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Side Dish Recipes

Cottage Cheese Mini Pizza Crusts

These cottage cheese mini pizza crusts are made with just flour and small curd cottage cheese for an easy, high protein pizza base. They bake up soft in the center with lightly crisp edges and are perfect for quick lunches, snacks, or a simple weeknight dinner. No yeast and no rise time required.

Prep
10 min
Cook
12 min
Serves
8 cottage cheese mini pizzas
Cottage Cheese Mini Pizza Crusts

Have you seen the cottage cheese pizza crust trend all over TikTok? I finally decided to try it myself because I needed to know if it was actually worth making or just another viral moment.

Here’s the honest answer: it works. These 2-ingredient cottage cheese mini pizza crusts are simple, filling, and surprisingly solid for something made with flour and cottage cheese.

hand holding a cottage cheese mini pizza with a bite taken out, showing melted mozzarella and mini pepperoni

Now let me set expectations. This is not going to taste like your favorite pizzeria crust. It’s a quick, no-yeast dough. But once you add seasoning and toppings, you end up with a little pizza that’s crisp around the edges and soft in the center.

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cottage cheese (small curd, 4% milkfat recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Tip on cottage cheese: I used small curd cottage cheese with 4% milkfat, and I recommend sticking with that. The higher fat content gives the dough better texture and flavor, and it holds together much better than low-fat versions.

For the Toppings

  • ⅓ cup pizza sauce, divided
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ¼ cup mini pepperoni

How to Make Cottage Cheese Mini Pizza Crusts

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the dough. Add flour and cottage cheese to a bowl and mix with a spoon. Once it starts coming together, knead to incorporate any flour at the bottom of the bowl. The dough will be slightly sticky.

flour, cottage cheese, and Italian seasoning in a stainless steel mixing bowl before combining

Shape and divide. Form into a log and cut into 8 equal sections.

cottage cheese pizza dough shaped into a log and sliced into 8 equal portions on a wooden cutting board

Form the crusts. Press each piece into a 3–4 inch circle. If needed, lightly dust your hands with flour. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

eight unbaked cottage cheese pizza crusts shaped into rounds on a parchment lined baking sheet

Top them. Spread 1 teaspoon pizza sauce on each crust, then add 1 tablespoon mozzarella and a few mini pepperoni.

cottage cheese pizza rounds on baking sheet topped with pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, and mini pepperoni before baking

Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and edges are set. Let cool for a few minutes before eating so they firm up slightly.

close up of baked cottage cheese mini pizza on parchment paper topped with melted mozzarella and mini pepperoni

My Honest Take

These are exactly what you’d expect from a 2-ingredient pizza crust. They’re good and satisfying, but not traditional pizza. The seasoning carries the flavor, so don’t skip the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt.

The texture is soft and slightly dense, more like thick flatbread than classic crust. If you expect that going in, you’ll enjoy them. They work well as a quick snack or easy weeknight option.

Tips for the Best Results

  • Don’t skip kneading. It helps incorporate hidden dry flour and improves texture.
  • Keep toppings light so the crust doesn’t get weighed down.
  • Let them rest a few minutes after baking so the crust sets.

Topping Ideas & Variations

Try these combinations:

  • BBQ Chicken: BBQ sauce, shredded rotisserie chicken, red onion, mozzarella. If you are into viral recipes, you can also use some of the boiled onion in this variation!
  • Veggie: Pizza sauce, diced bell peppers, olives, mushrooms, mozzarella
  • White Pizza: Olive oil, garlic, ricotta, fresh basil
  • Buffalo Chicken: Buffalo sauce, shredded chicken, ranch drizzle, mozzarella

Storage & Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes or in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–4 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use low-fat cottage cheese?
You can, but 4% milkfat gives better texture. Lower fat versions contain more water and can make the dough stickier.

Do I need to drain the cottage cheese?
No. If it seems unusually watery, you can drain briefly, but standard small curd works as is.

Can I make these ahead of time?
You can shape the crusts and refrigerate them unfilled for a couple of hours before baking. Add toppings just before baking.

Can I freeze these?
Yes. Bake plain, cool completely, freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag. Add toppings and bake from frozen at 400°F for 12–15 minutes.

baked cottage cheese mini pepperoni pizza lifted on a black spatula fresh from the oven

Ingredients

8 cottage cheese mini pizzas

For the Crust

For the Toppings

Equipment

  • Parchment Paper

Steps

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  2. 2

    In a mixing bowl, combine flour, cottage cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Stir with a spoon until a rough dough forms.

  3. 3

    Knead the dough directly in the bowl for 1 to 2 minutes to fully incorporate any dry flour. The dough will be slightly sticky, which is normal. If using lower fat cottage cheese and the dough feels overly wet, lightly dust hands with flour.

  4. 4

    Form dough into a log and cut into 8 equal pieces. Press each piece into a 3 to 4 inch round using your hands. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

  5. 5

    Spread about 1 teaspoon pizza sauce onto each crust. Top with about 1 tablespoon shredded mozzarella and a few mini pepperoni.

  6. 6

    Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted and edges are set. Let mini pizzas rest for several minutes before serving to allow the crust to firm slightly.

Filed under Side Dish Recipes

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