Low-Carb Crustless Pizza Bowl
A cheesy, meaty pizza bowl loaded with ground beef, mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomatoes, olives, and Italian seasoning—without the traditional pizza crust.
Ingredients
Pizza Bowl
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onion
- ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or ground turkey
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup low-sugar marinara or pizza sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or provolone cheese
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- ¼ cup sliced pepperoni, optional
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook the beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Add the vegetables: Add onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Cook for 4–5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for another 30–60 seconds.
- Add the sauce: Stir in the marinara or pizza sauce. Simmer for 2–3 minutes so the flavors combine.
- Assemble: Divide the mixture between 4 oven-safe bowls or small baking dishes. Top with cherry tomatoes, olives, and pepperoni if using.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar/provolone evenly over the top.
- Bake: Place the bowls on a baking sheet and bake for 8–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- For a golden, browned cheese topping, broil for 1–2 minutes, watching carefully.
- Let the bowls cool for a few minutes before serving.
Topping Ideas
You can customize these just like a regular pizza:
- Jalapeños
- Turkey pepperoni
- Cooked sausage
- Black or green olives
- Mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Spinach
- Diced tomatoes
- Parmesan
- Fresh basil
- Red pepper flakes
Nutrition
Approximate per serving, assuming 4 servings and using lean ground beef, mozzarella, and marinara:
- Calories: 430–480
- Protein: 32–38 g
- Carbohydrates: 10–14 g
- Fiber: 2–3 g
- Net carbs: 8–11 g
- Fat: 27–32 g
Actual nutrition depends heavily on the meat, cheese, sauce, and toppings used.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheat at 350°F (175°C) until hot, or microwave until heated through.
Q&A
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes. Ground turkey makes the bowl leaner while still providing plenty of protein.
Can I make this without mushrooms?
Absolutely. Replace them with zucchini, spinach, extra peppers, or another pizza topping.
How do I keep it very low carb?
Choose a no-added-sugar, low-carb pizza sauce, skip pepperoni with added sugars, and use non-starchy vegetables.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Prepare the meat and vegetable mixture ahead of time and refrigerate. Add the cheese just before baking.
Can I freeze it?
The cooked meat mixture freezes well. For the best texture, freeze the mixture without the fresh toppings and cheese, then add those after thawing before reheating.
Can I make individual portions?
Yes. Individual ramekins or small oven-safe bowls work perfectly and make serving easy.
What makes it “crustless”?
Instead of a flour-based pizza crust, all the pizza toppings are baked together in a bowl and finished with melted cheese.
