Love pizza but not all the carbs? This high-protein, low-carb, gluten-free version of pizza is great for breakfast, brunch, or dinner and is even easier to make than regular homemade pizza!
Protein Pizza Squares: A Easy-To-Make, Healthy, Kid-Friendly Delight
As a busy mom and health coach, I am always on the lookout for easy ways to pack nutrition into easy-to-make and yet kid-friendly meals. These protein pizza squares check all the boxes! My kids love that they are eating pizza and I love that they are getting a hefty dose of protein.
These pizza squares are fantastic for dinner, but also make a really fun breakfast or brunch offering, or can be made-ahead and enjoyed in lunches.
One more bonus: as opposed to regular homemade pizza dough where the kneading of the dough alone can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes, this crust batter requires no kneading and takes, at most, 5 minutes to throw together, so the time spent assembling this meal is truly minimal.
Tips on Making Protein Pizza Squares
As I said, these protein pizza squares are incredibly simple to throw together, but there is one aspect to making them that I want to make sure to flag for you: the batter needs to sit for an hour in order to thicken.
But there’s a simple solution! Make the batter ahead of time. This batter is so simple to make, taking less than 5 minutes to throw together, that making it the night before or the morning of really couldn’t be any easier. And after that, assembling, baking, and then letting the the pizza squares sit in order to solidify can all happen in 25 minutes!
Ingredients
The ingredient list for these protein pizza squares is shockingly short:
- chickpea flour
- water
- olive oil
- salt
- sauce
- cheese
- any toppings you want to add
The chickpea flour is the magical ingredient here. You see, the “crust” is made with chickpea flour rather than regular flour, which packs in the protein, cuts down on carbs, and makes them gluten free!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these pizza squares ahead of time?
Yes! These are delicious warm or at room temperature, so feel free to make them ahead of time, refrigerate until ready to eat, and then enjoy.
Does the crust really taste like pizza crust?
Not entirely. While the flavor profile is pretty darn close, the texture is a little softer than regular pizza. I would say it is kind of like a cross between pizza crust and polenta – incredibly delicious!
Can I add toppings to my pizza squares?
Absolutely! Feel free to add any toppings you like!
What should I serve with these protein pizza squares?
I love to serve them with a salad, like a Caesar Salad or this Spinach Salad with Mushrooms, Onions, and Parmesan Cheese.
Recipe: Protein Pizza Squares
Are you ready to dig in? Here’s how to make these simple, delicious protein pizza squares.
Protein Pizza Squares
Ingredients
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 2½ Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp. kosher salt, sea salt, or another coarse salt
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese or use any variety
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the chickpea flour, water, oil, and salt until smooth. Cover lightly and set aside for at least one hour to thicken (can also be made in the morning or even the night before).
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and spray a 9×11 baking dish or baking sheet with a rim with cooking spray.
- Pour the batter into the bottom of the dish and shift gently until the batter is covering the bottom of the dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven and top the chickpea mixture with the marinara sauce and cheese.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 6 – 8 more minutes, until the edges are getting crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let it sit 10 minutes to set. Cut into 12 squares and remove from the pan.
mimosa moms nutrition
Tuesday 21st of May 2019
these look so kid-friendly! can't wait to try!
Jessica Braider
Tuesday 21st of May 2019
Yay! I hope you love them as much as we do! :)