These High Protein Pizza Beans are a fast, easy vegetarian weeknight dinner that makes everyone happy. The adults get an delicious, filling, high-protein meal. And the kids get cheesy pizza-inspired flavors they already know and love.
This 20-minute recipe cooks in one pan with simple pantry ingredients—so it's perfect for weeknight dinners. If you loved my viral Creamy Lemon Butter Beans, this high-protein cottage cheese recipe belongs in your rotation too. For more family-friendly vegetarian meals, try my Sheet Pan Greek Veggie Feta Bowls or browse my full collection of high-protein recipes.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Fast: Ready in just 20 minutes.
- High protein vegetarian dinner: 45g protein, 19g fiber, and 591 calories per serving.
- Pizza-inspired flavors: Marinara, oregano, garlic, and bubbling mozzarella give this dish craveable pizza vibes. It's a delicious combo that both adults and kids love.
- One pan recipe: Everything cooks in a single skillet, for easy cleanup!
- Just 10 ingredients: Made with simple pantry and grocery-store staples—no fancy ingredients required.
- Cozy and comforting: Rich, cheesy, and hearty. Perfect served with garlic bread or crusty bread.
Ingredients (and substitutes)
Just 10 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) to make this vegetarian Pizza Beans recipe:
- Butter Beans: I highly recommend butter beans here because they're large, creamy, and hold their shape well in the sauce. You can swap another sturdy white bean like cannellini. I typically use canned beans for ease, but home-cooked works too.
- Marinara Sauce: Since this recipe uses a full jar, the flavor really matters here! Use a marinara you love. Rao's is my favorite for this.
- Cottage Cheese: Adds creaminess and boosts protein. You'll use a full container, which keeps things simple.
- Tomato Paste: Adds deeper, more concentrated tomato flavor. Cooking it briefly until it darkens slightly helps caramelize the sugars and build that savory pizza-style base.
- Mozzarella: Gives a classic cheesy pizza finish. You can add more if you like things extra cheesy. I recommend low-moisture mozzarella (sometimes labelled "pizza mozzarella"). It doesn't release as much water as a ball of fresh mozzarella would.
- Fresh Basil: Totally optional, but fresh basil leaves makes a pretty and delicious garnish.
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Want more butter bean recipes? Check out my Butter Bean Salad with Feta, Creamy Lemon Butter Beans, and Lemon Rice and Bean Soup.
How to make High Protein Pizza Beans
This recipe for pizza beans with cottage cheese takes just 20 minutes to make—and everything cooks in one skillet! Here's how to make it:
1. Start cooking onion, tomato paste, garlic, and oregano in the skillet.
2. Add marinara sauce, beans, salt and pepper. Heat until gently bubbling.
3. Stir in cottage cheese and parmesan.
4. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
5. Broil until cheese is golden and bubbling (1-3 minutes, broilers vary).
6. Optional - Garnish with basil and more parmesan. Serve hot.
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Tips
- If using cast iron: Cast iron skillets (including enameled cast iron, like in my photos) hold heat very well. The longer the cast iron skillet cooks on the stove, the hotter it gets. If needed, reduce the heat slightly to prevent burning.
- Use a flavorful marinara: Marinara is the backbone of this recipe, so choose one you love. A great sauce (like Rao's) makes all the difference.
- Caramelize the tomato paste: This recipe calls for cooking the tomato paste for 1 to 2 minutes to deepen the flavor and remove the raw taste. Stir frequently so it doesn't burn. (A little sticking is normal—you'll scrape up those flavorful brown bits when you add the marinara).
- Use pizza mozzarella: While I'm also a fan of fresh mozzarella, I prefer low-moisture mozzarella here. It gives the dish more of that classic cheese-pizza flavor my kids love. It also releases less moisture and is usually more budget friendly.
- Watch the broiler carefully: Broilers work fast! Keep an eye on it and pull the dish as soon as the cheese is bubbling.
- Serving suggestions: Delicious served with garlic bread or crusty bread for dipping.
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Recipe FAQ's
Butter beans are my favorite because they're large, creamy, and sturdy. But you can substitute Cannellini beans or a similar white bean, like Great Northern.
Not really—except for being delicious! It melts into the sauce and mostly adds creaminess and protein. Depending on the brand of cottage cheese you use, you might see some tiny small cheese curds in with the beans.
Yes, you can prep the dish without the mozzarella, then cover and store in the fridge. Warm on the stove over medium-low, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella before broiling.
As written, this recipe is already gluten free. If you plan to serve with bread, just make sure its gluten free too.
Absolutely! Spinach, sautéed mushrooms, or bell peppers would all work nicely.
Cover and refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave. Sometimes I like to sprinkle leftovers with more shredded mozzarella so they're extra cheesy.
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📖 Recipe
High Protein Pizza Peans
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion (2 cups)
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 (24 oz/680g) jar marinara sauce (3 cups, see note 1)
- 3 (15 oz/14 fl oz/398 ml) cans butter beans (drained, ~4.5 cups cooked, see note 2)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (more if desired)
- fresh basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat broiler: Position oven rack so the top of your skillet sits about 4-inches (10 cm) below the broiler. Set oven to broil.
- Start cooking: In a large oven-safe skillet (see note 3), heat 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion and cook until golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add ¼ cup tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly darkened in color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and 2 teaspoons dried oregano. Cook, stirring continuously, for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Finish cooking: Pour in 1 (24 oz/680g) jar marinara sauce, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the skillet. Stir in 3 (15 oz/14 fl oz/398 ml) cans butter beans, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in 2 cups cottage cheese and ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Taste and add more salt if needed (see note 4).
- Broil: Scatter 1 cup shredded mozzarella (or more) over top. Broil until cheese is golden and bubbling, about 1 to 3 minutes. (Watch carefully, as broil times vary). Garnish with fresh basil (optional). Serve hot (see note 5).
Notes
- Marinara: A great tasting Marinara sauce makes a big difference in this simple, quick cooking recipe. Rao's is my go-to.
- Beans: Butter beans work best because they're large, sturdy, and hold their shape. You could substitute another large white bean, such as cannelini.
- Skillet: Use a large (12-inch/30 cm) oven-safe skillet or braiser for 1x batch of this recipe.
- Salt: Jarred marinara sauces vary in saltiness, so adjust salt to taste. I usually add an extra ¼ teaspoon to taste at the end of step 3 (i.e. ¾ teaspoon salt in total) when using Rao's.
- Serving Suggestion: Delicious served with garlic bread or crusty bread for dipping!
- Recipe adapted from What's Gaby Cooking - Skillet Cheesy Chickpeas.
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