Craving pizza but trying to stick to a keto or low-carb lifestyle? Look no further than the keto pizza bowl! This recipe delivers all the flavors of your favorite pizza, without the carb-heavy crust. It's a customizable, satisfying, and easy-to-make meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.
What is a Keto Pizza Bowl?
A keto pizza bowl is essentially a deconstructed pizza, served in a bowl. It includes all the classic pizza toppings like sauce, cheese, meats, and vegetables, but without the traditional crust. This makes it a perfect option for those following a ketogenic, low-carb, or gluten-free diet.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: Significantly reduces carbs compared to traditional pizza.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable to your favorite pizza toppings and dietary preferences.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Satisfying: Packed with protein, cheese, and flavorful toppings.
- Versatile: Can be made in individual bowls or as a casserole.
- Great for Meal Prep: Prepare components in advance or assemble the bowls for easy grab-and-go meals.
Ingredients You'll Need
The beauty of pizza bowls lies in their flexibility. Here's a base list, but feel free to get creative:
- Meat:
- Italian sausage (chicken or pork), check the label to ensure that sausage does not contain a lot of carbs.
- Pepperoni
- Ground beef or chicken
- Bacon
- Ham
- Vegetables:
- Mushrooms (baby bella or white button)
- Onions
- Bell peppers (any color)
- Black olives
- Spinach
- Jalapeños (for heat!)
- Cheese:
- Mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- Parmesan cheese (grated)
- Cheddar cheese
- Provolone cheese
- Feta cheese
- Sauce:
- Marinara sauce (look for no added sugar for keto) or pizza sauce.
- Seasoning:
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano
- Crushed red pepper (optional)
- Olive Oil: A little to sauté the veggies and bring out their flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Ingredients
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) or 400 degrees depending on recipe.
- Cook the meat: If using ground beef, chicken, or sausage, cook it in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain off any excess grease. Add Italian seasoning to ground beef or chicken for extra flavor. If using bacon, cook until crispy then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms. Sauté until softened and slightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Assembling the Pizza Bowls
- Prepare the bowls: Lightly grease oven-safe ramekins (about 10-ounce or 2-cup size) or a small casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Layer the ingredients:
- Spoon a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of each bowl.
- Add a layer of meat (sausage, ground beef, pepperoni, etc.).
- Add a layer of sautéed vegetables (mushrooms, peppers, onions, spinach, olives).
- Add another layer of marinara sauce.
- Top with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and grated Parmesan cheese.
Baking the Pizza Bowls
- Bake: Place the bowls on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
- Broil (optional): For a crispier cheese topping, broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Tips for the Perfect Pizza Bowl
- Sauté your veggies well: This helps to caramelize them slightly, lets the moisture cook off, and builds flavor. If you undercook them, then they will release all their moisture in the oven and will make your pizza bowls watery!
- Use freshly grated cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly.
- Layer evenly: Always start with a little sauce on the bottom to prevent sticking, then alternate between veggies, spinach, olives, and more sauce before finishing with cheese.
- Customize for Kids: Everyone in the family can personalize their bowl.
- Use good quality sauce: Be sure to use a tomato sauce that has aromatics (like herbs, garlic, onion, etc.) added in already. If you are on the keto diet, be sure the sauce does not have added sugar.
- Heat through: You want the cheese to be bubbling, not just lukewarm.
Variations and Substitutions
- Meat Lovers: Load up on pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ground beef.
- Veggie Lovers: Add extra mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, spinach, olives, and artichoke hearts.
- Spicy: Add jalapeños, crushed red pepper flakes, or a spicy marinara sauce.
- Dairy-Free/Paleo: Substitute mozzarella with a cashew-based cheese sauce or nutritional yeast.
- Different Cheese: Change things up and add cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, or feta!
- Add Protein: To keep this plant based, I recommend adding crumbled tofu, chickpeas, white beans, or vegan sausage.
- Make it a Casserole: Instead of individual bowls, layer everything in an 8×8 or 9×13 baking dish and bake until bubbly.
- Eggplant pizza: Swap your standard base with eggplant.
- Cauliflower pizza: The BEST cauliflower crust that holds its shape.
- Use different cheese: Parmesan cheese, provolone cheese, and crumbled feta are all fabulous additions.
- Spicy: Add jalapeños, crushed red pepper flakes, or a spicy marinara sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Keto pizza bowls are satisfying on their own, but you can pair them with a simple side to make the meal feel more complete:
- Salad: A fresh Caesar salad or kale Caesar salad.
- Low-carb bread: Cauliflower bread.
- Roasted vegetables: Oven-roasted vegetables.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
- To Prep Ahead: Cook the mushrooms and sausage, make the sauce, mix the seasonings, and shred the cheese. Assemble and bake when you're ready to serve. If I’m prepping in advance, I layer the bowls with sauce, veggies, and cheese (uncooked), then cover them and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. When I’m ready to eat, I just bake as directed. The night before serving, prep each layer and assemble them in the individual ramekins. Cover with plastic and keep them in the fridge until baking the next day.
- Storing Leftovers: Once baked, leftovers can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I usually just keep them in the ramekins, covered tightly with foil or a lid if they fit.
- Freezing: I recommend baking the pizza bowls in aluminum foil ramekins if you’re planning on making freezer meals. Once baked and cooled, cover the bowls with plastic and freeze them for up to 6 months.
- Reheating: To reheat from the fridge, I pop them in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted again. You can also microwave them in short bursts (about 1-2 minutes), but I prefer the oven because the texture turns out better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pizza bowls keto-friendly?
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Yes! The only ingredient you have to watch out for is tomato sauce. Be sure it does not have added sugar.
Can I make this in advance?
For sure! The night before serving, prep each layer and assemble them in the individual ramekins. Cover with plastic and keep them in the fridge until baking the next day.
Can I double the recipe?
You certainly can. Double the ingredients and use four baking dishes instead of two.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Can you make it dairy-free?
This pizza bowl recipe can be made dairy free by swapping out the mozzarella and parmesan cheese for plant based alternatives. Also, be sure to check the label of the sausage, as some can contain dairy products.
Do I have to use ramekins?
Not necessarily! I like ramekins because they are easy to use for individual servings, but if you don’t have them, you can use any oven-safe bowl or even assemble everything in a small casserole dish. Just keep an eye on the bake time because it may take a few minutes longer if you’re using a larger dish.
How many carbs are in each bowl?
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Each pizza bowl contains 13 total carbs and 10 net carbs.
How many calories are in a Pizza Bowl?
There are approximately 507 calories in each bowl.
How many carbs are in a crustless pizza?
There are about carbs in each serving. This is only an estimate.
Why is my cheese not browning on top?
If your cheese melts but doesn’t get that golden-brown finish, you can place the bowls under the broiler for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking. Just keep a close eye on them, broiling happens fast and can go from golden to burnt quickly!
What restaurants have pizza bowls?
At this time Marcos, Papa Johns and Olive Garden make their own versions of pizza bowls. Domino’s has a Pizza Rice Bowl too. There are other regional chains that make them, probably the most famous of which are Johnny’s Pizza Bowls.
Can you buy pre-made pizza bowls?
In addition to the above-mentioned restaurant chains and regional pizza shops, there are frozen pizza bowls on the market such as one from Real Good and these Low Carb Cauliflower Pizza Bowls from Life Cuisine.
How long do leftovers last?
Leftovers last up to two days. Keep covered with plastic wrap or foil in the fridge.
How To Reheat
These do not reheat in the microwave well so I do not recommend it. They pop and splatter and heat unevenly. I had great luck reheating them in the oven and I also used my Omni Air Fryer to do so using it like a toaster oven on the “bake” setting. I tested reheating with or without foil on top and the texture of the cheese was better with the foil on, just try not to let the foil touch the cheese or it can get stuck together. It takes about 25 minutes to heat them through on 350 degrees F. Times will vary depending on how deep your bowls are. Wider bowls will heat through more rapidly. Test with an instant-read thermometer and make sure the center of the bowl is at least 165 degrees F before taking it out of the oven.
Can I make this in one larger container?
If you do not have oven-safe bowls that would work for this recipe, no problem! You could also use a deep dish pie pan or an 8 by 8 inch baking dish. Make sure to coat it with non-stick cooking spray so that it is easier to clean up!