Pizza with Cottage Cheese Crust Recipe
This delightful pizza recipe features a unique cottage cheese crust that is both soft and crispy. The crust is made by blending cottage cheese with flour, baking powder, and salt, then baked and topped with classic pizza sauce and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a homemade pizza night with a slightly healthier twist on traditional dough.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 1 12-inch pizza, serves 2-3 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Crust Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour + 2–3 tablespoons for dusting
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
Toppings
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup pizza sauce (such as Rao’s marinara)
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and position a rack at the highest level, near the top of the oven.
- Blend Cottage Cheese: Blend the cottage cheese in a food processor or blender until completely smooth to form the base for the crust.
- Make Dough: In a bowl, combine the smooth cottage cheese with all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until the dough starts to come together. It will be shaggy and sticky at first; use your hands to knead and form it into a cohesive ball, dusting with extra flour as needed.
- Form Crust: Place a sheet of parchment paper on a pizza pan or baking sheet. Place the dough in the center and dust the top with flour. Press it out with your hands to form a 12-inch diameter circle. Press it thin enough for a crispy bite but sturdy enough not to be too soft throughout.
- Oil Crust Surface: Lightly rub olive oil over the surface of the formed dough to help it crisp up during baking.
- Pre-Bake Crust: Bake the plain crust in the oven for 10 minutes. It should puff slightly and turn a light golden color.
- Add Sauce and Cheese: Remove the crust from the oven and spread your chosen pizza sauce evenly over the surface. Top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses.
- Bake to Melt Cheese: Return the pizza to the top rack and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheeses are melted and bubbly.
- Broil for Finish: Finally, switch the oven to broil and place the pizza under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes. Broil until the cheese and crust edges are deeply golden and some edges are crisped for extra texture.
- Serve Optional: Sprinkle red pepper flakes, drizzle with olive oil or hot honey, and serve with extra sauce for dipping to enhance flavor. Enjoy your crispy, cheesy cottage cheese crust pizza!
Notes
- Blending the cottage cheese ensures a smooth crust texture without large curds.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy removal after baking.
- Pressing the dough thinner will yield a crispier crust, but be careful not to make it too thin to avoid breaking.
- Pre-baking the crust ensures it doesn’t get soggy under the sauce and toppings.
- Broiling at the end adds beautiful golden color and crispy edges.
- Adjust baking times slightly based on your oven performance.
- Feel free to add your favorite pizza toppings after adding sauce and cheese before the final bake.
Keywords: cottage cheese crust pizza, homemade pizza, easy pizza recipe, vegetarian pizza, healthy pizza crust
