheddar, and sliced avocado, it combines vibrant flavors and textures for a satisfying and nutritious dish that holds up well for make-ahead lunches or dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasoning
- 0.75 lb ground beef (Laura’s Lean preferred)
- 2.5 tbsp taco seasoning
- 2–3 tbsp water
Pico de Gallo
- 4 tomatoes, seeded and diced into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 3 jalapeños, finely diced (seeds removed for less heat)
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Other Ingredients
- 3.5 cups cottage cheese (Good Culture brand recommended)
- 0.5 cup cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- 1 avocado, sliced (added before serving)
Instructions
- Prepare Pico de Gallo: While gathering ingredients, seed and dice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch pieces to reduce moisture that can make the bowls watery. Finely dice the onion and jalapeños (remove seeds if preferred for less heat). Combine these with lime juice, salt, pepper, and chopped cilantro in a bowl. Let it sit to meld flavors while cooking beef.
- Cook Seasoned Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until fully browned and no pink remains. Add taco seasoning and 2-3 tablespoons of water, stirring to coat evenly. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until seasoning is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Assemble Bowls with Cottage Cheese and Beef: Divide 3.5 cups of cottage cheese evenly into three meal prep containers (about 1.25 cups each) as the creamy base. Top each bowl with an equal portion of the cooked seasoned beef, spreading it gently over the cottage cheese.
- Add Cheese and Pico de Gallo: Sprinkle finely shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef (~2.5-3 tablespoons per bowl). Add the prepared pico de gallo evenly among the three bowls. Gently stir to combine flavors without breaking up the cottage cheese too much.
- Storage and Serving: Cover the bowls and refrigerate for meal prep. When ready to eat, slice avocado and place on top to prevent browning and maintain freshness. Store uncut avocado separately, wrapped tightly, for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Seeding tomatoes before dicing reduces excess moisture, preventing watery bowls during storage.
- Using Laura’s Lean ground beef reduces grease and offers a cleaner protein profile.
- Good Culture brand cottage cheese is thicker and creamier, holding up better in meal prep.
- Finely shredded cheddar melts more evenly when reheated.
- Adding avocado just before eating keeps it fresh and prevents browning.
- Store uncut avocado wrapped in plastic for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
Keywords: meal prep, cottage cheese, taco bowl, ground beef, pico de gallo, avocado, weeknight dinner, healthy, high protein
