Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake: Creamy, Cheesy & Loaded with Flavor

If you love pizza but want something a little lighter, this Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake is about to become your new favorite weeknight meal. It’s everything you love about pizza gooey cheese, bold sauce, and your favorite toppings baked together in a creamy, high-protein casserole that’s just as comforting as the original.

The first time I made it, I had leftover cottage cheese and some pizza toppings from our Friday night pizza night. I decided to combine them with pasta and sauce for a quick bake, and what came out of the oven was rich, cheesy, and absolutely irresistible. It’s now a staple in our dinner rotation, right up there with my Cottage Cheese Beef Noodle Bake and Cottage Cheese and Veggie Bake.

Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake

No ratings yet

A cheesy, creamy, pizza-inspired pasta bake made with cottage cheese, mozzarella, pizza sauce, and all your favorite toppings — high-protein comfort food that’s quick, easy, and family-approved.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main

Cuisine: Casserole, Comfort Food”

Calories: 460

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 8 oz cooked pasta (penne, rotini, or ziti)
• 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat)
• ½ cup ricotta or sour cream (optional)
• 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt
• Sliced pepperoni (optional topping)
• Cooked sausage or ground beef (optional topping)
• Diced bell peppers (optional topping)
• Sliced mushrooms (optional topping)
• Black olives (optional topping)
• Fresh basil (for garnish)

Equipment

• 8×8-inch baking dish
• Large mixing bowl
• large pot for boiling pasta
• wooden spoon or spatula
• oven mitts

Method

 

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
2. Bring salted water to a boil and cook your pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta or sour cream (if using), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.
4. Add the cooked pasta and pizza sauce to the bowl and toss to coat. Stir in half of the mozzarella cheese. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
5. Top with remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and your favorite pizza toppings — pepperoni, mushrooms, or bell peppers all work beautifully.
6. Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving, then sprinkle with fresh basil if you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 28gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 680mgPotassium: 420mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 750IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 300mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Use full-fat cottage cheese for a smoother texture. Customize with your favorite toppings and don’t overbake — remove once the cheese is bubbly and golden. Perfect for weeknights or meal prep.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Why You’ll Love Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake

This Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake combines the best of both worlds — the comfort of a baked pasta dish with the fun and flavor of pizza. It’s creamy from the cottage cheese, hearty from the noodles, and bursting with melted mozzarella and your favorite pizza toppings. It’s perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or even potlucks since everyone loves pizza in any form.

If you enjoy cheesy, cozy dinners like my Quick Beef Stroganoff or Creamy Parmesan Pasta Soup, this dish will fit right into your comfort food favorites.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Bake:

• 8 ounces cooked pasta (penne, rotini, or ziti work great)
• 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat)
• ½ cup ricotta or sour cream (optional for extra creaminess)
• 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Optional Pizza Toppings:

• Sliced pepperoni
• Cooked sausage or ground beef
• Diced bell peppers
• Sliced mushrooms
• Black olives
• Fresh basil

If you love layering flavors, this recipe gives you the same satisfaction as my One-Pan Chicken Gallaba Skillet — hearty, colorful, and bursting with flavor in every bite.

How to Make Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake

Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta
Bring salted water to a boil and cook your pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3: Make the Creamy Base
In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta or sour cream (if using), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.

Step 4: Assemble the Bake
Add the cooked pasta and pizza sauce to the bowl and toss to coat. Stir in half of the mozzarella cheese. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

Step 5: Add Toppings
Top with remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and your favorite pizza toppings — pepperoni, mushrooms, or bell peppers all work beautifully.

Step 6: Bake & Serve
Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving, then sprinkle with fresh basil if you like.

This bake has all the simplicity and crowd appeal of my Buffalo Chicken Bowls: big flavor, simple prep, and total satisfaction.

Tips for Perfect Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake

• Use full-fat cottage cheese: It melts smoother and gives the bake a richer flavor.
• Mix up the toppings: Try different proteins or veggies each time you make it.
• Don’t overbake: Remove once the cheese is golden and bubbly.
• Add herbs at the end: Fresh basil or parsley gives a fresh finish.

These same tricks make my Kielbasa Potato Soup so cozy — balance and timing make all the difference.

How to Store and Reheat

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze before baking for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Reheat covered at 350°F for 15–20 minutes or microwave individual portions.

If you love make-ahead meals that reheat perfectly, this one’s right up there with my Chicken Curry Recipe — it tastes even better the next day.

Flavor Variations

1. Veggie Supreme: Add bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, and spinach.
2. Meat Lover’s: Layer in sausage, pepperoni, and crumbled bacon.
3. Hawaiian Twist: Add ham and pineapple for sweet-savory perfection.
4. White Pizza Bake: Use Alfredo sauce instead of red sauce and add spinach.

Just like my Cottage Cheese Beef Stroganoff, this recipe proves that cottage cheese is the secret to creamy, protein-rich comfort food.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use ricotta instead of cottage cheese?
Yes, ricotta gives a slightly smoother texture, but cottage cheese keeps it lighter and higher in protein.

2. Can I add pepperoni or sausage?
Absolutely! Any of your favorite pizza toppings will work beautifully.

3. Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, assemble the casserole up to a day ahead and bake when ready to serve.

4. Can I make it vegetarian?
Definitely — skip the meat and load it up with your favorite veggies instead.

The Final Bite

This Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake is comfort food at its finest — cheesy, creamy, and packed with the bold, savory flavors of pizza in an easy, bake-and-serve format. It’s a dish that feels indulgent but still fits into a balanced meal plan, thanks to the protein-rich cottage cheese.

It’s one of those recipes you’ll make again and again — perfect for busy weeknights, weekend gatherings, or when you just need a cozy, satisfying dinner that brings everyone to the table with smiles.