Premade Keto Pizza Crust Recipes: A Comprehensive Guide

For those following a ketogenic diet, pizza cravings can be a challenge. Traditional pizza crusts are high in carbohydrates, making them unsuitable for keto. Fortunately, there are several premade and homemade keto pizza crust options available. This article explores a variety of premade keto pizza crust recipes, including those made with mozzarella cheese, cauliflower, and fathead dough, offering solutions for a delicious, low-carb pizza experience.

Two-Ingredient Mozzarella Pizza Crust

This pizza crust is very easy to make and requires just two ingredients. It is low carb and keto-friendly. This recipe works best with pre-shredded low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese.

Ingredients and Preparation

The cheese and eggs are blended together in a food processor or blender until evenly mixed. The pizza dough is then spread into a 9-inch pie pan lined with parchment paper. Then you bake the crust. The crust is soft and chewy with crispy edges.

Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan with parchment paper or use a 9-inch round cake pan. Add ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until the eggs are completely incorporated and the cheese is the size of large crumbs, resembling cottage cheese. Spread the mixture evenly across the prepared pie pan and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the entire surface is light brown and feels firm.

Topping and Final Baking

Remove the crust from the oven and turn the oven up to 400°F. Add tomato sauce, cheese, or other desired toppings. Since the toppings only cook at the very end, it is recommended to use pre-cooked toppings or cook them beforehand.

Read also: Keto Diet Guide

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Cauliflower pizza crust is a delicious gluten-free, low-carb, and keto pizza recipe. It’s a simple blend of cauliflower, eggs, cheese, and a few spices that’s flattened and baked into a golden crust. While you can buy pre-made cauliflower pizza crusts, these often contain corn starch or potato starch.

Ingredients and Preparation

This pizza crust requires only three main ingredients, plus seasonings. There are several options when it comes to making cauliflower rice: fresh cauliflower, frozen florets, or pre-riced cauliflower. The consistency turns out pretty much the same for each. Using frozen florets requires the least amount of work.

Cooking Instructions

Microwave the cauliflower for about 5 minutes to soften it. Drain the cauliflower and transfer the grated florets into a nut milk bag or dish towel. Squeeze the cauliflower until all the moisture is out. Mix the cauliflower rice, cheese, egg, and seasonings. On a baking sheet, press the dough down into an even circle. Bake for 25 minutes. If you started with frozen cauliflower, it may need to cook a few minutes more.

Topping and Final Baking

Add the toppings. Chunkier toppings are better. Pesto chicken and Margherita pizza are two popular flavor combinations.

Meal Prepping

For meal prepping, frozen pizza crusts are ideal. A large 9-inch round pizza is harder to store, so it is recommended to make two smaller crusts and stack them on top of each other, with parchment paper in between. You can also double this recipe and make four small crusts for the future. When ready to make the pizza, remove it from the freezer and re-heat it in the oven.

Read also: Comprehensive Keto Meal Delivery Guide

Detailed Steps for Cauliflower Pizza Crust

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Remove the cauliflower florets from the stem or use frozen and thawed cauliflower florets, and grate them using a food processor or box grater.
  3. Add the cauliflower rice to a microwave-safe bowl, cover, and microwave for 4-5 minutes to soften. Alternatively, saute the cauliflower rice in a pan on medium heat on the stove for 8-10 minutes, then let it cool to the touch.
  4. Transfer the cauliflower rice into a nut milk bag or thin kitchen towel and drain the cauliflower by squeezing it until all the excess moisture is out.
  5. Place the drained cauliflower rice in a large mixing bowl, add the cheese, egg, and seasonings, and use your hands to mix everything together to form the pizza dough.
  6. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, press the dough down into an even circle. The diameter should be around 9 inches. If you have a pizza stone, that's even better and will produce a crispier crust.
  7. Bake for 25 minutes, or until slightly golden, then remove from the oven. You could also bake for 20 minutes and flip the crust over, then bake an additional 5-10 minutes for an even crispier crust.
  8. Add the toppings and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Fathead Pizza Crust

Fathead dough is one of the best resources for a sustainable keto diet, offering a versatile base for many traditional dishes in a low-carb way. It transforms a few simple ingredients into a bread-like creation that can be used for anything from keto dinner rolls to keto fathead pizza pockets.

Ingredients

Fathead dough is usually made with a mix of:

  • Almond Flour or Coconut Flour: Almond flour is preferred, but coconut flour is also a tasty option, especially when making a sweeter recipe. Note that almond flour does not have a 1:1 substitution ratio with coconut flour, as coconut flour is more absorbent.
  • Mozzarella cheese: Shredded mozzarella that comes in a bag at the store is totally fine to use, BUT if you have the time I'd always recommend shredding it yourself off of a block of mozzarella. Blocks of cheese don't have the added fillers in them to keep the pieces from caking together, like the pre-shredded varieties do. Mozzarella shredded off the block also melts easier to make for an easier to work with fathead dough, and (in my opinion) it just tastes better!
  • Cream cheese or butter: This rich and creamy addition helps smooth out the dough. Both cream cheese and butter are completely interchangeable in this recipe.
  • Egg: This recipe uses one large egg.
  • Baking powder: The baking powder helps give this keto dough a little bit of rise.

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the cream cheese (or butter) and mozzarella together. This will take about 1 minute, but should be done in 30-second increments at most to avoid burning the cream cheese.
  2. Once melted, stir the cream cheese (or butter) and mozzarella together until smooth. Add your egg and continue to stir until everything is well combined. If your dough is too stiff or will not spread, it may be too cold. Place it back in the microwave for 5-10 seconds and it should be easier to spread.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together your almond flour (or coconut flour), any seasonings, and baking powder.
  4. Mix the cheese and egg mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until a soft ball of dough forms. This dough ball will be sticky.
  5. Using wet hands, work the dough and form it into whatever shape you need for your recipe. You can also opt for the method of rolling the dough between two sheets of parchment paper so that you get an easy, even roll without the dough sticking to anything.
  6. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes.

Freezing Fathead Dough

If you're interested in making the fathead dough ahead of time and freezing it for later, I would recommend rolling out the prepared dough, then wrapping it tightly in cling wrap before storing it in the freezer. When it's time to make your pizza, bake the frozen dough in the oven for 5-10 minutes before topping it and finishing off the baking.

Buying Premade Fathead Dough

Premade fathead dough is available from Fattyhead Keto Crust. You can buy the dough made into everything from baguettes to pizza crust, and there are even pre-made frozen pizzas loaded with keto-friendly toppings.

Why Fathead Pizza Crust is Popular

  1. Fat Content: With approximately 70% fat per serving, it aligns with the ketogenic diet, where fat is the primary source of energy.
  2. Texture and Consistency: The fathead crust offers a perfect balance of a chewy, bread-like texture in the middle and a crispy underside and outer crust.
  3. Preparation Time: Fathead pizza doesn’t take very long to prepare. The ingredient list is fairly short, making it a perfect quick keto pizza option.

Tips for Making Fathead Dough

  • Use a food processor to mix the crust ingredients evenly.
  • Roll out the dough between parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  • Freeze the dough ball wrapped in plastic wrap or roll out the crust and keep it between parchment paper for easy storage.

Yeast-Based Keto Pizza Crust

This gluten-free, paleo, and keto pizza crust is a fantastic dairy-free alternative to fathead dough. The yeast in this keto pizza dough ensures a wonderful texture and taste.

Read also: Diet Food Review

Key Considerations

  • Weigh your ingredients for consistent results.
  • Ensure ingredients are at room temperature, particularly the eggs.
  • Proof the yeast by mixing dry active yeast with water that’s just warm to touch (between 105-110°F) and maple syrup or honey for 7 minutes until foamy. The yeast will feed on such sugar to emit carbon dioxide, so it doesn’t affect the carb count at all.
  • Avoid abrupt temperature changes and air drafts when handling the dough.
  • If baking at high altitude, increase your oven temperature by 25°F and decrease the baking time by 5 minutes.

Ingredients and Preparation

  1. Add yeast and maple syrup to a large bowl.
  2. Heat up the water to 105-110°F and pour it over the yeast mixture. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 7 minutes until bubbly.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, finely ground flaxseed meal (or more almond flour), psyllium husk, xanthan gum (or more flaxseed meal), baking powder, and salt until thoroughly mixed.
  4. Once your yeast is proofed, add in the egg, egg whites, olive oil, and vinegar. Mix with a whisk or electric mixer for a couple of minutes until light and frothy.
  5. Add the flour mixture in two batches, mixing until thoroughly incorporated. Mix thoroughly and quickly to activate the xanthan gum, though the dough will become very thick by the end and form into a round.

Cooking Instructions

  1. Line a pizza dish or baking tray with parchment paper and grease with olive oil.
  2. Dip a spatula (or your fingers) in water and spread the dough until even in thickness of choice. Fold the edges inward to create thicker edges (optional).
  3. Cover with a kitchen towel dome and place in a warm, draft-free space for 40-50 minutes until lighter in texture. You don't want the dough to double, but it will puff up noticeably.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C while the dough is proofing. If you're baking at high altitude, you'll want to bake it at 375°F/190°C.
  5. Transfer the dish gently into the oven and blind bake without toppings for 10-14 minutes until lightly browned.

Keto Pizza: FAQs

Can I buy keto pizza?

Yes, you can find keto pizza options at several restaurants. Blaze Pizza is known for its keto pizza crust made from cauliflower rice and mozzarella cheese, containing 6 grams of net carbs per slice. Additionally, Papa Murphy's offers a crustless pizza option, which is also low in carbs.

Should I use a pizza stone to make keto pizza?

While it's not necessary to use a pizza stone, it can enhance your keto pizza by making the crust crispy and helping cook the middle evenly. If you don't have a pizza stone, a baking tray works perfectly fine.

Is it keto to pull the toppings and cheese off of pizza and eat it?

Yes, as long as the marinara sauce is low in carbs and sugar. Be cautious, as some pizza places add sugar to their sauces for flavor. Always check the nutritional information of the sauce before consuming.

Who invented fathead pizza dough?

The fathead pizza dough is often credited to comedian Tom Naughton, who popularized it through his low-carb documentary 'Fathead.' However, the original recipe was first created by Cooky’s Creations, a low-carb blogger, who referred to it as 'Holy Grail Pizza Crust' before it was named Fat Head by Naughton and his fans.

Can I make substitutions for the almond flour in the crust?

Yes, while almond flour is commonly used for keto crusts, you can substitute it with other low-carb flours such as coconut flour or sunflower seed flour. Keep in mind that coconut flour is more absorbent, so you may need to adjust the liquid ingredients accordingly.

How should I store leftover keto pizza?

To store leftover keto pizza, allow it to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place it in an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, consider freezing the pizza, where it will last for about 1-2 months.

What are the nutritional values of the keto pizza crust?

The nutritional values can vary based on specific ingredients used, but generally, a serving of fathead pizza crust (based on the recipe provided) contains approximately 300 calories, 25 grams of fat, 8 grams of protein, and 4-5 grams of net carbs.

Choosing Keto-Friendly Toppings

If you are using keto dough to make pizza, you will need to keep it low carb with some keto-approved pizza toppings. Luckily, most pizza toppings are keto-friendly. Any meat is fair game on a keto pizza, such as pepperoni, salami, sausage, ground beef, bacon, Canadian bacon, and anchovies.

Keto Pizza Sauce

Store-bought sauces can be high in sugar, so it's essential to choose keto-friendly options. Some recommended keto pizza sauce brands are Yo Mama and Rao’s. If you are on a budget, you may consider making your own!

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