Oatmeal Protein Pancakes (No Protein Powder!)

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These Oatmeal Pancakes are packed with whole grains and protein from a delicious combination of egg whites and rolled oats. These easy to make pancakes will keep you full and energized all morning.

286 CAL 32g CARBS 4g FAT 27g PROTEIN
5 Comments

Protein Oatmeal Pancakes are made with wholesome ingredients and bursting with your favorite flavors. This high-protein healthy meal comes together in just 15 minutes for a quick and easy breakfast that is guaranteed to leave you feeling energized.

By now, you have likely caught on to my obsession with oats. It certainly isn’t a secret. Not to my family, not to my friends, and definitely not to you.

Whether I am making batches of overnight oats or whipping up some of my favorite Baked Oatmeal, oats are easily one of my favorite breakfast and snack ingredients.

Oats are affordable, ultra healthy, and incredibly delicious. Therefore, I am always looking for new recipes to incorporate them into. Sometimes, the recipes are duds that don’t make it out of the kitchen.

Other times, absolute magic happens. As for these Oatmeal Protein Pancakes? Magic.

Made with a delicious and wholesome combination of egg whites, old-fashioned oats, and cottage cheese, these pancakes pack your morning with lots of healthy protein and energizing nutrients.

And the best part? They are super customizable to fit whatever you’re in the mood for.

Protein pancakes with with oatmeal on a plate with maple syrup being poured on top.

Key Ingredients

To make these protein-packed healthy pancakes, you will need the following key ingredients:

  • Old-fashioned oats: Also known as rolled oats, these oats are less chewy than steel-cut oats and way easier to cook. They are also loaded with protein, fiber, and tons of essential nutrients. Do not replace the oats in this recipe with instant oats or steel cut oats since they won't cook correctly.
  • Egg whites: Egg whites are literally nothing but protein, whereas the egg yolk contains all the egg’s cholesterol, fats, and the majority of calories. Therefore, egg whites are, in a sense, a protein lover’s dream.
  • Cottage cheese: Not only does this ingredient give these pancakes their texture, but it also adds tons of healthy protein and nutrients. I typically opt for the low-fat kind, but you can use any kind you like.
  • Spices: To make these delicious pancakes, I use a combination of cinnamon, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice. However, feel free to use any combination of spices you prefer.

Oatmeal Protein Pancake Variations

Looking to switch things up? Here are some of my top recommendations:

  • Sweeten things up. If you like your pancakes on the sweeter side, you could add some maple syrup, honey, or mashed bananas to the batter.
  • Save your egg yolks. When mixing your egg whites, don’t just toss out your egg yolks. You can use them to make homemade mayonnaise or a fantastic hollandaise sauce.
  • Add toppings. For tons of extra flavor, add some of your favorite toppings to these healthy pancakes. Some of my go-to choices include nut butter, maple syrup, and fresh fruit.
  • Switch up the spices. While I chose cinnamon, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice, you could any kind of spices you like. Some of my top choices include chai spice, nutmeg, and apple pie spice.

Oatmeal pancakes with extra protein from cottage cheese and egg whites served with whipped cream and syrup.

Healthy Pancake Topping Ideas

There’s no better way to upgrade this dish than with some fantastic toppings. Here are some of my favorite topping ideas for pancakes:

  • Fresh fruit. Sliced bananas or berries add amazing flavor and freshness to these pancakes.
  • Maple syrup. When it comes to pancakes, this is a classic topping choice.
  • Greek yogurt. Instead of whipped cream, you can add a dollop or two of Greek yogurt (I suggest vanilla or honey-flavored). Not only does it add some flavor and texture, but it also adds a bunch of extra protein.
  • Nut butter. A drizzle of nut butter will take these pancakes to the next level and add plenty of added protein and fiber.
  • Nuts. For a little crunch, try sprinkling some nuts over top. I recommend chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans.
  • Jam. Some strawberry or raspberry jam is a delicious way to give these pancakes a little extra flavor. You can make your own at home or use your favorite store-bought variety.

Leftover Pancakes Storage Tips

Trust me when I say that this is a recipe you’re going to want to make a lot of. Because these pancakes only take 15 minutes to make — and because they freeze SO well — this is a great dish for making ahead and reheating throughout the month.

To store your leftover pancakes, let them cool entirely then transfer them to an airtight storage bag or container. Once they’re properly sealed, you can store the pancakes in one of two ways:

  • In the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • In the freezer for up to 2 months.

You can reheat your pancakes either in the oven or microwave.

If using an oven, preheat to 350°F, then heat your leftover pancakes for 10 minutes.

If using a microwave, pop your thawed pancake in for 30-60 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about these delicious oatmeal pancakes:

For the best results, you will want to stick with old-fashioned (aka rolled) oats. These will give you the best flavor and texture, as instant oats are usually too sticky and steel-cut oats are stiffer and take longer to cook.

It won’t be the end of the world, but the nutritional makeup and texture of these pancakes will be altered. Egg yolks hold the egg's cholesterol, fat, and calories, so you will be adding these into your nutritional count. Egg yolks also add some density, so the pancakes will come out thicker than they otherwise would. 

Protein pancakes are a very healthy and well-balanced breakfast choice. Eating protein for breakfast is actually a little weight-loss hack, as it keeps your body feeling fuller for longer!

Whenever a recipe calls for egg whites, don’t be so quick to toss out your egg yolks. You can actually use them in a number of different recipes. One of my favorite ways to use egg yolks is whipping up a batch of homemade mayonnaise. All you have to do is blend your egg yolks with Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Easy!

Stack of protein oatmeal pancakes served with fresh whipped cream and syrup.
The Recipe
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Oatmeal Protein Pancakes (No Protein Powder!)

286 CAL 32g CARBS 4g FAT 27g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 10 Min
TOTAL TIME: 15 Min
5 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
  • 8 egg whites
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

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Instructions

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1

Add all the ingredients to a blender and combine until they form a smooth batter. It could take a couple of minutes for the oatmeal to break down and form a smooth batter. For lower power blenders, blend the oats first and then add the remaining ingredients.

Oats, cottage cheese, egg whites, and spices in a blender.
2

Using a quarter cup measure, pour the batter into a medium high heat pan sprayed with cooking spray and flip once the batter begins to bubble and pop.

Oatmeal batter being poured into a hot skillet.
3

Cook for another 1-2 minutes and serve with your favorite pancake toppings.

Oat pancake cooking in a hot skillet with a golden brown exterior.
4

*If you usually like a sweeter pancake batter, consider adding a touch of brown sugar, Stevia, agave, or honey to your batter.

Protein pancakes being sliced with a fork on a plate.
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 4 pancakes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 286
Calories from Fat 39
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g
7%
Saturated Fat 1g
5%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 6mg
2%
Sodium 409mg
18%
Total Carbohydrate 32g
10%
Dietary Fiber 5g
19%
Sugars 4g
Protein 27g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
5 Comments
On Oatmeal Protein Pancakes (No Protein Powder!)
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Jody Saltzman
September 11, 2023 - 06:51
Any non dairy substitutes for cottage cheese?
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September 19, 2023 - 09:04
You could swap in a dairy-free yogurt instead.
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Lieke
December 12, 2018 - 00:26
Add a Rating:
5
They were great! THanks for the recipe :) I subbed the cotagge cheese for yoghurt and it still worked fine.
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Donna Cattano
July 31, 2016 - 16:12
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5
Great as pancakes and made larger can be used as a wrap.
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Megan Eaton
January 23, 2016 - 11:18
Add a Rating:
4
Pretty tasty! I was a little worried because it was a very thin batter. Glad I used a small skillet but they turned out great!
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