Craving pizza but trying to stick to a keto or low-carb diet? These keto cheese and pepperoni crisps are the perfect solution! They capture the essence of pizza without all the carbs, delivering a crispy, cheesy, and satisfying experience. This recipe is incredibly easy, fast to make, and fun to eat, making it a great last-minute appetizer, snack, or even a creative way to enjoy pizza flavors.
Why You'll Love These Keto Pizza Crisps
These crisps are more than just a snack; they're a game-changer for anyone following a low-carb lifestyle. Here's why:
- Low-Carb Goodness: These crisps are significantly lower in carbs than traditional pizza, making them a guilt-free indulgence.
- Crispy and Crunchy: Baking the cheese creates a delightful crispiness that mimics the texture of a chip, making them incredibly satisfying.
- Quick and Easy: You can whip up a batch of these crisps in just minutes, perfect for those moments when cravings strike.
- Versatile: Customize your crisps with various toppings and dips to suit your taste preferences.
- Crowd-Pleasing: These crisps are a hit with both kids and adults, making them ideal for parties, gatherings, or a simple family snack.
Ingredients You'll Need
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You only need a few basic ingredients:
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: This forms the base of the crisp and provides that classic pizza cheese flavor. Use shredded cheese instead of grated cheese to achieve optimal texture and crunchification.
- Pepperoni: The star of the show! Choose your favorite type of pepperoni, such as nitrate-free, naturally cured pepperoni, for a healthier option. Mini pepperonis work great, or you can slice up larger pepperoni into quarters or eighths.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds that authentic Italian flavor. The Spiceology Italian blend is full of freshly dried herbs.
- Optional Toppings: Get creative with diced ham, keto-friendly vegetables, olives, or any other low-carb toppings you enjoy.
- Optional Dips: Enhance the flavor with pizza sauce, low-carb marinara sauce (like Rao’s Marinara), salsa, keto hummus, sour cream, queso, ranch dressing, or guacamole.
Three Ways to Bake Your Keto Pizza Chips
You can make these chips in the oven, in the air fryer and even in the microwave.
Oven Method
This method is ideal for making larger batches of crisps.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. To make the parchment stick to the pan, spray the sheet pan then lay the parchment over.
- Form Cheese Mounds: Form 12 flat mounds of mozzarella (about 2 cups total) on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between each mound. You may need to use two baking sheets depending on the size of your pan. Using a 2-3 inch ring mold spread about 1 tablespoon inside each mold forming a round disk. Continue the process until you’ve used all of your cheese.
- Season: Sprinkle each mound with Italian seasoning (about 1/2 teaspoon total).
- Add Pepperoni: Top each cheese mound with a slice of pepperoni (12 slices).
- Bake: Bake for about 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Cool: Allow the crisps to cool completely on the baking sheet before removing them. They will continue to crisp up as they cool.
- Blot: Blot any excess grease from the pepperoni after you bake them.
Air Fryer Method
This method is a faster alternative to the oven.
- Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange Pepperoni: Place the pepperoni slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to do this in several batches.
- Air Fry: Air fry for 2-3 minutes, or until the pepperoni is crisp.
- Cool: Remove the crisps from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.
Microwave Method
This is the quickest method for making a small batch of crisps.
- Prepare Plate: Place a piece of parchment paper on a flat, microwave-safe plate.
- Arrange Cheese and Pepperoni: Add cheese in small piles on top of the parchment paper, about 1 tablespoon each, with a little space between. Lay a slice of pepperoni on top of each pile of cheese.
- Microwave: Microwave on high in 20-second intervals. The cooking time will vary depending on your microwave's power. Mine took 60 seconds. Watch carefully to avoid burning. The cooking time will depend on the pepperoni and on the power of your microwave.
- Cool: Let the crisps cool for a minute before serving.
Tips for Perfect Keto Pizza Crisps
- Don't Overcook: Be careful not to burn the cheese or pepperoni, no matter which cooking method you choose.
- Cool Completely: Allow the crisps to cool completely before removing them from the baking sheet or serving. This will ensure they are nice and crispy.
- Experiment with Flavors: Get creative with your toppings and seasonings. Try adding different cheeses, spices, or even a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little heat. Margarita Pepperoni: Top each slice with sun-dried tomato paste, tomato sauce or tomato puree, 1 mini buffalo mozzarella, sliced and serve with fresh basil leaves or Italian herb seasoning.
- Serve with Dips: Enhance the flavor of your crisps by serving them with your favorite low-carb dips.
- Storage: Stash leftover keto pizza chips in the fridge in an airtight container, I recommend a hard container to help maintain their shape. They will last for a few days, but they are best enjoyed fresh.
Keto Pepperoni Pizza Bites Variation
For a slightly different take on this recipe, try making Keto Pepperoni Pizza Bites. These bites are soft and fluffy and loaded with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup pepperoni, diced
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour or almond flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine cream cheese, pepperoni, shredded cheese, and eggs until completely combined.
- Add in remaining ingredients until well combined and chill for 10 minutes to allow the flour time to absorb the moisture. If after 10 minutes there is still a considerable amount of moisture, chill another 10 minutes.
- Scoop the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
These keto cheese and pepperoni crisps are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways:
- Snack: Enjoy them as a quick and easy snack any time of day.
- Appetizer: Serve them as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at parties or gatherings.
- Movie Night Treat: A healthier alternative to traditional movie snacks.
- Dip them: Treat them just like a low carb cracker! Dip the chips in salsa, keto hummus, sour cream, queso or ranch dressing or this easy guacamole. They are also yummy topped with a chunk of cheese.
- Topped: Great with dips such as guacamole, delicious topped with cheese and equally perfect just on their own.
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