Description
This Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl is a creamy, protein-packed twist on traditional pizza, combining cottage cheese with Italian seasonings, pizza sauce, and mozzarella for a comforting and customizable dish. Perfect for a quick breakfast, snack, or light meal, it can be cooked using an oven, air fryer, or microwave for convenience.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cups Cottage Cheese (Fat Free, Reduced Fat, or Full Fat all work great)
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- ¾ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 4 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese (Grated)
- ¼ Cup Pizza Sauce
- ½ Cup Mozzarella Cheese (Fat Free, Reduced Fat, or Full Fat all work great)
- Pepperoni (Optional)
Instructions
- Drain Cottage Cheese (Optional): If you prefer a less watery texture, drain your cottage cheese before starting the recipe to reduce excess moisture.
- Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, and pizza sauce. Stir until everything is thoroughly incorporated.
- Blend Mixture (Optional): For a smoother texture, blend or process the mixture until creamy and uniform, especially if you do not like the curds in cottage cheese.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Transfer the mixture into a 16-ounce or larger baking/microwave-safe bowl or dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
- Incorporate Mozzarella Cheese: Lightly mix in half of the mozzarella cheese (¼ cup) into the cottage cheese mixture for extra cheesiness.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup mozzarella cheese on top along with optional pepperoni slices for a classic pizza flavor.
- Choose Cooking Method: Select your preferred cooking method—oven, air fryer, or microwave—to melt the cheese and warm the bowl through.
- Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Bake the cottage cheese pizza bowl for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese melts completely. Optionally, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end to achieve a crispy top.
- Air Fryer Method: Set the air fryer to 350°F (176°C) and cook the dish for 10 to 15 minutes, adjusting based on your air fryer’s heat-up time, until the cheese has melted and the top is bubbling.
- Microwave Method – First Step: Microwave the bowl for 1 minute to warm and slightly cook the mixture before adding the remaining toppings.
- Stir and Add Remaining Toppings: Mix the warmed mixture again, then top with the leftover mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices.
- Microwave Method – Final Step: Microwave for an additional 1 minute until the cheese melts and the toppings are heated through.
Notes
- You can customize the pizza bowl by adding vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives.
- Use fat-free or reduced-fat cheeses to reduce calories and fat content without compromising flavor.
- Blending the cottage cheese results in a creamier texture preferred by some but is completely optional.
- Oven and air fryer methods give a crispier top, whereas the microwave method is quicker but less crispy.
- Adjust the Italian seasoning and garlic powder to taste if you prefer stronger or milder flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (oven), 10-15 minutes (air fryer), 2 minutes total (microwave)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl, Healthy Pizza, Low Fat Pizza, Quick Pizza, Protein Packed Pizza, Easy Microwave Pizza, Air Fryer Pizza Bowl
