🍕 Low-Carb Crustless Pizza Bowl

All the cheesy, saucy goodness of pizza without the crust! This easy pizza bowl is loaded with seasoned ground beef, pepperoni, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and your favorite pizza toppings. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and can easily be customized.

🛒 Ingredients

For 4 servings:

  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup low-sugar marinara or pizza sauce
  • 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup sliced pepperoni, chopped
  • ½ cup sliced mushrooms
  • ½ cup diced bell pepper
  • ¼ cup sliced black olives, optional
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat the oven.
Set the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease four oven-safe bowls or one medium baking dish.

2. Brown the meat.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or sausage and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into small pieces until completely browned.

3. Add the onion and garlic.
Stir in the diced onion and cook for about 3 minutes, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

4. Season the meat.
Add Italian seasoning, oregano, garlic powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well so the seasonings coat the meat.

5. Add the vegetables.
Stir in the mushrooms and bell pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes, just until the vegetables begin to soften while retaining some texture.

6. Add the sauce.
Pour in the marinara or pizza sauce and stir everything together. Simmer for 2–3 minutes so the flavors combine.

7. Build the pizza bowls.
Divide the meat mixture among four oven-safe bowls. Sprinkle each with mozzarella cheese, then add chopped pepperoni, olives, and any additional pizza toppings you enjoy.

8. Add Parmesan.
Sprinkle a little Parmesan over each bowl for an extra savory, cheesy finish.

9. Bake.
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and bake for 8–12 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling.

10. Broil for extra browning.
For a golden, bubbly top, switch the oven to broil for 1–2 minutes. Watch carefully because the cheese can brown very quickly.

11. Rest briefly.
Remove the bowls from the oven and let them cool for 3–5 minutes. They’ll be extremely hot straight from the oven.

12. Serve.
Finish with fresh basil, parsley, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Serve hot while the cheese is still wonderfully stretchy.

⭐ Best Topping Ideas

You can customize your pizza bowl with:

  • Italian sausage
  • Cooked bacon
  • Ham
  • Chicken
  • Jalapeños
  • Spinach
  • Mushrooms
  • Bell peppers
  • Black olives
  • Banana peppers
  • Fresh basil
  • Extra mozzarella
  • Parmesan

💡 Low-Carb Tips

Choose a low-sugar marinara or pizza sauce, since sauces can contain surprising amounts of added sugar. For a very low-carb version, use extra meat, cheese, mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini instead of higher-carb toppings.

Servings: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: About 35 minutes.