Cottage cheese pizza bowls are a healthy, high-protein lunch (or dip!) that delivers 27 grams of protein per serving. These cheesy pizza bowls have gone viral on TikTok (you will soon see why!) and are a low-calorie alternative to pizza night. They’re quick, easy, delicious, and perfect for meal prep.
Hi. My name is Dani, and I am slightly obsessed with cottage cheese recipes. 😂 This is why I can barely contain my excitement about these easy and delicious cottage cheese pizza bowls! They are protein-packed and layered with all the flavors of your favorite slice. Seriously, this is the perfect way to level up your pizza game.
This recipe combines creamy cottage cheese with Italian spices, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings (many people like pepperoni, but I prefer onions, peppers, and olives!). You can bake them in the oven for a bubbly, golden finish or use the microwave for a super quick and convenient option. Enjoy them with a spoon, or serve them as a dip. I love scooping them up with some raw veggies and pita chips; it’s so good!
Why I Love Cottage Cheese! As a health, wellness, and weight loss coach who is also on a personal fitness journey – I am always looking for quick and convenient ways to bump up my protein intake. Protein (especially when paired with fiber) can be a great way to help you feel satiated after eating, which makes it a lot easier to resist reaching into the snack drawer, lol! It’s also great for supporting lean muscle mass.
I use it to make a ton of protein-packed recipes. Some of my favorites include turkey bolognese sauce (without the heavy cream), fluffy high-protein pancakes, and this cottage cheese and egg flatbread.
Everything You’ll Need
Use all your favorite pizza toppings to make this healthy pizza bowl recipe! Here’s what I like to use, but feel free to swap in ingredients that you like best:
Key Ingredients
- Cottage Cheese is the base for these high-protein pizza bowls! I tried this recipe with full-fat, non-fat, and low-fat cottage cheese (FYI, I love the brand Good Culture ). I enjoyed the low-fat variety best as it was thick and creamy but not too rich. I noticed that other variations blend the cottage cheese beforehand to smooth out the curds. This is always an option, but I never do it because I love the texture the curds add to the pizza bowl.
- Marinara Sauce gets blended in with the cottage cheese. I always opt for store-bought marinara because it’s quick and convenient. While there are a handful of great brands to choose from, Cucina Antiqua is one of my favorites because it’s made with good-quality ingredients while being lower in sugar than most store-bought marinara options (you would be surprised at how much sugar some store-bought marinara can have!)
How to Make a Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl
Start by combining cottage cheese, Parmesan, half of the marinara sauce, and seasonings. Stir in half of the toppings as well.
Put everything into an oven-safe bowl (I use this one) and then layer on the remaining marinara sauce before sprinkling the cheese over the top.
Finish with the rest of your pizza toppings and seasonings! I also love a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for some heat.
Now, you can either bake your cottage cheese pizza bowl in the oven or pop it in the microwave for lunch or dinner in a flash!
How to Store Leftover Pizza Bowls
- Refrigeration: Allow the pizza bowls to cool completely before storing. Place a top on the container or cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes or in the oven at 350°F until the cheese is melted and bubbly again (about 20 minutes).
More Cottage Cheese Recipes to Try
- Cottage Cheese Scrambled Eggs
- Cottage Cheese Breakfast Toast
- Egg White Muffins with Cottage Cheese
- 5-Minute Cottage Cheese Bowl with Tropical Fruit
Thanks so much for reading! If you make this recipe, I would love you to give it a ★ rating below. Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for more healthy food inspiration. Cheers!
High Protein Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls (27g!)
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups low-fat cottage cheese, I love this brand
- 1/3 cup low sugar marinara sauce (divided), I used this one
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup chopped black olives, divided
- 1/4 cup diced bell pepper, divided
- 1/4 cup diced onion, divided
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine cottage cheese, parmesan, 1/4 cup marinara sauce, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir in half of the black olives, chopped bell pepper, and chopped onions.
- Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe bowl (I use this one). Top each bowl with one tablespoon of marinara sauce and sprinkle two tablespoons of shredded mozzarella over the top of each bowl.
- Divide the remaining olives, peppers, and onions and sprinkle over the top of each bowl. Add an extra sprinkle of Italian seasoning over the top and red pepper flakes.
- Bake at 425 F for 10-12 minutes. If you’d like to, brown the top, you can finish it under the broiler for an extra minute. Alternatively, you and microwave the pizza bowl for 1 1/2-2 minutes.
- Serve with crackers, pita chips, or fresh chopped veggies for dipping.
Notes
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- Make Ahead: You can prep the ingredients ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to a day, making it easy for busy nights.
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- Use a Microwave-Safe Dish: If you’re using the microwave, make sure your dish is microwave-safe and avoid using metal. The same goes for the oven.
Comments
Laura says
This was soo good and super easy to make! My kids enjoyed it too! Thanks for sharing a great recipe that’s pretty healthy and very filling! 10/10
Dani Spies says
I am so glad you tried and loved this recipe! Thakns for letting me know.
Julie Yordy says
Just found your site recently and so happy for all the great recipes! And this one is sooooo good. Smells just like a pizza and is very filling and tastes so good!
Thank you!
Dani Spies says
Welcome, Julie! I’m so glad you enjoyed this pizza bowl. I agree, this recipe is super filling.
Ruth S. says
We really loved the flavor and I like that I can customize the veggies. We will make again. I should have let my cottage drain some before and think I should pre-cook some of the veggies to release some of their liquids. I used Yo-Mama sauce as I could not find the spicy marina you mentioned. . I hope this doesn’t sound negative, I think it’s a learning curve. We will be making this often I think. Oh, and I bought the dishes you used — they are great and I see more food prep meals in my future 😀 Thank you for a great recipe.
Jackie says
Delicious! I made it with toppings of my choice and took it to work. It was a hit
Sharon says
I’m definitely going to try these. In your recipe notes you say this can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to a day but in the post on your website you say 3-4 days. Which is correct?
Dani Spies says
Sorry for the confuision, Sharon. They can be stored for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.