cottage cheese pizza bowl - two bowls after baking — Makes: *1 Serving*
Per Serving:25g Protein | 222 Cal

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Whether you’re on a weight loss journey, trying to up your protein, or trying to watch your carbs, you might think that reaching your health and wellness goals means cutting out foods like pizza. I’m here to tell you that that’s just not the case. My Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls are chock full of all of the delicious pizza flavors you can’t get enough of—gooey, melty cheese, salty, savory pepperoni, sweet and tangy pizza sauce—but lighter and more protein-focused than the carby, heavy classic you’re used to. Perfect for meal prepping or for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, this Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl recipe is about to become your new obsession.

Why You'll Love This Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl Recipe

High in Protein: You won’t believe it, but these comforting, cheesy bowls are packed with 25 grams of protein to help keep you feeling full and satisfied. They’d also be a great way to recover from an after-work trip to the gym.
Gluten-Free: Traditional pizza isn’t gluten-free, but these Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls are! Made with just a touch of gluten-free flour, it’s the ideal pizza dinner for anyone who can’t tolerate or is trying to avoid gluten.
Easy to Customize: Leave out veggies you don’t like and swap in ones you do. Try spinach, garlic, or mushrooms. You can also add crushed red pepper flakes to give your pizza bowl a bit of a kick.
Made from Simple Ingredients: Just cottage cheese, tomato sauce, and your favorite toppings!
Ready in Minutes: This pizza bowl recipe is ready to serve in under 10 minutes from start to finish.

cottage cheese pizza bowl - close-up of two bowls after coming out of the oven

Ingredients (Per Bowl)

1 cup of cottage cheese (blended until smooth) - you can use low-fat cottage cheese or fat-free cottage cheese
1/4 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
1 tablespoon gluten-free flour or almond flour
1/4 cup chopped peppers (any color—make it vibrant!)
1/8 cup sliced red onions
1/8 cup chopped black olives
1 teaspoon oregano (or Italian seasoning)
1/4 cup light mozzarella cheese
4-5 turkey pepperoni slices
Salt & black pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Turn your oven on and preheat it to 400 degrees F.
Mix up the base: Combine the blended cottage cheese, pizza sauce, gluten-free flour, peppers, onions, olives, oregano, salt, and pepper in an oven-safe bowl. Stir well.
Add the toppings: Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top of the cottage cheese mixture and add the pepperoni slices.
Bake your cottage cheese pizza bowl: Put the bowl in the preheated oven and bake for about 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the pepperoni has crisped up. Want a thicker consistency? Bake a little longer for best results. If you’re making several of these bowls at once, you can arrange them on a baking sheet before putting them in the oven so that it’s easy to put them into the oven and take them out all at once.
Garnish and serve: If you’d like, garnish each bowl with some fresh basil or parsley and a little parmesan cheese and enjoy! If you’re making it ahead, make sure to let it cool before storing in an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition Information (Per Bowl - Single Serving)

Calories: 222
Protein: 25g
Carbs: 21g
Fat: 4g

Swaps, Substitutions, and Helpful Hints

Great for Meal Prep: Easily scale up the recipe to make several bowls at once for a few days worth of healthy lunches or dinners. Let them cool after baking, then cover and store in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat them in the oven or the microwave until warmed through and enjoy!
Make Sure to Blend the Cottage Cheese: It might seem like a fussy step, but you shouldn’t skip it. Blending the cottage cheese makes the base of your pizza bowls creamy and smooth. Blend in a blender or food processor until creamy. Pro tip: If you’re normally not a fan of the lumpy texture of cottage cheese, you might find that you enjoy it more once it’s blended.
Add Extra Veggies: You can increase the flavor and nutrition of your cottage cheese pizza bowl by adding in some extra veggies like zucchini, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes), or even broccolini. Use any of your favorite pizza toppings!
Make It Vegetarian: If you don’t eat meat (or just feel like a meatless dinner tonight!), swap the pepperoni slices for tofu crumbles, plant-based pepperoni, lentils, or cannellini beans, or simply leave them out entirely.

recipe graphic with photo of cottage cheese pizza bowls and the title of the recipe

FAQs

Nope! If you don’t like pepperoni, don’t eat meat, or are just looking for an alternative, you don’t have to use them. If you’re a meat eater, but just don’t want to use pepperoni, try cooked Italian sausage, ground beef, tiny meatballs, ground turkey, prosciutto, or even chicken breast. If you don’t eat meat, you can make these cottage cheese pizza bowls vegetarian by substituting tofu crumbles, plant-based pepperoni, lentils, or cannellini beans for the pepperoni.
Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot honey after you pull it out of the oven.
Pair these cottage cheese pizza bowls with a side salad, some sautéed spinach, roasted broccoli or zucchini, or a few pieces of bread.
If you have leftover bowls, make sure to let them cool down before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven, air fryer, or microwave until warmed through.

These Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls are proof you don’t need to give up pizza to stick to your health goals. Perfect for busy weekdays, they’re easy, delicious, and packed with protein to keep you fueled all day long. Pizza night will never be the same!