Baked Cottage Cheese Pizza Dip (18g of Protein)
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Trust me, this cottage cheese pizza dip is incredible. It bakes up hot, bubbly, and cheesy, and no one will guess cottage cheese is the base. It has 18 grams of protein and 199 calories per serving, and it will keep you dipping. This is the kind of dip that disappears faster than your husband’s fantasy football dreams.
Two things make this dip so special. First, blending the cottage cheese until it’s completely smooth and adding an egg makes the dip set instead of turning runny. Second, cooking the tomato paste with minced pepperoni and tomato paste makes the sauce taste homemade instead of straight from a jar. Don’t skip either one.
Cottage cheese is here to stay, so if you’re into it, check out our easy high protein cottage cheese recipes next.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- 18g of protein and 199 calories per serving
- Perfect for game day
- Blended completely smooth, so there’s no curd texture
- Pepperoni goes in the sauce and on top
- Bakes in 20 to 25 minutes
Ingredients and Substitutions:
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for this cottage cheese pizza dip. See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions.
- Low-Fat Cottage Cheese. This is the protein-packed base, and once it’s blended it tastes like a creamy ricotta layer. Full-fat cottage cheese works too, but the calories and fat will go up.
- Egg. The egg is what helps the dip set in the oven, so it scoops cleanly instead of running off your cracker.
- Grated Parmesan. Parmesan adds a salty, nutty flavor to the cheese base and helps it taste like real pizza.
- Tomato Paste and Pizza Sauce. Pizza sauce or marinara both work here. The tomato paste gets cooked with the pepperoni first, and that’s what gives the sauce a deeper, slow-simmered flavor.
- Mini Pepperoni. Some of it gets minced and cooked into the sauce, and the rest goes on top to crisp up in the oven. Minis cover the top more evenly than regular slices, and they’re easier to scoop.
- Pepperoncini. Chopped pepperoncini or banana peppers add a tangy bite that cuts through all the cheese.
- Hot Honey. A drizzle at the end adds a sweet heat that works really well with salty pepperoni. It’s optional but highly recommended.
Dietary Modifications
- Gluten-free: Check the labels on your pizza sauce and pepperoni, and serve with gluten-free crackers or veggies.
- Dairy-free: This one isn’t a good fit, since the base is built on cottage cheese and Parmesan.
- Vegetarian: Leave out the pepperoni in both the sauce and on top.
Expert Tip!
Blend the cheese base for the full 60 to 90 seconds, and scrape down the sides if needed. No curds should remain. If you stop early, you’ll taste cottage cheese instead of creamy pizza dip.
Variations
- Supreme: Add diced bell pepper and red onion to the top before baking.
- Turkey pepperoni: Swap it in for a leaner version, and update your macros.
- Extra heat: Add more red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Veggie: Skip the pepperoni and top with sliced olives and mushrooms.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Dip is grainy. The cheese base was under-blended. Next time, blend until it’s completely smooth.
- Center is runny. It came out too soon. Bake until the edges bubble and the center is set.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Assemble the dip in the baking dish without the mozzarella, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready, add the toppings and bake. It may need a few extra minutes since it’s going in cold, so bake until the edges bubble and the center is set.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, or microwave individual portions in 30-second bursts. Add the hot honey and basil after reheating, not before.
Milton’s Protein crackers are my go-to for an extra protein boost. Veggies and pita chips work too.
Not if you blend it all the way. Once it’s smooth and baked with Parmesan and pizza sauce, it tastes like a creamy pizza dip.
To log this in MyFitnessPal or Macros First, search: Ohsnapmacros – Cottage Cheese Pizza Dip.
Check out our other cottage cheese recipes
If you make this recipe, please leave a rating and/or comment! Tag me on Instagram @ohsnapmacros, I love hearing from you!
Cottage Cheese Pizza Dip
MyFitnessPal & MacrosFirst App Users
You can find this recipe and many others on MyFitnessPal and MacrosFirst by searching: Ohsnapmacros – Cottage Cheese Pizza Dip
Ingredients
Sauce
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce or marinara
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1/2 oz mini pepperoni finely minced
- 1 tsp. red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
Cheese Base
- 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese 440g
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp. chopped pepperoncini or banana peppers
- 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
- 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan
- 2 oz. mini pepperoni
- hot honey for drizzling
- fresh basil torn
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie plate or 8×8 dish.
- In a small skillet over medium-low heat, cook the tomato paste and minced pepperoni together for 2 minutes, stirring, until the paste darkens a shade and the pepperoni releases its fat.
- Add the pizza sauce, vinegar, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Simmer on low for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat.
- Blend the cottage cheese, Parmesan, egg, pepperoncini, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper for 60 to 90 seconds, scraping down the sides as needed, until completely smooth with no curds left.
- Pour the cheese base into the prepared dish.
- Spoon the pizza sauce over the top and gently swirl it into the cheese base. It won't stay on top as a separate layer, and that's fine.
- Scatter the mozzarella over the top, then sprinkle with the 2 Tbsp. of Parmesan and the mini pepperoni. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges bubble and the center is set.
- Drizzle with hot honey, top with torn basil, and serve warm with crackers.
Notes
- Blend the cheese base until completely smooth. No curds should remain.
- Serve hot and bubbly.
- Serve with high protein crackers like Milton’s Protein crackers for an extra protein boost.
- Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary with substitutions.
