Low-Carb Crustless Pizza Bowl
A cheesy, satisfying pizza bowl loaded with seasoned ground beef, colorful bell peppers, tomatoes, marinara, and plenty of melted mozzarella—without the crust.
Ingredients
For the Pizza Bowls
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, sliced
- ½ medium yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup low-carb pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Optional Pizza Toppings
- Sliced mushrooms
- Black olives
- Turkey pepperoni
- Jalapeños
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Diced tomatoes
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Lightly grease 4 oven-safe individual bowls or ramekins.
2. Brown the beef
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart as it cooks, until browned and cooked through.
Drain excess grease if needed.
3. Add the vegetables
Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper.
Cook for 4–5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften but still have a little texture.
Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
4. Season
Stir in:
- Italian seasoning
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
Mix well.
5. Add the pizza sauce
Pour in the pizza sauce and stir everything together.
Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
6. Build the bowls
Divide the beef and vegetable mixture between the prepared bowls.
Sprinkle each bowl generously with mozzarella and Parmesan.
Add any optional toppings you like.
7. Bake
Place the bowls on a baking sheet.
Bake for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling.
For a browned, bubbly top, switch to broil for 1–2 minutes, watching carefully.
8. Garnish and serve
Remove from the oven and let cool for 3–5 minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes if desired.
Serve hot.
Nutrition Information
Approximate per serving, based on 4 servings:
- Calories: ~480
- Protein: ~38 g
- Fat: ~32 g
- Total Carbohydrates: ~10 g
- Fiber: ~2.5 g
- Net Carbs: ~7.5 g
- Sugar: ~5 g
- Sodium: ~700 mg
Nutrition varies depending on the ground beef, cheese, and pizza sauce used.
Q&A
Can I make this with ground turkey?
Yes. Ground turkey works very well and makes the bowl leaner.
Can I make it without onion?
Absolutely. Simply leave it out or replace it with extra bell pepper or mushrooms.
What sauce should I use?
Use a no-added-sugar pizza sauce or marinara if you want to keep the carbohydrates lower.
Can I use other cheese?
Yes. Provolone, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a mozzarella-Parmesan blend all work well.
Can I make these ahead?
Yes. Assemble the bowls, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Bake when ready to serve.
Can I freeze pizza bowls?
Yes. Allow them to cool completely, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
How do I keep the bowl from becoming watery?
Don’t overcook the peppers, and use a thicker pizza sauce. If your vegetables release a lot of liquid, drain it before assembling the bowls.
Is this crustless pizza keto-friendly?
It can fit a low-carb or keto-style meal, especially when made with no-sugar-added pizza sauce and moderate amounts of vegetables.
