53g Protein Crustless Pizza Pie

Equipment

• 8-inch Oven-Safe Skillet or Pie Dish: A cast-iron skillet works best for achieving crisp edges, but a regular 8-inch ceramic pie plate or cake pan works perfectly.
• Medium Non-Stick Pan: For browning the lean ground beef.
• Food Processor or High-Speed Blender: Essential for blending the cottage cheese base into a smooth, silky consistency.
• Spatula & Measuring Cups/Spoon

Ingredients

The Protein Base

• 8 oz (225g) Lean Ground Beef (93/7): Provides a rich, savory foundation packed with bioavailable protein and essential iron.
• 1/2 cup (115g) Low-Fat Cottage Cheese (2%): The secret weapon! When blended, cottage cheese creates a creamy, ricotta-like texture while boosting protein content significantly.
• 1 Large Egg: Acts as a natural binder to hold the base together.
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Dried Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 tsp Sea Salt & Black Pepper

The Pizza Toppings & Sauce

• 1/3 cup (80g) Low-Sugar Marinara Sauce: Look for a pizza sauce or passata with no added sugars to keep carbs minimal.
• 1/2 cup (56g) Shredded Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese: Yields that classic, gooey pizza stretch.
• 10-12 Slices Turkey Pepperoni (or Beef Pepperoni): Adds a bold, smoky flavor with minimal excess fat.
• 1 tbsp Fresh Basil or Parsley (Garnish): Finely chopped for a pop of freshness.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) . Lightly coat an 8-inch oven-safe skillet or baking dish with olive oil spray to prevent sticking.
2. Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 8 oz lean ground beef, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Break up the meat using a spatula and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until fully browned and no pink remains. Drain any excess liquid or fat, then remove from heat.
3. In a small food processor or blender, add 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 1 large egg. Blend on high speed for 20-30 seconds until completely smooth and creamy. Note: Blending removes the curds, giving the base a silky texture similar to ricotta.
4. Transfer the browned ground beef into your prepared 8-inch pie dish, pressing it down evenly to form the bottom layer. Pour the smooth cottage cheese mixture directly over the beef, spreading it to the edges. Next, spoon 1/3 cup low-sugar marinara sauce gently over the top. Sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce, and arrange the turkey pepperoni slices across the top.
5. Place the pie dish into the preheated oven. Bake at 400°F for 15 to 18 minutes until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and starting to turn golden brown around the edges. For an extra crisp, turn on the oven broiler for the final 60 seconds.
6. Remove the crustless pizza pie from the oven. Let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes—this allows the protein base to set so it slices cleanly. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or crushed red pepper flakes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 520 kcal 26% · Protein: 53 g 106% · Fat: 26 g 33% · Carbohydrates: 9 g 3% Dietary · Saturated Fat: 11 g 55% · Fiber: 2 g 7% · Sugar: 4 g — · Sodium: 980 mg 42%