This tangy, savoury, and slightly spicy high-protein cottage cheese toast with pickles and Cheddar is the perfect quick healthy lunch. Each serving contains over 40g of protein while still being vegetarian-friendly, making it an ideal post-gym snack or easy high-protein meal. It’s crisp, creamy, and packed with bold flavour, perfect when you want something fast but satisfying.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• High in protein – Over 40g of protein per serving, making it ideal for post-workout fuel or a filling lunch.
• Quick and easy – Perfect for busy days when you need something fast, satisfying, and minimal effort.
• Great for meal prep – The topping can be prepared in advance, then quickly assembled and air fried when needed.
• Amazing texture contrast – Crisp toast pairs with a creamy, savoury cottage cheese and Cheddar topping.
• Fresh and punchy flavours – Pickles, gherkins, and pickled chillies add tang, crunch, and brightness to balance the richness.

Ingredients for High Protein Cottage Cheese Toast with Pickles & Cheddar

To make this high-protein cottage cheese toast, you will need:

• Cottage cheese
• Cheddar
• Pickled gherkins
• Pickled chillies
• Fresh dill
• Chives or spring onion
• Sourdough bread (I used Jason’s Protein Sourdough)

How to Make High Protein Cottage Cheese Toast

Toast the Bread

Place your bread into the air fryer and air fry at 180°C for 3 minutes, until very lightly toasted but not golden.

Make the Cottage Cheese Topping

Mix the remaining ingredients together in a medium bowl until well combined.

Assemble & Air Fry

Spread the topping evenly over the toasted bread slices.

Air fry for 7–10 minutes, until golden and bubbling.

Finish & Serve

Serve hot, sprinkled with extra fresh herbs if you like.

Tips for the Best Cottage Cheese Toast

• Adding grated cheese helps hold everything together. Use mature Cheddar for a stronger flavour, or mozzarella for a gooier texture and milder taste.
• Chop the pickles finely so the mixture spreads evenly over the toast.
• Don’t overload the bread, or the topping may take too long to cook through and could make the toast soggy.
• Thick bread works best to support the high-protein topping.
• Use full-fat cottage cheese for a richer flavour, creamier texture, and extra nutrients.

Variations & Substitutions

• Swap the cheddar for your favourite cheese. For extra colour, try Red Leicester, for a nuttier flavour use Gruyère, or for a milder option use shredded mozzarella.
• Add crispy onions on top after cooking for extra crunch.
• For Reuben-style flavours, mix a little mustard into the cottage cheese mixture and serve with pastrami or a vegetarian alternative.
• Adjust the amount of pickled chillies depending on your spice preference, or leave them out completely for a milder flavour.
• This high-protein cottage cheese topping also tastes delicious served on toasted bagels instead of sliced bread.

How Much Protein Is in This Recipe?

If you use high-protein bread, this recipe contains over 40g of protein per serving, making it a great high-protein vegetarian lunch. The protein comes from the cottage cheese, bread, and cheddar.

You can halve the recipe for a quick post-gym snack or, if you’re not vegetarian, add sliced beef for a Reuben-inspired toast with even more protein.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve alongside a green salad for extra fibre and freshness.
• Halve the recipe for a quick high-protein post-gym snack.
• Top with fried or poached eggs for extra protein and a more filling meal.
• Pair with crisps or extra pickles for deli-style vibes.

FAQs

Can I make this without an air fryer?

This recipe works really well in the air fryer as it’s quick and creates minimal washing up. However, you can also cook it in the oven at 180°C, it will just take 2–5 minutes longer.

Can I make the mixture ahead?

The cottage cheese mixture can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge, but it’s best assembled and cooked fresh.

What bread works best?

I used Jason’s Protein Sourdough for extra protein, but any thick-sliced bread works well. White, sourdough, seeded, or wholegrain. You could also use a bagel.

More High Protein Toast Ideas

If you liked this recipe, you might also like these high protein toast recipes:

• Spanakopita Cottage Cheese Toast
• Goat’s Cheese & Chilli Cottage Cheese Toast
• Tuna Cottage Cheese Toast
• Chilli oil egg mayo on toast

High Protein Cottage Cheese Toast with Pickles & Cheddar

5 from 1 vote

High protein cottage cheese toast with pickles, cheddar, dill and chives, made in the air fryer. A quick, easy lunch packed with flavour and protein.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 7 minutes mins

Cook Time 13 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 1

Course: lunch, Main Course, Snack

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 150g full-fat cottage cheese
• 3 tbsp pickled gherkins finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
• 1 tbsp pickled chillies finely chopped
• 20g Cheddar grated
• 1 tbsp spring onion or chives finely chopped
• 2 slices sourdough bread I used Jason's Protein Sourdough

Method

 

1. Place your bread into the air fryer and air fry at 180C for 3 minutes until very lightly toasted.
2. Meanwhile, mix the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined.
3. Divide the topping onto the bread slices and spread evenly. Air fry for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and lightly golden.
4. Serve with an optional extra sprinkling of chopped chives and fill.