With creamy cottage cheese and protein pancake mix, these 3 ingredient protein pancakes are a super easy recipe that packs in 34g of protein per serving. These protein pancakes have no banana or added sugar to them making them the perfect healthy pancake option. You can also make them with regular pancake mix to make them kid-friendly!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get fun new recipes from us every week!
I love pancakes for breakfast but what I don’t love is having to get out a lot of ingredients to make them. And while I love pancake mixes, especially ones with clean ingredients, I like to make them better like my 3-ingredient Greek yogurt pancakes which adds yogurt for protein and fluffiness and my 3-ingredient pumpkin pancakes which add a yummy fall flavor.
So for these 3-ingredient protein pancakes, I take protein pancake mix and amp it up with cottage cheese for protein and creaminess. And I add in more eggs to make them extra light and fluffy!
Jump to:
- Why these 3-ingredient protein pancakes will make you do the happy food dance
- recipe ingredients
- Topping Ideas
- how to make protein pancakes (with photo & video!)
- expert tips
- how do I know the pancakes are ready to flip?
- common questions
- troubleshooting & testing notes
- how to store & meal prep it
- what to serve with pancakes
- Recipe
Why these 3-ingredient protein pancakes will make you do the happy food dance
- High protein without a banana or added protein powder. Yes, the pancake mix has protein powder in it but by using the pancake mix you don’t need to get out another ingredient! Plus if you make them with standard pancake mix, these pancakes are still higher in protein than a typical pancake thanks to the additional eggs and cottage cheese.
- Staple ingredients like cottage cheese. Eggs, and pancake mix. In fact, all of these ingredients (including protein pancake mix) can all be found at Costco.
- Truly 3 ingredients meaning there’s no “optional” baking powder or cinnamon here. 3 ingredients mean 3 ingredients.
recipe ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these easy protein pancakes.
notes
- Protein pancake mix: I’ve tested this recipe with Bisquick, Good and Gather (Target), Birch Benders Protein, Krusteaz protein, and Kodiak cakes - all work great! Be sure to check out the difference between pancake mix and flour!
- The “amp up”: You’ll need cottage cheese (any kind will work) and eggs to make the protein pancakes.
substitutions & variations
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See recipe card for quantities.
- Protein pancake mix → vanilla protein powder: For a low-carb option, you can use vanilla protein powder in place of the pancake mix. It will be a bit denser in texture.
- Mix in’s: You can stir in chocolate chips, blueberries, bananas, nuts, or even sprinkles to these pancakes.
- 2-ingredient protein pancakes: Omit the cottage cheese and just us protein pancake mix and eggs.
allergy swaps
- Gluten-free: Feel free to use a gluten-free pancake mix like Birch Bender.
- Sugar-free: For a sugar-free option, use straight protein powder or a sugar-free pancake mix.
- Dairy-free: You can use a plat-based yogurt in place of cottage cheese and a vegan protein pancake mix to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Egg-free: You can’ make this recipe egg-free because they provide the lift to the batter.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Topping Ideas
- Cream cheese
- Nut butter (mix it with syrup for a runny consistency)
- Greek yogurt
- Fresh fruit
- Granola
- Nuts
- Whipped Cream
- Maple syrup, sugar-free syrup, or protein syrup
how to make protein pancakes (with photo & video!)
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full pancake recipe!
- Add everything to a blender in this order: eggs, pancake mix, cottage cheese.
- Blend until smooth
- Heat a non-stick skillet over low-medium heat
- Cook the pancakes
quick recipe video
expert tips
- Add everything in the order noted to prevent having to stop and scrape down the sides too much.
- Use low to medium heat and a non-stick pan to cook the pancakes for best results.
- The first pancake is always a test. Evaluate and adjust the heat as needed.
- Use butter on the pan for that delicious diner-level caramelization of the pancakes.
how do I know the pancakes are ready to flip?
When you see bubbles form on the batter all around then the pancake is ready to flip. This means that the hot air has made its way all the way through the pancake.
common questions
Protein pancakes offer a lot of protein, some fat, and some carbs which means they have a good breakdown of macros. They are definitely healthier than standard pancakes but healthy is subjective so whether they are healthy depends on your specific needs.
I wouldn’t recommend adding more protein powder because it will dry out the batter. If you do, add only 1 scoop of protein powder and an additional egg for more moisture.
Yup, you can use any "Just add water" or complete pancake mix you like!
troubleshooting & testing notes
My pancakes are burnt but not cooked through.
This happens when the pan is too hot. Simply reduce the heat and continue cooking.
I don’t have a blender, can I mix them by hand?
Yes, I’ve made these by hand mixing the batter but the cottage cheese just makes the texture a little bit lumpy. The cheese melts as it cooks but not completely.
how to store & meal prep it
fridge
Let the pancakes completely cook before storing them. Then store in a ziplock bag or air-tight container. They will keep in the fridge for 7 days but start to dry out after 4 days.
frozen
Let them cool completely before freezing. Then layer the pancakes with parchment paper in an airtight container or flash freeze them on a baking tray. Then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container.
meal prep
To meal prep these, double or triple the recipe. Pop some in the freezer and the rest in the fridge. I also like to dice up fresh fruit to have a quick grab-and-go topping option too.
reheating
You can reheat these from frozen or in the fridge in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute, on a stovetop, in a toaster, or toaster oven until heated through. The toaster makes them a bit crispy.
Recipe
3-ingredient Protein Pancake Recipe - 34g of protein!
Equipment
- 1 non-stick skillet
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup protein pancake mix (like Kodiak cake, protein Bisquick, or Birch benders - regular pancake mix works too)
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup cottage cheese
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over low to medium heat with a little butter.
- Add the ingredients to a blender in the following order: 4 eggs, 1 cup protein pancake mix, and ½ cup cottage cheese. Blend until smooth.
- Pour about ⅓rd of a cup of batter on to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes on each side. Flip the pancake when bubbles begin to appear in the wet batter.
- Repeat will all the batter and then enjoy with your favorite toppings!
Video
Notes
- Add everything in the order noted to prevent having to stop and scrape down the sides too much.
- Use low to medium heat and a non-stick pan to cook the pancakes for best results.
- The first pancake is always a test. Evaluate and adjust the heat as needed.
- Use butter on the pan for that delicious diner-level caramelization of the pancakes.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
drop us a note!