By If you're short on time and looking for a way to use up your leftovers, try this cottage cheese pizza crust recipe! In just 30 minutes, you can have a high-protein pizza crust that's completely customizable and packed with 39 grams of protein per serving!
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leftovers for the win!
I created this recipe to throw together at the end of the week, to clean out all the leftovers you have. If you followed my meal plan for this week, you could add chopped-up meatballs on top, salami or red onion from the bean salad, and anything else you might have on hand! Not only do you save money buying fewer ingredients, but you'll also clean out the fridge -- win/win!
ingredient notes & substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Dairy: The only dairy items you'll need are cottage cheese, of course, and mozzarella cheese (or whatever cheese you want to use to top the pizza with!).
- Dry ingredients: Grab all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning from your pantry.
- Pizza sauce: Make your own homemade pizza sauce, or snag your favorite brand from the store!
high protein ingredient spotlight: cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is finally getting its moment in the protein world! While everyone's been obsessing over Greek yogurt and protein powder, this creamy protein source has a super mild flavor that works in literally everything. You can also use it to make cottage cheese stuffed peppers or cottage cheese buffalo chicken dip.
here's how to make cottage cheese pizza crust
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and put a large baking tray in it while preheating it. Adding the dough to a hot pan helps ensure the bottom is cooked.
- Blend the cottage cheese in your blender until smooth and creamy. Mix or whisk the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the cottage cheese and mix well to combine into a dough. If it's too sticky, knead in more flour.
- Shape the dough using a rolling pin or cup to roll out the dough as thin as possible on parchment paper, adding flour as needed to prevent sticking.
- Remove the preheated baking sheet from the oven carefully place the parchment paper with the pizza dough and bake briefly.
- Top with sauce, leftover meatballs, any other desired toppings, and then cheese.
- Return to the oven for 10-12 minutes, broiling the last 1-2 for a nice bubbly cheesy top.
quick recipe video
helpful tips
- Don't skip preheating that baking sheet - it's the secret to getting a crispy bottom crust.
- Using a silicon mat instead of parchment paper makes life way easier since you won't need to tape anything down.
- If you're having trouble blending the cottage cheese because the blender keeps flinging it up on the side walls, add more. This happens more frequently with larger blenders because there's not enough in the blender for the blades to catch.
what toppings should I use?
Pizza is the perfect recipe if you're looking to get rid of some fresh ingredients before they go bad, and pizza is so customizable! So feel free to get creative.
- Sweet Heat: I am a pineapple-on-pizza type of person, and I will not tolerate any pineapple-hating criticism! I especially love pineapple pizza with pepperoni slices topped with red pepper flakes.
- Add a dip: Try hot honey, blue cheese dressing, or the classic ranch dressing on top or as a dip.
- Classic Italian: Make it a margarita pizza and top it with more mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. Drizzle some balsamic vinegar on your slice!
common questions
Any leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. To make them nice and crisp again, reheat them in the oven or air fryer.
Add some more flour and try adding flour to your hands to keep the dough from sticking directly to you.
I recommend prebaking the crust and then freezing it. This way, it will keep for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Then you can just pop it in the oven directly from frozen to thaw, top, and bake once more.
Yup! You sure can. Just swap that for the all-purpose flour and baking soda.
what to do with leftover cottage cheese
If you have leftovers after making pizza, check out our full list of cottage cheese dinner recipes. You can try using it in these cottage cheese meatballs, or transforming it into something sweet like protein tiramisu.
If you tried this cottage cheese pizza crust recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Recipe
high protein cottage cheese pizza crust
Ingredients
cottage cheese crust
- 2 cups cottage cheese (low fat)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
toppings (customize as you like)
- 2 cups pizza sauce
- 3 cups shredded mozzerella
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Note: This recipe is intended to make two pizzas or four personal-size pizzas.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and put a large baking tray in the oven while preheating it. Adding the dough to a hot pan helps make sure the bottom is cooked.
- Blend the 2 cups cottage cheese until smooth and creamy. Mix the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoon Italian seasoning, and 2 teaspoon garlic powder in a bowl. Add the blended cottage cheese and mix well to combine into a dough. If it's too sticky, knead in more flour.
- Tape two pieces of parchment paper onto the counter. Split the dough in half and place each half on one of the pieces of paper (half and half or do 4 personal pizzas). Use a rolling pin or cup to roll out the dough as thin as possible, adding flour as needed to prevent sticking.
- Remove the preheated baking sheet from the oven and carefully place the parchment paper with the pizza dough on it. Bake for 6 minutes and then carefully remove. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Top with desired pizza sauce, any desired toppings, and then cheese.
- Return to the oven for 10-12 minutes, broiling the last 1-2 for a nice bubbly cheesy top.
Video
Notes
- Sweet Heat: I am a pineapple-on-pizza type of person, and I will not tolerate any pineapple-hating criticism! I especially love pineapple pizza with pepperoni slices topped with red pepper flakes.
- Add a dip: Try hot honey, blue cheese dressing, or the classic ranch dressing on top or as a dip.
- Classic Italian: Make it a margarita pizza and top it with more mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. Drizzle some balsamic vinegar on your slice!
- Three-Meat: Top the pizza with sausage, pepperoni, ham, and caramelized onions.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
I'm a pizza and protein lover, so I love not feeling guilty eating this. Plus, it's delicious!
it had a good taste.
yaa!