Irresistible Keto Pizza Puffs: The Ultimate Low-Carb Snack You Can’t Miss!

Craving pizza but trying to stick to a keto or low-carb diet? Look no further than these delightful keto pizza puffs! These bite-sized appetizers are not only incredibly easy to make but also packed with flavor and satisfyingly filling. Perfect for a snack, lunch, or even a light dinner, these pizza puffs are a game-changer for anyone following a grain-free or gluten-free lifestyle.

What are Keto Pizza Puffs?

Keto pizza puffs are a low-carb alternative to traditional pizza rolls or pockets. They are typically made with a combination of cheese, meat (such as sausage or pepperoni), and a low-carb flour substitute like coconut or almond flour. The result is a savory, cheesy, and utterly delicious snack that won't derail your ketogenic diet.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: These pizza puffs are designed to fit perfectly into a ketogenic or low-carb lifestyle, helping you stay on track with your dietary goals.
Gluten-Free and Grain-Free: Made without traditional wheat flour, this recipe is suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or those following a grain-free diet.
Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, these pizza puffs come together quickly and easily.
Versatile: Customize your pizza puffs with your favorite pizza toppings for a personalized snack experience.
Great for Meal Prep: These pizza puffs reheat well, making them an excellent option for meal prepping lunches or snacks for the week.
Freezer-Friendly: Make a big batch and freeze them for a convenient and healthy snack option whenever cravings strike.
Kid-Friendly: Even the little ones will love these tasty and fun-to-eat pizza puffs.

Ingredients You'll Need

The ingredients for keto pizza puffs can vary slightly depending on the recipe, but here are some common components:

For the Puffs:

Italian Sausage: Adds a savory and meaty flavor. You can use spicy or mild Italian sausage, depending on your preference. Alternatively, you can substitute with chopped pepperoni.
Cream Cheese: Provides a creamy texture and helps bind the ingredients together. Full-fat or reduced-fat cream cheese can be used. Cottage cheese can be used instead, but you must make sure you stir the cottage cheese well before measuring.
Coconut Flour: A low-carb flour alternative that helps create a bread-like texture. Almond flour can be used in equal parts in this recipe, but they will not be as soft and fluffy.
Eggs: Act as a binding agent, holding the pizza bites together.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Contributes to the cheesy flavor and texture. You can use a mixture of your favorite cheeses, such as mozzarella and parmesan.
Baking Powder: Provides lift and rise, helping to create a lighter texture.
Minced Garlic and Italian Seasoning: Enhance the flavor profile with classic Italian herbs and spices. Garlic powder can be used as a substitute for fresh garlic.
Salt: Enhances the flavor.
Optional Mix-ins: Further customize your pizza puffs with bell peppers, black olives, and mushrooms.

Optional Toppings and Dips:

Low-carb marinara sauce
Pesto
Garlic butter
Fresh parsley

How to Make Keto Pizza Puffs

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating these delectable keto pizza puffs:

Preparing the Filling:

Cook the Sausage: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks. Once cooked, drain excess fat. If you choose to use pepperoni in place of sausage, chop the pepperoni.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked Italian sausage with cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese is well incorporated with the sausage.
Add Mix-ins: Chop the pepperoni and red pepper. Slice the black olives. Shred the mozzarella. To the sausage and cream cheese mixture, add the chopped pepperoni, coconut flour, baking powder, red pepper, eggs, shredded mozzarella, black olives, dried chives, oregano, and salt.

Assembling and Baking:

Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F).
Prepare Muffin Tin: Grease a muffin tin with butter.
Portion Mixture: Using an ice cream scoop, portion the mixture into the muffin cups, forming individual pizza puffs. The mixture will give you 16 pizza puffs.
Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the pizza puffs are golden brown on top and cooked through. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. Depending on the size of your muffin tin, you might need to do this in batches.
Garnish: Once out of the oven, garnish the Keto Supreme Pizza Puffs with fresh parsley for a burst of color and added freshness. Allow them to cool slightly before serving.

Another Way to Make Keto Pizza Puffs Using Fathead Dough:

Prepare Fathead Dough: The day before you want to make this recipe, prepare a full recipe of fathead dough.
Preheat Oven: When you are ready to prepare you pizza puffs, preheat an oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare Filling: Stir together in a small bowl the marinara and mozzarella cheese. Set this aside.
Cut Dough: Cut your fathead dough into 12 portions.
Assemble Puffs: To make the pizza puffs, one at a time, flatten a dough ball into about a 5-inch disc. Place in the center of each disc a heaping tablespoon of marinara filling. Place each completed pizza puff (seam side down) in a 12-count muffin tin that has been lightly sprayed with pan spray.
Season and Bake: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt your butter. Stir the remaining ingredients into the melted butter. Then, use a pastry or marinade brush to brush the seasoned butter over the top of each pizza puff. Bake the pizza puffs for 30 minutes. Let the puffs cool for 5 minutes before removing from the muffin tray.

Tips for the Perfect Keto Pizza Puffs

Don't Skip the Dough Chilling (if applicable): Chilling the dough helps the ingredients bind together and prevents the pizza puffs from spreading too much during baking.
Use a Cookie Scoop: A small cookie scoop ensures uniform size and helps with portion control.
Grease the Muffin Tin Well: This prevents the pizza puffs from sticking to the tin and makes them easier to remove.
Customize Your Toppings: Get creative with your favorite pizza toppings to create unique flavor combinations.
Monitor Baking Time: Keep a close eye on the pizza puffs while they're baking to avoid overcooking. They should be golden brown and cooked through.

Serving Suggestions

Dipping Sauces: Serve your keto pizza puffs with your favorite low-carb dipping sauces like marinara, pesto, or garlic butter.
As a Snack: Enjoy them on their own as a quick and satisfying snack between meals.
As a Meal: Pair them with a side salad or roasted vegetables for a light and healthy meal.
Party Appetizer: These pizza puffs are a crowd-pleasing appetizer for parties and gatherings.

Storing and Reheating

Storing: Store leftover pizza puffs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the pizza puffs in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating: Reheat the pizza puffs in the oven, microwave, or air fryer until warmed through.

Variations and Customizations

The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. Here are some ideas to customize your keto pizza puffs:

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Supreme Pizza Puffs: Add chopped bell peppers, black olives, and mushrooms to the filling for a supreme pizza experience.
Pepperoni Pizza Puffs: Use only pepperoni as the meat filling for a classic pepperoni pizza flavor.
Different Cheeses: Experiment with different cheese blends like mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, or provolone.
Spicy Pizza Puffs: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the filling for a spicy kick.
Different Doughs: Prepare a full recipe of fathead dough for an alternative method of making the pizza puffs.

Common Questions

Can I use almond flour instead of coconut flour?Yes, almond flour can be used in place of coconut flour, but the keto-friendly pizza bites will not be as light and fluffy.
Can the cream cheese be substituted?Cottage cheese can be used instead, but you must make sure you stir the cottage cheese well before measuring.
Can This Recipe Be Made in an Air Fryer?This recipe yields a lot of pizza bites, and baking in the oven is much more timely.
Can I freeze keto pizza bites?Yes! These cheesy bites freeze beautifully. Reheat mine in 20-second increments in the microwave!
Can This Recipe Be Prepared in Advance?The keto-friendly pizza bites can be assembled and baked in advance. However, I’m not sure if you can prepare the mixture, chill it, and bake it off later. I worry the mixture may not hold up well a day ahead. I think I would mix the sausage and cream cheese a day ahead and then add the flour, seasonings, eggs and cheese the day of.
Is this recipe kid-friendly?Yes! This is a great kid-friendly recipe that is perfect for a snack, light dinner, or lunch!

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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