Baked Pizza Fake (Don’t Accuse This “Pizza” of Being a Cheat Meal!)
Who doesn’t love pizza?
I’ve coached people all over the world and it’s undeniable: everyone does. No matter where they live, it’s their favorite cheat meal.
Cutting back on certain foods to lose weight is both expected and doable, but, at some point, we end up craving our favorite deep-dish, pan-style or thin-crust pie.
Making it work in your normal diet is challenging but doing it while trying to lose weight is next to impossible. There are lots of ways to make a “sort of” pizza, but you’ll be hard pressed coming up with something that has the rich and zesty flavor you get at your favorite pizza parlor.
I came across a recipe from Calla’s Clean Eats that looked so different I just had to give it a try. It doesn’t scream “pizza” because there’s no crust. Since it’s the crust, along with the block of cheese topping our favorite pie, that gets us into trouble, I was intrigued, because they also make up the biggest part of the pizza. But this one solves the problem neatly. It has plenty of cheese and my “crust” is garlic bread – served on the side – made from our Homemade Sourdough Bread. Add more cheese and “crust” as you’re able to fit it into your plan.
After copious amounts of research and experimenting with several protein and vegetable combinations, I came up with a handful of delicious recipes. Don’t let the cottage cheese put you off. It’s the secret ingredient you can’t taste. It boosts the protein while adding a creaminess that leaves no evidence it comes from cottage cheese.
They haven’t let us down yet. Each “pizza” is a hearty dish with lots of protein but a reasonable amount of carbs and fat. They’ll keep you on the straight and narrow between trips to your favorite pizzeria.
The cooking instructions are similar for each of the recipes. We usually cook ours in a 6x9, 1.5L Pyrex dish and eat it from there. I think any paisano’s Nonna would approve of the old-world charm you’d get from cooking and serving it in crockery like a pot pie or French onion soup. Feel free to change anything that doesn’t suit your fancy. These are rich, delicious and packed with protein.
To make a single serving “pizza” from any of the recipes below:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Mix the marinara sauce and cottage cheese together in a bowl.
Dice the vegetables and sauté in a pan with non-stick spray or a small amount of butter or oil.
Add it to the marinara and cottage cheese.
Stir in any vegetables you didn’t sauté.
Pour the mixture into the baking dish and smooth it out.
Spread the mozzarella over the top.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Grate the Parmigiano-Reggiano on top, season with fresh cracked pepper and salt, if needed, and serve.
I like real Parmigiano-Reggiano because it’s rich and distinct and a small amount adds loads of flavor. We use Michael’s of Brooklyn Tomato and Basil sauce. It’s delicious and made from nothing but tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh garlic, olive oil, spices and fresh parsley.
Time to get busy. Crust or not, this pizza pie won’t bake itself.
The Tony
I’m Gonna Make Him a Pizza He Can’t Refuse
30 grams turkey pepperoni slices (reserve six whole slices for the top)
1/2 cup marinara sauce
110 grams low-fat cottage cheese
28 grams 2% milk mozzarella cheese
10 grams Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
15 grams sliced black olives
50 grams yellow onion
50 grams green bell pepper
Dice all but six slices of the turkey pepperoni and sauté with the other vegetables. Add the six reserved slices to the top after spreading the mozzarella over it.
Serves 1; Calories 372; Protein 36g; Carbs 19g; Fat 18g;
The Carmela
Keep Your Friends Close, But This Pizza Even Closer
1/2 cup marinara sauce
175 grams low-fat cottage cheese
28 grams 2% milk mozzarella cheese
10 grams Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
50 grams artichoke hearts
50 grams Roma tomato slices
25 grams yellow onion
25 grams broccoli
10 grams fresh basil
Sauté all the vegetables except the tomato, broccoli and the basil. Add the broccoli before spreading the mozzarella over the top and finish with the tomato slices and fresh basil.
Serves 1; Calories 341; Protein 37g; Carbs 25g; Fat 14g;
The Silvio
Leave the Gun, Take This Pizza
3 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/2 cup marinara sauce
175 grams low-fat cottage cheese
28 grams 2% milk mozzarella cheese
5 grams Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
50 grams yellow onion
50 grams green bell pepper
10 grams jalapeño pepper
Season the chicken breast with salt, pepper and your favorite Italian blend and, either cook it in a pan or boil it, then shred before adding it to the marinara mixture.
Serves 1; Calories 385; Protein 53g; Carbs 20g; Fat 12g;
The Paulie
This Pizza’s Not Personal, It’s Strictly Business
4 ounces 96/4 ground beef
1/2 cup marinara sauce
175 grams low-fat cottage cheese
28 grams 2% milk mozzarella cheese
5 grams Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
25 grams yellow onion
25 grams green bell pepper
10 grams jalapeño pepper
Season the ground beef with salt, pepper and your favorite Italian blend and brown in a skillet before adding it to the marinara mixture.
Serves 1; Calories 474; Protein 61g; Carbs 22g; Fat 14g;
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a pie at your favorite pizza parlor, but everything you eat while dieting has a cost in terms of your progress. If this helps you stay on target or limit your weekly cheat meal to a single, reasonable instance, then you’re most of the way there.
Dieting is about staying on track long enough to lose the weight. Eating meals that are delicious while helping you hit your targets is the key to success. A diet built with foods you enjoy lasts forever. Try giving up something you love and you’ll soon learn the error of your ways.
Besides, where have you seen “pizza” this low in carbs?
Cent’ Anni,
Eva
P.S. A special thanks to Calla’s Clean Eats for the great recipe.
We’re often asked about gear, so we put together a list of things we’ve used in our gym and kitchen that we’ve recommended to clients and friends over the years. While this page contains affiliate links, we’ve purchased most of the items, or similar, for our own use. “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” We’ve tried to make sure we’ve stated that fact in the product description. We’re adding to it as we discover new things and, as always, please let us know how they work out!
Sign up to receive more tips, recipes and tricks for building a lifestyle that produces lasting results.
No spam, no junk and you can unsubscribe at any time.