Pizza night just got a glow-up. These high protein smashed potato pizza bites are crispy, cheesy, gluten-free, and finished with a drizzle of optional hot honey (aka the mom hack move of the year). They’re kid-friendly, football-season-approved, and way more nourishing than bagel bites.
I make them when I need an easy weeknight dinner that’s fun for the kids but still packs protein for me — or when we’re having friends over for game day and I want a snack that disappears in minutes.
Why You’ll Love These Pizza Bites
- High-Protein: Cottage cheese + mozzarella + turkey pepperoni = the protein punch you need.
- Gluten-Free: Perfect for anyone avoiding traditional crust.
- Kid-Friendly: Skip the hot honey and these are toddler-approved.
- Game Day Ready: Bite-sized, crispy, and way better than frozen apps.
- Easy Hack: The potatoes cook in the microwave first so these come together fast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Baby potatoes (small gold or red work best)
- Olive oil
- Salt + pepper
- Marinara sauce
- Cottage cheese (adds protein + creaminess)
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Turkey pepperoni (I love Applegate, quartered for bite-size pieces)
- Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil
- Hot honey (optional, but SO good for the adults)
How to Make Smashed Potato Pizza Bites
- Microwave the potatoes → Place baby potatoes in a bowl and microwave ~4 minutes until fork tender.
- Smash → On a parchment-lined sheet pan, use the back of a glass to smash each potato into a little disc.
- Season + oil → Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle salt and pepper, flip and coat both sides.
- Broil once → Pop under the broiler for ~4 minutes until starting to crisp. Flip.
- Top like pizza → Add a spoon of marinara, a dollop of cottage cheese, shredded mozzarella, and quartered turkey pepperoni.
- Broil again → 3–4 more minutes until crispy and golden.
- Finish strong → Sprinkle parmesan + basil and drizzle with hot honey (optional).
Tips & Tricks
- Hot honey hack: Add it after baking so it doesn’t burn — or skip for the kids.
- Make it ahead: Smash and broil the potatoes ahead of time, then store in the fridge. Add toppings and broil again when ready to serve.
- Switch it up: Try chicken sausage, dairy-free cheese, or even pesto instead of marinara for a fun twist.
- Batch it: Double the recipe for game day — these go FAST.
Serving Ideas
✔️ As a football season appetizer 🏈
✔️ A kid-friendly dinner (with a side salad or veggies)
✔️ A fun twist on pizza night without the heavy crust
Why This Recipe Works for Moms
It’s fast. It’s flexible. And it feels fun without being fussy. I love that I can throw these together in under 20 minutes while juggling two kids, and still end up with something that feels like comfort food but fits my high-protein goals.
Save this one for your next pizza night — your family will be obsessed.
