These Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns are high-protein, easy to make and deliciously cheesy. If you love the cozy comfort of pizza and the soft, satisfying chew of a freshly baked bun, this Cottage Cheese Pizza Bun recipe is about to become a new favourite. Imagine fluffy, golden rolls, topped with savoury marinara sauce, melty cheese and your favourite pizza toppings – all boosted with creamy cottage cheese for extra protein and richness. The best part? They’re ready in under 30 minutes making them perfect for busy days.
When schedules are packed and time is short, having a high-protein, grab-and-go option on hand makes all the difference. These buns bake up soft and golden for a compact, portable and satisfying bite to hold you over between meetings, practices, games or classes.
In our search for high-protein foods with staying power, cottage cheese has come to the forefront. It may not be the first ingredient you think of when it comes to pizza, but it’s the secret ingredient that takes these pizza buns to the next level. It adds that extra protein, keeps the buns moist and tender, and delivers a rich, satisfying texture without making them heavy. Whether you need a power-packed snack idea, a kid-friendly lunchbox recipe or a quick dinner, these cheesy pizza buns are perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep.
This easy Cottage Cheese Pizza Bun recipe is:
- High in protein
- Soft, fluffy and delicious
- Freezer-friendly
- Customizable with your favourite pizza toppings
- Loved by kids, teens and adults
- Perfect for on-the-go snacks, packed lunches and even grab-and-go breakfasts
What goes in Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns?
You need just a handful of ingredients to make this protein-packed mini pizzas!
- Cottage Cheese: Adding both a soft texture and loads of protein, cottage cheese is the main ingredient in this recipe. Use a cottage cheese with at least 2% milk fat for best results. Lower fat cottage cheeses tend to be runnier and may affect the outcome. Fat-free cottage cheeses usually contain thickeners, binders and other additives that tend to do strange things when baked, and should be avoided.
- Eggs: Three large eggs are added to this recipe to emulsify the ingredients, help the buns puff and rise, and increase the nutrients and protein.
- Flour: A small amount of all-purpose flour is added to the mixture to create a “bun-like” texture. To make these buns gluten-free, substitute a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour.
- Baking Powder: This is the leavening agent that causes the buns to rise.
- Dried Basil, Oregano and Garlic Powder: These seasonings add delicious Italian-inspired flavour.
- Mozzarella Cheese: For traditional pizza flavour and gooey, cheesy texture, mozzarella cheese delivers classic pizza taste. Any cheese that melts well (Fontina, Gruyère, Provolone, etc) can be substituted.
- Marinara Sauce: Make your own homemade marinara sauce, or reach for a jar of quality sauce for best results. While I do love my own marinara, I don’t often have time to make it from scratch. If I don’t have some already in the fridge or freezer, then my store-bought go to is Rao’s Marinara Sauce. Look for it in good grocery stores, Italian food shops or buy it online.
- Toppings: Top these Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns with the pizza toppings of your choice.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
SERVING SUGGESTIONSThese Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns make the best on-the-go meal. With a side of cut carrots, celery or cucumber, they become a well-rounded, portable meal. If you’re not on-the-go, and have a moment to sit, a crisp caesar salad, Italian chopped salad or simple leafy green salad rounds them into a satisfying meal. These pizza buns also make a delicious side dish for soup, especially Italian Wedding Soup or quick and easy Straciatella Soup with Chicken and Spring Vegetables.
Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divided
- 3/4 cups marinara sauce
- Pizza toppings of your choice: pepperoni, chopped ham, sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, olives, etc
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese and eggs until fully combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, basil, oregano, garlic powder and 1 cup of the mozzarella until mixture is fully combined.
- Scoop the dough onto 12 equal buns, placing 6 buns on each of the prepared baking sheets. The buns will rise and spread significantly in the oven, so leave at least 2” of space between each. Smooth the top of each bun slightly to form a level surface. Top each bun with some of the marinara sauce, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella. Add the toppings of your choice. Bake for 17-18 minutes, until buns are golden on the bottom, and cheese is bubbling. Use a spatula to lift the buns off the parchment paper. Serve warm or transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Notes
- These pizza buns should peel off the parchment paper easily with the help of a spatula. If you find that they are sticking to the parchment paper, they probably need to be baked for a few more minutes.
- If freezing Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns, flash freeze the buns individually on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a freezer bag to prevent sticking. They can be reheated directly from frozen in a 375F oven until warmed through, or reheated in a microwave. Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns that have been frozen, then thawed, may be softer than freshly baked buns. Reheating in an oven helps restore crispness.
