Can I Skip The Boiling Step And Go Straight To The Air Fryer?

Yes, you can skip it - but the result will be noticeably different. Without boiling, you get something closer to a soft bread roll than a chewy bagel. If you're short on time, skipping it is fine. But if you want that real bagel texture with the slight chew on the outside, the boiling step is worth keeping.

Can I Use Low Fat Or Fat-Free Cottage Cheese?

Yes, I've made this recipe with every type of cottage cheese and it works. The thing to watch is how thin or thick your cottage cheese is after blending. Fat-free versions can run a bit thinner, so you may need slightly less flour to get the right dough texture. Full fat gives the best result, but low fat works perfectly fine too and keeps the cottage cheese bagels calories lower.

Why Did My Dough Turn Out Too Sticky To Work With?

Most likely the cottage cheese was too watery after blending, or the flour was a little light in the measuring cup. Add flour one tablespoon at a time, kneading it in until the dough feels soft and smooth but doesn't stick to your hands. Don't panic when this happens - it's a very easy fix.

Can I Prep These Ahead Of Time?

Yes, and this is actually one of my favorite tricks. Shape the bagels the night before, place them on a tray, cover them, and keep them in the fridge. The next morning, just boil and air fry. This makes weekday breakfasts so much less stressful. Or bake a full batch, let them cool completely, slice them in half, and freeze. Toast from frozen whenever you need one.

Cottage Cheese Bagels Air Fryer (2 Ingredients, High Protein!)

Name: Cottage Cheese Bagels Air Fryer (2 Ingredients, High Protein!)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (220g) cottage cheese – full fat or low fat both work great; 1 cup (130g) self-rising flour – plus a little extra for dusting; Optional toppings: poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning

Description

Two ingredients, no yeast, no rise time, just cottage cheese and self-rising flour — and about 35 minutes to a chewy, golden, high-protein bagel straight from the air fryer.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 cup (220g) cottage cheese - full fat or low fat both work great
1 cup (130g) self-rising flour - plus a little extra for dusting
Optional toppings: poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning

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Instructions

Add cottage cheese to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth – yogurt consistency, no lumps at all. If it's on the thicker side, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to help it blend properly.
Add the blended cottage cheese and self-rising flour to a mixing bowl. Beat together with a hand mixer fitted with a dough hook just until a rough, shaggy dough forms. Stop there – do not overmix.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for about 2 minutes until smooth. Shape into a ball and cut into 5 equal pieces. Keep any pieces you're not working with covered under a clean kitchen towel so they don't dry out.
Roll each piece into a ball and flatten into a disk about 3 inches wide. Use a small round cutter or poke your finger through the middle and gently stretch the dough until the hole is about 1 inch wide.
Bring a large pot of water to a full boil. Lower bagels in one or two at a time and boil for 1 minute, flipping halfway through. Lift out onto parchment paper and sprinkle toppings on immediately while still wet – the moisture makes everything stick, no egg wash needed.
Preheat air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Place boiled bagels in the basket and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and firm when tapped.
Let cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing – they firm up as they cool and the texture gets so much better.

Notes

Do not skip the blending step – unblended cottage cheese makes the dough uneven and too sticky. Do not skip the boiling step either – it's what gives these bagels their real chewy texture. Without it, they come out more like a soft roll. Store at room temperature in an airtight bag for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Slice before freezing and toast straight from frozen – no thawing needed. Do not crowd the air fryer basket – bake in two rounds if needed so the bagels have space to brown properly.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bagel
Calories: 145
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 380mg
Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 8g
Cholesterol: 10mg