Remember those soft, cheesy pizza buns from the grocery store? These cottage cheese pizza buns taste just like the ones my mom packed in my lunches growing up, but with a high-protein twist!
As a dietitian, I love that each bun packs 30 grams of protein, so they’re satisfying and substantial enough for a quick meal. They’re soft, cheesy, and surprisingly easy to make with a simple cottage cheese dough that doesn’t need yeast or rising time.
Want more healthy recipes inspired by pizza? Try my easy pizza beans, greek yogurt pizza dough, or air fryer tortilla pizza.
Nostalgic Pizza Buns With a Protein Boost
These homemade pizza buns have quickly become a favorite in our house. Here’s why you’ll love them:
- They taste like pizza. The dough bakes up soft and bread-like with golden bottoms and plenty of melty cheese. You’d never guess it’s made with cottage cheese!
- 30 grams of protein per bun. These aren’t just a snack! Each pizza bun has enough protein to make a satisfying lunch or a substantial afternoon snack.
- No yeast or rising required. The simple cottage cheese dough comes together in minutes, so you can have homemade pizza buns ready in about 30 minutes start-to-finish.
- Easy to customize. Keep it classic with pepperoni and olives, or experiment with your favorite pizza toppings.
Dietitian tip! 💡 My husband and I love these for a quick dinner with a side of veggies. It’s an easy way to turn a nostalgic favorite into a balanced, satisfying meal.
Key Ingredient Notes
Cottage cheese: The secret to these high-protein pizza buns! I use 2% cottage cheese, but other fat percentages should work. Make sure to blend it until completely smooth before measuring for the best dough texture. And make sure to check out my entire cottage cheese recipe collection!
All-purpose flour: Spoon and level your flour when measuring, and keep some extra nearby for kneading and shaping. The dough is naturally sticky, so you’ll likely need a few extra sprinkles.
Pizza sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade pizza sauce. Don’t add too much or your buns could turn soggy.
Mozzarella and parmesan: This combination gives you that classic cheesy pizza flavor. Feel free to experiment with other cheeses you love.
Pepperoni and olives: My favorite simple toppings! I recommend small pepperoni slices so they’re easy to distribute. You can add other toppings, but keep them relatively light so the buns don’t get soggy.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and detailed recipe.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns
Step 1: Blend cottage cheese.
Step 2: Add to a bowl with flour, salt, baking powder, and mix.
Step 3: Transfer to floured surface and shape into two dough balls.
Step 4: Roll flat until the dough is about 6-inches across.
Step 5: Transfer to a parchment lined baking pan and add toppings.
Step 6: Bake, cool, and enjoy!
You’ll know your cottage cheese pizza buns are done baking when the cheese is bubbling and the bottoms are golden brown.
Miranda’s Tips
Tips From My Test Kitchen
Blend your cottage cheese thoroughly. This makes a big difference! Smooth cottage cheese creates a more uniform dough and gives the baked buns a texture that’s surprisingly similar to traditional pizza dough.
Keep extra flour handy. The dough is sticky, so you’ll need to sprinkle more flour onto your work surface and hands while kneading and shaping. You’re looking for smooth dough balls that are easy to roll.
Don’t overload your toppings. A little sauce, cheese, and a few toppings go a long way. Too many toppings can weigh down the dough and make your pizza buns soggy.
Let them rest before eating. Give the buns at least 10 minutes after baking so they can firm up. They’ll still be deliciously warm, but much easier to handle.
How to Serve Pizza Buns
These cottage cheese pizza buns are delicious warm from the oven, but they’re just as good at room temperature. Here are a few ways we enjoy them:
- For lunch: Enjoy a pizza bun on its own for a quick, protein-packed meal. Add a side of fruit and veggies for more color and balance.
- For dinner: My husband and I love serving these fresh from the oven with a side salad or some sliced vegetables.
- For an afternoon snack: They’re filling enough to keep you going until dinner, especially on busy days.
- For kids: Pack a cooled pizza bun in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack for a fun, homemade lunch.
If you want something with a little more color, try my pizza pasta salad instead.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover pizza buns in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can enjoy them cold, or warm them in the microwave until heated through. They’re especially delicious fresh from the oven when the cheese is still melty!
Common Questions
I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten-free flour, but a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend should work.
I recommend it! Blending creates a smooth, uniform dough that bakes into a soft, bread-like texture. Leaving the cottage cheese chunky will change the consistency and make the dough harder to work with.
Yes! Just add an extra pinch of salt to your dough if you do.
Yes! These buns hold up well in the fridge for up to four days, so they’re great for meal prep. Enjoy them cold, or reheated when you’re ready to eat.
More Easy Dinner Ideas
Pizza Beans
Easy Taco Cups Recipe
Broccoli Cheddar Orzo
8-Ingredient Taco Stuffed Peppers
Cottage Cheese Pizza Buns
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup all purpose flour, spooned and levelled (plus more for shaping/rolling)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup blended cottage cheese
Toppings
- 3 Tbsp pizza sauce
- ⅔ cup shredded mozzarella
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan
- pepperoni
- sliced olives
- other toppings as desired
Instructions
- Prep: Position your oven rack to the middle and preheat to 450 F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Mix dough: Add blended cottage cheese to the mixing bowl. Mix with a spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer to a floured work surface and gently knead for 1-2 minutes. Add a sprinkle of additional flour as needed if your dough feels too sticky.
- Divide dough, shape, and roll: Divide dough into two even portions. Shape into two smooth balls. Roll the dough balls on a well-floured surface into circles, about 6 inches across. Transfer to your parchment-lined sheet pan.
- Prepare pizza buns: To each pizza bun, add 1 ½ Tbsp pizza sauce and spread to the edges. Then, top each bun with ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella and 1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese. Add pepperoni and sliced olives, and any other toppings as desired.
- Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the bottom of your buns are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them rest for at least 10 minutes before eating. Enjoy!
Notes
- I like to use an immersion blender to blend my cottage cheese before measuring. A regular blender works too, but it can be harder to use with this smaller volume of cottage cheese.
- Keep your work surface well-floured to prevent the dough from sticking.
- You can enjoy these warm and fresh, cold from the fridge, or re-heat in the microwave. Keep your pizza buns stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
