Viral-Style Low Carb Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls

Low Carb Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls are everything people love about pizza—cheesy, saucy, and comforting—without the crust or the carb overload. This high-protein bowl trend has exploded on social platforms because it is fast, customizable, and easy to fit into a weight-loss or keto lifestyle.​

Instead of a traditional dough base, this recipe uses seasoned cottage cheese, low-sugar marinara, melty mozzarella, and classic pizza toppings baked in a bowl. The result is a bubbling, savory pizza experience you can eat with a spoon in under 15 minutes, all while staying low-carb and macro-friendly.​

Why you’ll love these pizza bowls

• High in protein thanks to cottage cheese, cheese, and optional lean meat toppings.​
• Low in carbs because there is no crust; just sauce, cheese, and pizza toppings layered in a bowl.​
• Ready in around 10 minutes, making it ideal for quick lunches or late-night cravings.​
• Fully customizable with your favorite meats, veggies, and seasonings so it never gets boring.​

Ingredients

Base:

• Low-fat or full-fat cottage cheese (choose a lower-carb brand)​
• Low-sugar marinara or pizza sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese

Seasoning:

• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Optional crushed red pepper flakes

Topping ideas (choose a few):

• Mini pepperoni or chopped pepperoni​
• Cooked Italian sausage or ground beef (seasoned)​
• Sliced mushrooms
• Diced bell peppers
• Sliced black olives
• Diced red onion
• Fresh basil or parsley for serving

Step-by-step instructions

1. Prep the bowls
   • Preheat a broiler or oven to a high temperature.​
   • Choose small oven-safe bowls or ramekins and lightly grease if needed.
2. Season the cottage cheese base
   • Add cottage cheese to each bowl and stir in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.​
   • Smooth the top into an even layer.
3. Add sauce and toppings
   • Spoon a layer of low-sugar marinara or pizza sauce over the cottage cheese.​
   • Sprinkle generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
   • Top with pepperoni or other chosen toppings, distributing evenly.​
4. Bake until bubbly
   • Place bowls on a baking sheet and bake or broil just until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly golden around the edges.​
   • Remove carefully and let cool for a few minutes; the centers will be very hot.
5. Finish and serve
   • Top with fresh basil or parsley and a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like heat.​
   • Serve hot and eat directly from the bowl with a spoon, or pair with a simple green salad for a complete meal.​

Tips, swaps, and storage

• Use higher-protein cottage cheese for a bigger protein boost per bowl.​
• For extra volume without many carbs, stir in a small handful of finely chopped spinach or mushrooms before baking.​
• To keep carbs low, always choose a marinara with no added sugar and check labels for net carbs.​
• Leftover bowls can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to 2–3 days, then reheated in the oven or microwave until hot.​