Low-Carb Crustless Pizza Bowl — Keto Recipe

A cheesy, satisfying pizza bowl with all the flavors of classic pizza—savory meat, pepperoni, marinara, herbs, and plenty of melted cheese—without the carb-heavy crust. Perfect for a quick keto-friendly, low-carb dinner.

🛒 Ingredients — 4 servings

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or Italian sausage
• 4 oz (115 g) sliced pepperoni, chopped
• 1 cup low-sugar or no-sugar-added pizza sauce
• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ small onion, finely diced (optional for stricter keto)
• 1 small bell pepper, diced (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Brown the meat
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef or sausage and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.

2. Add the aromatics
Add the garlic, onion, and bell pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. For very low-carb keto, you can leave out the onion and use only a small amount of bell pepper.

3. Season
Stir in Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.

4. Add pizza sauce
Pour in the pizza sauce and stir well. Simmer for 3–5 minutes so the flavors combine.

5. Add pepperoni
Stir in half of the chopped pepperoni. Reserve the rest for the topping.

6. Make the pizza bowls
Divide the meat mixture among 4 oven-safe bowls or ramekins. Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar over each bowl, then top with the remaining pepperoni and Parmesan.

7. Melt and brown the cheese
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 8–12 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling. For a more golden top, broil for 1–2 minutes, watching carefully.

8. Garnish and serve
Let the bowls cool for a couple of minutes, then garnish with fresh basil or parsley.

💪 Protein & Keto Notes

• High protein: Ground beef/sausage plus mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan provide substantial protein.
• Low carb: Choose a pizza sauce with minimal added sugar and keep higher-carb vegetables modest.
• Keto-friendly: The recipe can fit a ketogenic diet when made with a low-carb sauce and limited onion/pepper.
• For an even higher-protein version, use lean ground beef or ground turkey and add extra mozzarella or Parmesan.

Approximate Nutrition

Per serving, depending on meat and sauce:

Calories: ~500–550
Protein: ~35–40 g
Net carbs: ~5–7 g
Fat: ~35–40 g

Nutrition varies with the specific meat, cheese, pepperoni, and pizza sauce used.