Craving all the delicious, savory flavors of a classic pizza without the carbs? You’ve come to the right place. This Low Carb Pizza Bowl packs everything you love—gooey melted cheese, rich marinara, and your favorite toppings—into a simple, crustless dish. It’s the ultimate solution for a quick weeknight dinner that satisfies your pizza craving while keeping you on track with your health goals. This recipe is incredibly easy, endlessly customizable, and ready in under 30 minutes.
We’re ditching the dough but keeping all the good stuff. This deconstructed pizza is a game-changer for anyone on a keto or low-carb diet. Let’s dive in and make your new favorite meal.
Ready for the oven! Layering is key to the perfect pizza bowl.
What is a Low Carb Pizza Bowl?
A Low Carb Pizza Bowl is exactly what it sounds like: all the essential pizza toppings baked together in a bowl, without the traditional high-carb crust. Think of it as a deconstructed pizza. You start with a base of savory meat like Italian sausage, layer on a sugar-free marinara sauce, and then pile on the mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. It’s all baked until hot, bubbly, and irresistibly cheesy.
This simple concept makes it a perfect dish for a keto lifestyle, offering high flavor, healthy fats, and protein, with minimal carbohydrates. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a pizza night with family and friends, no matter their dietary needs.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Recipe
Incredibly Fast: This entire meal comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Completely Customizable: Just like a regular pizza, you can add any low-carb toppings you love. Mushrooms, olives, peppers—get creative!
Meal Prep Friendly: This is a great recipe to make ahead. Prepare a few bowls at the beginning of the week for quick and easy lunches.
Keto-Friendly & Gluten-Free: With no crust, this recipe is naturally gluten-free and fits perfectly into a ketogenic diet.
Look at that perfectly melted cheese!
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this amazing crustless pizza bowl. Quality matters here, so choose your favorites!
Italian Sausage: This forms the savory, hearty base of the bowl. Use mild or hot, depending on your preference.
Sugar-Free Marinara Sauce: Look for a sauce with no added sugars to keep the carb count low. Rao’s is a popular choice.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: It wouldn’t be a pizza bowl without plenty of gooey, melted mozzarella!
Pepperoni Slices: A classic pizza topping that crisps up beautifully in the oven.
Seasonings: A simple mix of dried oregano, garlic powder, and a pinch of red pepper flakes brings that authentic pizzeria flavor.
How to Make a Low Carb Pizza Bowl (Step-by-Step)
Making this dish is as easy as 1-2-3. Just layer and bake!
Cook the Base: In a large skillet, cook the Italian sausage over medium-high heat until it’s browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
Build the Bowl: Divide the cooked sausage among four oven-safe bowls. Stir in the marinara sauce and seasonings until the sausage is evenly coated.
Add the Toppings: Sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sausage mixture. Arrange the pepperoni slices on top.
Bake to Perfection: Place the bowls on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. You can also broil it for the last 1-2 minutes for extra crispy pepperoni.
Pro Tips for the Best Results
Want to take your pizza bowl to the next level? Follow these simple tips.
Drain the Fat: Be sure to drain the grease from your cooked sausage thoroughly. This prevents the final dish from becoming too oily.
Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains starches to prevent caking, which can add unnecessary carbs. Shredding your own from a block of low-moisture mozzarella will give you a better melt.
Don’t Overload on Sauce: Too much marinara can make the bowl watery. Use just enough to coat the meat base and provide that classic pizza flavor. For a thicker base, you can mix in a bit of cream cheese with the sausage.
Delicious Topping Variations
The best part about this Low Carb Pizza Bowl is making it your own. Feel free to mix and match your favorite keto-friendly pizza toppings.
Meat Lover’s Delight
Add some cooked bacon crumbles or browned ground beef to the Italian sausage base for an extra protein-packed meal. For a different flavor profile, consider adding some spicy chorizo.
Swap the marinara for a creamy garlic white sauce and top with spinach, mushrooms, and grilled chicken for a delicious twist on the classic. You might also like this Keto Cajun Alfredo.
Storage and Meal Prep Instructions
This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. To store, allow the bowls to cool completely, then cover them tightly with a lid or plastic wrap. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, simply microwave for 1-2 minutes or bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through. The oven method is best for re-crisping the toppings.
A low-carb pizza bowl is typically made of a base of cooked meat like Italian sausage, layered with sugar-free marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and classic pizza toppings like pepperoni. It’s baked without a crust for a keto-friendly meal.
Yes, a crustless pizza bowl can be a very healthy meal. It is high in protein and fat while being low in carbohydrates and gluten-free, making it suitable for keto, low-carb, and gluten-sensitive diets. Choose high-quality ingredients to maximize health benefits.
Absolutely! Pizza bowls are excellent for meal prep. You can assemble them and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Simply reheat in the oven or microwave until hot and bubbly when you’re ready to eat.
Great low-carb topping options include mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, black olives, bacon, ground beef, and extra cheese. Avoid high-sugar items like pineapple or BBQ sauce.
If you loved this easy recipe, you’re sure to enjoy some of our other creations. This Cottage Cheese Pizza Bake is another fantastic high-protein, low-carb option. For something completely different but equally delicious, give our Dill Pickle Parmesan Chicken a try!
Your New Favorite Keto Pizza Night!
This Low Carb Pizza Bowl recipe is proof that you don’t need to give up your favorite foods to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s a satisfying, flavorful, and incredibly simple meal that the whole family will love. Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments below! Don’t forget to save it to your favorite board on Pinterest!
All the pizza flavor, none of the carbs! This easy pizza bowl is a weeknight dinner hero.
Low Carb Pizza Bowl Recipe
FL Recipes
Low Carb Pizza Bowl (The Easiest, Cheesiest Recipe!)
This Low Carb Pizza Bowl has all the pizza flavor without the carbs! An easy, cheesy, and keto-friendly recipe with sausage, marinara, and mozzarella, ready in under 30 minutes.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
Stir the sugar-free marinara sauce, dried oregano, and garlic powder into the cooked sausage. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
Divide the sausage mixture evenly among four individual oven-safe bowls.
Top each bowl with 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and then arrange the pepperoni slices on top.
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. For crispier pepperoni, switch to the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Carefully remove the bowls from the oven, let them cool for a minute, and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcalProtein: 30gFat: 45gFiber: 2g
Notes
For a thicker sauce, add 2 ounces of cream cheese to the sausage and marinara mixture. Feel free to add other low-carb toppings like cooked mushrooms, onions, or black olives before adding the cheese.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
