I had to give this viral TikTok recipe a try and it did not disappoint! This quick baked cottage cheese pizza dip is a delicious warm snack that’s perfect for entertaining. Cottage cheese packs in the protein with over 25g per cup and the marinara sauce & pepperoni add such a satisfying flavor! Pair it with fresh veggies, crackers or tortilla chips for a boost of filling fiber and you’ve got a balanced and nourishing snack the whole family will love!
I feel like I constantly have one tab in my brain open looking for recipe inspiration. Sometimes it’s an ingredient I see at the grocery store, other times it’s a new dish at a restaurant, and sometimes…well, it’s TikTok or Instagram to see what the kids are making these days. Haha
When I first saw this cottage cheese pizza bowl, the registered dietitian in me was intrigued. While cottage cheese has gotten a bad rap at times being labeled as a diet food, I have always loved it! The saltiness, the versatility and I love that it adds a boost of protein while actually adding to the texture and flavor of a dish! Apparently you’ve all been loving it too in recipes like my strawberry cottage cheese ice cream or this 5 minute French Onion Dip.
Seeing all the online love for this pizza bowl, I decided to try my hand at the recipe. I tested out a few different variations like not blending the cottage cheese or skipping the seasonings, but at the end of the day, the original recipe is truly just too good to be messed with. The only change I made was broiling it at the end to really get the cheese bubbling and pepperoni crisp. The result, a fun and delicious snack with my favorite PFF combo (Protein-Fat-Fiber) to leave you full and satisfied.
What You Need For This Quick Baked Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl
Cottage cheese: You can’t have a Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl without the star ingredient – cottage cheese. I love the thick and creamy base it provides and it is so delicious when warmed up with the marinara sauce. Not to mention the added nutrition it provides (more on that here).
Parmesan cheese: I love the addition of parmesan in this recipe to a richer cheesy flavor
Italian seasoning & garlic powder: I love this combo of seasoning for this recipe. Spice blends, like Italian seasoning, provide a balance of flavor without the long list of ingredients and garlic powder is so handy to have on hand for that garlic flavor in a pinch. You can also use fresh garlic and make your own Italian seasoning if you prefer (typically a blend of dried oregano, basil, thyme, and aromatics).
Marinara: Marinara adds a traditional flavor to the dish. Its tomato base, infused with herbs and seasonings, contributes a savory and slightly tangy taste. When dipped in with the cottage cheese it’s *chef’s kiss*. I used store bought for convenience, but homemade sauce would be delicious and a great way to use up any tomatoes that are going bad.
Pepperoni: I prefer turkey pepperoni for this recipe but any you can find will work! Spicy, mild, vegetarian – the options are endless. I like how the pepperoni crisps up when the dip is broiled.
Not a pepperoni pizza fan? No problem! You can try this with your fave pizza combo. Ham and pineapple, vegetarian, meat lover, margherita – use whatever toppings your heart desires. This is also a fun way to get the kiddos involved in the kitchen by having them build their own pizza bowl.
Mozzarella: It wouldn’t be pizza without cheese. I used pizza mozzarella which I find melts really nicely, creating a gooey layer over the pizza bowl, but you can use whatever cheese or cheese blend you prefer.
How To Make This Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
To a blender, add the cottage cheese, parmesan, italian seasoning and garlic powder and blend until smooth.
Layer a casserole dish with the cottage cheese mixture, then the marinara sauce, then the mozzarella, and finish with the pepperoni.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Turn to broil and return to oven for 2 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn’t burn
Serve with veggies, crackers, pitas or tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Nutritional Benefits (Nutrition by Addition)
Before I jump into the nutritional benefits of this baked dip, I want to talk about the philosophy of nutrition by addition. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that this involves focusing on what you can add to your plate versus what to cut out.
Often I’ll talk about it in regards to an ingredient. For example adding cottage cheese into a queso dip recipe for an extra dose of protein. But it also applies to what you eat throughout the day like adding a snack in between meals instead of “holding off” until dinner. This will help you feel energized and can keep your blood sugars stable throughout the day.
The importance of snacking is often overlooked in today’s discourse. But adding 1 to 2 snacks into your day can be a total game changer in terms of energy, cravings and not feeling out of control around food (often triggered by low blood sugars)
I often hear from clients in our Make Food Feel Good Program that this one simple change has an immediate ripple effect on everything from mood, relationship with food, reducing binges and decreased preoccupation with food. Just a few of the reasons why I’m such a snack champion as a dietitian.
If you’re looking for more ideas, I’ve got this round up of 15 Quick & Easy Balanced Meal Prep Snacks for you!
Now to highlight the ingredients—
Protein: Did you know that ½ cup of cottage cheese has almost 15g of protein? Combine that with the protein from the pepperoni and cheese makes this a filling and blood-sugar stabilizing snack.
Fiber: Serving this dip with crackers or veggies, adds some fiber into your day. Fiber helps support our gut health, keeps our blood sugars (and mood!) stable, and helps provide a feeling of fullness. I like making a plate with a variety of dippers that include crackers, pita chips or tortilla chips and veggies (like peppers, cucumbers, and celery).
Nourishing Fats: The combo of cheeses adds nourishing fats to this dish. Fats, often demonized by diet culture, are critical to a balanced snack. They add that satiety factor, which makes us satisfied after eating.
Recipe, Kitchen, & Time Saving Hacks
I love teaching my clients how to save time in the kitchen without sacrificing flavor! Here are a few tricks you can use when making this recipe.
Kitchen tools: I’m a firm believer in investing in kitchen tools that will make your life easier. You don’t need every kitchen tool on the market but there are a few that I believe will elevate kitchen game. The first is a high-powered blender. I use my Vitamix at least a couple of times per week. You can use it to make soups, sauces, smoothies, and dips like this one.
Buy premade ingredients: I love using grocery store finds to help speed up a recipe. For this particular dip, I recommend buying pre-shredded pizza mozzarella, jarred marinara sauce, and an Italian mix seasoning.
If you make this Quick Baked Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl Dip, it would make my day if you would leave a comment and/or star rating below— I love hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot.rd so I can see your versions! It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens! Xo
PrintQuick Baked Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl Dip
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
I had to give this viral TikTik recipe a try and it did not disappoint! This quick baked cottage cheese pizza dip is a delicious warm snack that’s perfect for entertaining. Cottage cheese packs in the protein with over 25g per cup and the marinara sauce & pepperoni add such a satisfying flavor! Pair it with fresh veggies, crackers or tortilla chips for a boost of filling fiber and you’ve got a balanced and nourishing snack the whole family will love!
Ingredients
2 cups cottage cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
3/4 cup marinara sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
30 grams turkey pepperoni or pepperoni (approximately ¼ – ⅓ cup)
For dipping: veggies, bread sticks, crackers, crostinis
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 F.
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To a blender, add the cottage cheese, parmesan, and seasoning and blend until smooth.
-
Layer a casserole dish with the cottage cheese mixture, then the marinara sauce, then the mozzarella, and finish with the pepperoni.
-
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Turn to broil and return to oven for 2 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn’t burn
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Serve with veggies, crackers, pita chips or tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Notes
This dip is best served fresh! While it can technically be reheated the cottage cheese does get a bit chunky so I don’t usually plan for leftovers.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
Michelle says
Pretty tasty!!! I baked mine in a red bell pepper half. I think it tasted like a cross between pizza and lasagna. Definitely healthier!!!
Lindsay Pleskot, RD says
Ooh I love the idea of baking this into a bell pepper! I am definitely into the pizza lasagna combo. Thanks for sharing Michelle!