If you love pizza but want something a little lighter and packed with protein, these High Protein Hot Honey Pizza Bowls are about to become a new favorite! Made with seasoned ground beef, creamy pizza sauce, melted mozzarella, crispy pepperoni and a drizzle of sweet and spicy hot honey, they’re everything you love about pizza without the crust.

The secret ingredient is cottage cheese! Blending it into the pizza sauce makes everything extra creamy while adding even more protein. These easy pizza bowls are perfect for busy weeknights, low carb dinners or meal prep.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef (93/7)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup pizza sauce or thick marinara
• 3/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 20–24 slices regular pepperoni
• 2 tbsp hot honey

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease four individual oven-safe bowls or one small baking dish.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
3. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
4. In a blender or food processor, combine cottage cheese and pizza sauce. Blend until completely smooth.
5. Pour the creamy pizza sauce over the cooked ground beef. Stir well and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
6. Divide the beef mixture evenly between four oven-safe bowls.
7. Top each bowl with shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and pepperoni slices.
8. Bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly and lightly golden. For extra crispy pepperoni, broil for the final 1–2 minutes, watching carefully.
9. Remove from the oven and drizzle each bowl with 1 1/2 teaspoons of hot honey. Serve warm and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Hot Honey Pizza Bowls

Use lean ground beef. I prefer 93/7 ground beef because it has plenty of flavor without making the bowls greasy.

Blend the cottage cheese. This is the trick to getting a creamy sauce without any noticeable cottage cheese texture.

Make the pepperoni crispy. A quick minute or two under the broiler gives the pepperoni those delicious crispy edges.

Adjust the heat. Use a little less hot honey for a milder flavor or add crushed red pepper flakes if you like things spicy.

Add your favorite pizza toppings. Mushrooms, bell peppers, onions or black olives would all be delicious additions.

Are These Pizza Bowls Low Carb?

Yes! These crustless pizza bowls are a great lower-carb alternative to traditional pizza. The ground beef, mozzarella and cottage cheese provide plenty of protein while skipping the traditional pizza crust.

For an even lower-carb version, choose a pizza sauce with no added sugar and use a smaller drizzle of hot honey.

Can You Make Hot Honey Pizza Bowls Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! Prepare the seasoned ground beef and creamy pizza sauce ahead of time, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

When you’re ready to eat, transfer the mixture to oven-safe bowls, add the cheese and pepperoni and bake until heated through and bubbly.

Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3–4 days. Add the hot honey after reheating for the best flavor.

What to Serve With Hot Honey Pizza Bowls

These high protein pizza bowls are filling enough to enjoy on their own, but they’re also delicious with a simple green salad, roasted broccoli or garlic green beans.

Estimated Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 470
• Protein: 47g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fat: 24g

Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the brands and ingredients used.