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Hearty Pizza-Style Cottage Cheese Bake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 56 reviews

This Hearty Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake is a flavorful and wholesome dish perfect for easy weeknight meals. Featuring a blend of low-fat cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and classic pizza toppings like turkey pepperoni, bell peppers, and olives, it offers a healthier twist on traditional pizza flavors baked into a delicious casserole.

Ingredients

Scale

Dairy and Eggs

  • 2 cups Low-fat cottage cheese (Can substitute with ricotta)
  • 2 large Eggs (Flaxseed meal can be used as a vegan substitute)
  • 1 cup Part-skim mozzarella cheese (Can replace with full-fat mozzarella)
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese (Nutritional yeast can be used for a vegan alternative)

Vegetables and Toppings

  • 1 cup Pizza sauce (Homemade sauce can reduce sodium content)
  • 1 cup Turkey pepperoni (Can swap with regular pepperoni or a vegetarian option)
  • 1 cup Chopped bell peppers (Mix with other vegetables like mushrooms or spinach)
  • 1/2 cup Chopped black olives (Can substitute with green olives)

Seasonings

  • 1 teaspoon Dried Italian herbs (Fresh herbs like basil can be substituted)
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder (Use fresh minced garlic for more intensity)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt (Adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper (Adjust to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Gather all the ingredients to ensure everything is ready for quick assembly.
  2. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a medium baking dish to prevent sticking.
  3. Mix base: In a large bowl, whisk together the low-fat cottage cheese and eggs until the texture becomes smooth and creamy, ensuring an even base for the bake.
  4. Add cheeses and seasonings: Incorporate half of the mozzarella cheese, all the grated Parmesan, dried Italian herbs, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper into the cottage cheese mixture. Stir well to combine all flavors uniformly.
  5. Spread mixture: Evenly spread this cheese and egg mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating a solid base layer.
  6. Add toppings: Top the cheese base with pizza sauce followed by the remaining mozzarella cheese. Distribute turkey pepperoni slices, chopped bell peppers, and black olives evenly on top to replicate classic pizza toppings.
  7. Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the edges turn golden brown, indicating the bake is cooked through and flavorful.
  8. Cool and serve: Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving to let it set and enhance the taste experience.

Notes

  • For a vegan version, substitute eggs with flaxseed meal, dairy cheeses with plant-based alternatives, and turkey pepperoni with vegetarian options.
  • Use homemade pizza sauce to control sodium and sugar content for a healthier dish.
  • You can customize by adding other vegetables such as mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition.
  • Adjust seasoning according to your preference, especially salt and garlic powder for flavor intensity.
  • Letting the bake cool helps it to firm up, making it easier to slice and serve.

Keywords: pizza style casserole, cottage cheese bake, healthy pizza bake, easy weeknight dinner, low-fat pizza casserole

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/hearty-pizza-style-cottage-cheese-bake-recipe/