Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup full fat cottage cheese (low fat will work as well)
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp everything but the bagel seasoning
Toppings
- ½ cup pesto
- 1 cup cooked ground beef
- Handful cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup mozzarella, freshly grated
- Baby arugula for topping
- Basil leaves for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly brush with 1 teaspoon of oil to prevent sticking.
- Mix Crust Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, eggs, oregano, salt, everything but the bagel seasoning, and flour. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Form the Pizza Crust: Spread the mixture into your desired pizza shape on the prepared parchment paper, ensuring an even thickness for proper baking.
- Bake the Crust: Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown. Remove and let it rest for 2 minutes before adding toppings.
- Add Toppings: Spread the pesto evenly over the crust, then add the cooked ground beef, halved cherry tomatoes, and grate the mozzarella on top.
- Second Bake: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 8 minutes, allowing the toppings to heat through and the cheese to melt.
- Broil Finish: Turn the oven to broil and cook the pizza for an additional 1-2 minutes to slightly brown and bubble the cheese for a finished look.
- Serve: Remove from oven, let rest for 2 minutes, then top with fresh baby arugula and basil leaves. Slice and enjoy your high-protein cottage cheese pizza!
Notes
- Low-fat cottage cheese can be used to reduce the fat content, but full-fat offers richer flavor and texture.
- Feel free to swap cooked ground beef for other protein options like grilled chicken or turkey.
- The pesto adds moisture and flavor, so spread it evenly to avoid dryness.
- Broiling at the end helps achieve a nice golden cheese finish but watch carefully to prevent burning.
- This pizza crust is softer than traditional dough, so handle gently when topping and serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Broiling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 pizza
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
