Cheese Bake – Easy Protein-Packed Dinner Recipe
This Pizza Style Cottage Cheese Bake is an easy, protein-packed dinner that combines creamy cottage cheese, savory mozzarella, and mini turkey pepperoni for a delicious and healthy meal. Perfect for a quick bake, it offers a flavorful twist on traditional pizza flavors in a nutritious casserole form.
- Author: Dylan
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup mini turkey pepperoni slices
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bake.
- Mix Cottage Cheese and Eggs: In a large bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese and eggs until you achieve a smooth and consistent mixture, creating the base for the bake.
- Add Cheeses and Seasonings: Stir in the shredded mozzarella, most of the mini turkey pepperoni (reserve some for topping), parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly combined.
- Assemble the Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Top with the remaining turkey pepperoni slices for added flavor and visual appeal.
- Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bake is fully set and the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bake to cool for a few minutes before slicing. Serve warm with a side of marinara sauce for dipping to enhance the pizza-style experience.
Notes
- Use low-fat cottage cheese to reduce calories and saturated fat.
- For a spicier dish, substitute turkey pepperoni with regular pepperoni or add red pepper flakes.
- Marinara sauce for dipping complements the flavors perfectly, but you can also use ranch or garlic sauce.
- This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days; reheat before serving.
- To keep this gluten-free, ensure all seasonings and pepperoni are certified gluten-free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 155mg
Keywords: cottage cheese bake, protein-packed dinner, easy casserole, turkey pepperoni bake, low fat dinner, baked cheese dish, healthy pizza alternative