Name: High Protein Rice Meal Prep 30g+ Easy Breakfast Dinner Cottage Cheese
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked white or brown rice (chilled day-old rice works best); 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese (2% is a great balance); 1 lb lean ground turkey or chicken sausage; 3 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; Salt and cracked black pepper to taste; Optional: Sliced green onions and red pepper flakes for garnish

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups cooked white or brown rice (chilled day-old rice works best)
2 cups low-fat cottage cheese (2% is a great balance)
1 lb lean ground turkey or chicken sausage
3 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
Optional: Sliced green onions and red pepper flakes for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Brown the Protein: Place a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey or chicken sausage to the pan. Break the meat apart with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks. Season the meat with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking until the meat is fully browned and no pink remains, which usually takes about 7 to 9 minutes.
Step 2: Add the Rice and Greens: Lower the heat to medium. Add the cooked rice directly into the skillet with the meat. Stir frequently for 2 to 3 minutes to break up any clumps and allow the rice to absorb the flavors from the seasoned meat. Toss in the chopped baby spinach and stir until the leaves are just wilted. The residual heat from the rice and meat will soften the spinach perfectly without overcooking it.
Step 3: Incorporate the Cottage Cheese: Turn the heat down to low. This is the most important part: add the cottage cheese to the mixture. Stir gently until the cottage cheese is evenly distributed and starts to melt into a creamy sauce. Do not let the mixture boil, as high heat can cause cottage cheese to release too much liquid and become grainy. Once the mixture is creamy and heated through, remove the pan from the heat immediately.
Step 4: Portion and Store: Divide the mixture evenly into four meal prep containers. If you are eating this for breakfast, you can leave space to add a freshly poached or fried egg on top each morning. Garnish with green onions and red pepper flakes if desired. Let the containers cool slightly before sealing them with lids and placing them in the refrigerator.

Cook Time: 25 minutes