Easy Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl Recipe
This Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl recipe is all about taking pizza night and making it lighter, creamier, and a little more fun. Instead of piling everything on dough, you’ll layer sausage, sauce, a whipped cottage cheese blend, and plenty of gooey mozzarella right into a bowl. It bakes up bubbly and cheesy with all the comfort of pizza but with a high-protein, low-carb twist.
These tasty bowls work well as an appetizer or even as a meal when you want to enjoy pizza night but not eat a ton of carbs. And, if you are not a fan of cottage cheese, try these Pizza Bowls instead.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Pizza night without the work. No crust, no rolling, no dough drama.
- Totally customizable. Add whatever toppings you like, go wild.
- Great for meal prep. Make a few, stash them in the fridge, reheat whenever.
- Perfect dipping: Use these keto crackers or baguette crackers for extra crunch.
Ingredients
This is a list of the ingredients that you need to make your grocery shopping easier. You can find the full list of the ingredients and amounts needed in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Italian sausage – Cooked and crumbled. Adds that meaty, spicy base.
- Cottage cheese – I recommend using small curd. Full-fat or low-fat both work.
- Italian seasoning – Just the right mix of herbs.
- Garlic powder – For that little hit of garlicky flavor.
- Pizza sauce or marinara – I like to use this sugar-free pizza sauce, but you can use your favorite.
- Mozzarella cheese – Use freshly shredded cheese for gooey, melty perfection.
- Parmesan cheese – For that salty punch of flavor.
- Cherry tomatoes – This is optional, but worth the effort!
- Fresh basil – For garnish and a pop of fresh flavor.
- Sliced pepperoni, mushrooms – Your go-to toppings. Add as many or as few as you like.
How to Make This Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl Recipe
Cook up the sausage, and grab an oven-safe baking dish, or a few ramikins so that you can make this simple recipe.
- In a blender or food processor, blend cottage cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Divide sausage into ramekins or oven-safe bowls. Add about 1/4 cup pizza sauce over each.
- Spoon 1/4 cup of the cottage cheese mix over the sauce and spread it out. Sprinkle with the cheese.
- Add your favorite toppings, and then bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Substitutions and Additions
- Protein: Use ground turkey or chicken instead of sausage.
- Use ricotta: Swap cottage cheese with ricotta if you prefer.
- Toppings: Add olives, bell peppers, or jalapeños for more toppings.
- Veggies only: Make it vegetarian by skipping the sausage and loading up the veggies.
How To Store
- Storage: Cover and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze without toppings in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Microwave or bake at 350°F until warmed through.
Sandra’s Pro Tips
- Blend the cottage cheese if you want that creamy, ricotta-style texture.
- Blister your cherry tomatoes in a hot skillet for extra flavor.
- Use a sheet pan under your ramekins, just in case things bubble over.
- Double the recipe if you’re feeding a crew. These go fast.
- Let it cool for a few before eating because the bowls get hot.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this cottage cheese pizza bowl recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Yes, assemble them and store in the fridge, unbaked. Just pop them in the oven when you’re ready.
Toss them in a hot, dry skillet until the skins char and burst; it takes about 5 minutes. Easy!
Use any small oven-safe bowl or even a muffin tin in a pinch.
Other Delicious Pizza Recipes You May Enjoy
Easy Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls
Equipment
- ramekins or ovenproof serving dish
- Food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Italian sausage cooked and drained
- 1 cup small curd cottage cheese full fat or low-fat
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Toppings
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes blistered
- fresh basil
- sliced pepperoni
- sliced mushrooms
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until no pink remains. Drain well.
Cottage Cheese Mix
- In a food processor or blender add cottage cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Blend until smooth (optional step).
Layer Pizza Bowls
- Add sausage to the bottom of ramekins or an oven proof serving bowl, and top with pizza sauce (1/4 cup per bowl).
- Top pizza sauce with prepared cottage cheese mix and spread evenly (1/4 cup per bowl).
- Evenly distribute mozzarella over each bowl and top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Add your favorite toppings.
Bake Pizza Bowls
- Place bowls on a baking sheet and bake on 375°F for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Eat with a fork or serve with baguette crackers, chip, celery or carrot sticks.
Notes
- Heat skillet on medium heat with 1 teaspoon of avocado or olive oil.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and saute for 3-4 minutes or until the tomatoes begin to soften.
- Remove from heat at add to cottage cheese pizza bowl and bake.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.
