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Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls Recipe

4.9 from 95 reviews

These Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls are a quick, easy, and customizable meal that combines the creamy texture of cottage cheese with classic pizza flavors. Perfect for a light lunch or snack, this recipe layers cottage cheese, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, topped with herbs and optional pizza-inspired toppings. Ready in just minutes using a microwave, oven, or air fryer, they provide a comforting pizza experience in a bowl.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup marinara sauce
  • 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • Garlic powder (to taste)
  • Chili flakes (to taste)
  • Fresh basil leaves (for topping)

Optional Toppings

  • Kalamata olives
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Other pizza toppings of your choice

Instructions

  1. Build the base: Spoon ½ cup of cottage cheese into each of two small, microwave-safe bowls.
  2. Mix in the flavor: Add a little shredded mozzarella, ½ tsp dried thyme, a pinch of garlic powder, and 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce to each bowl. Stir gently to combine, but do not overmix to maintain texture.
  3. First heat-up: Microwave each bowl for 1 minute to start warming the ingredients and begin melting the cheese.
  4. Top it off: Add 1 more tablespoon of marinara sauce and a little extra shredded mozzarella on top of each bowl. Microwave for another minute until the cheese is fully melted and the bowl is hot throughout.
  5. Finish & garnish: Sprinkle chili flakes, fresh basil leaves, and any optional toppings like olives or cherry tomatoes on top to enhance the pizza flavors.
  6. Alternative cooking methods: If you prefer, follow the same layering steps and then bake or air fry the bowls at 350°F (160°C) for 5–7 minutes until hot, bubbly, and golden on top. Use oven- or air fryer-safe bowls for this method.

Notes

  • Make sure to use microwave-safe bowls if heating in the microwave.
  • The recipe is flexible; add your favorite pizza toppings for personalization.
  • Adjust garlic powder and chili flakes amounts based on your taste preferences.
  • Using oven- or air fryer-safe bowls is essential if choosing to bake or air fry instead of microwaving.
  • For a creamier texture, use full-fat cottage cheese.
  • This recipe yields two individual bowls, perfect for a small meal or snack.

Keywords: cottage cheese pizza bowls, quick pizza snack, microwave pizza bowl, low fat snack, easy pizza recipe