Easy Crustless Pizza Bowl Recipe
This easy, crustless pizza bowl is so much fun to make and can be customized however you like! It’s a super-fun take on traditional pizza night but these pizza bowls are keto-friendly and low-carb!
Five Star Review…
“I’m all about cutting carbs everywhere I can, and my daughter is gluten sensitive so we really try to avoid crust. This is the perfect way to still enjoy our favorite food!“
– KIM
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Customizable: Sky is the absolute limit for these pizza bowls! Load them up with any of your favorite pizza toppings, make them meat-lovers, vegetarian, Hawaiian…whatever your pizza heart desires!
- Pizza flavor minus carbs: Crustless pizza bowls means less carbs, starch, and gluten.
- Super quick: Unlike many more complicated pizza bowl recipes out there, this one is super quick and easy breezy!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this easy crustless pizza bowl recipe:
INGREDIENT NOTES
Toppings: I am showing sausage, green bell peppers, and onions here, but sky’s the limit! Use your favorite pizza toppings.
Sauce: If you want to keep it quick and easy, you can use your favorite store-bought pasta sauce or make your own homemade sauce!
HOW TO MAKE THIS EASY PIZZA IN A BOWL: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that the recipe card below will include full instructions with exact ingredients!
EXPERT TIPS
- Brown meat and veggies: If you are using sausage or another meat, I always like to brown the meat, then when it’s almost done, I throw in my veggies and sauté them for a few minutes with the meat. It helps release the moisture in the veggies and gives you an extra layer of flavor.
- Broil: For a nicely browned top, broil 1-2 minutes at the very end of baking.
- Add freshness: Sprinkle on some fresh toppings like chopped fresh basil, arugula, cherry tomatoes, or a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese after the bowls come out of the oven.
- Make ahead tip: Pizza bowls are great to make ahead! Assemble the bowls and cover with plastic wrap. Store them in the fridge until you are ready to bake.
Casey’s Top Tip: Don’t have ramekins? No problem. You can use any oven-safe bowl or dish!
STORAGE AND REHEATING
- Storage: Store leftover pizza bowls in the fridge covered tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. The leftover pizza bowls are best if eaten within a day or two.
- Reheating: For best results, reheat pizza bowls in the oven at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the toppings are warmed through. You can also reheat them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes on medium power until warm.
SUBSTITUTIONS & ADDITIONS
SUBSTITUTIONS
Make it veggie: You can easily replace the sausage with more veggies! I love green bell pepper, onions, mushrooms and olives.
Cheese: Any good-melting cheese is perfect. Provolone cheese, fontina, or Monterey Jack are great options.
Sauce: Switch up the sauce! Use BBQ sauce, alfredo, or pesto!
ADDITIONS
Make it spicy: Add jalapenos and crushed red pepper flakes to spice it up.
Make it healthier: Replace the sausage with turkey pepperoni or nix the protein all together and do a veggie-only bowl.
Herbs: Fresh herbs like basil, or dried herbs like oregano or Italian seasoning are delicious additions sprinkled over the top.
Ranch dressing: A drizzle of ranch dressing on top of your pizza bowl is delish!
Your Questions Answered
How to Serve
Salad: Pair this yummy pizza bowl with a fresh tossed salad or an arugula salad.
Breadsticks: I know you might be trying to cut carbs by making this but I won’t lie – this pizza bowl is amazing with breadsticks or garlic bread!
Extra veggies: Keep it healthy and add a side of roasted veggies!
OTHER PIZZA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
I hope you love this Crustless Pizza Bowl! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Easy Crustless Pizza Bowl Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups pizza or marinara sauce
- 1-2 sweet Italian sausages, casings removed See Note 1
- 2 cups favorite pizza toppings See Note 1
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 4 medium, oven-safe bowls or ramekins with cooking spray. I like using these 12oz. ramekins.
- Cook: If using sausage or another meat that needs to be cooked, brown meat in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add veggies and cook with the meat for a few minutes more. Set aside.
- Layer: Start layering your bowls or ramekins. Start with about 2 tablespoons of each ingredient. Layer 1: Sauce, Layer 2: "Toppings." Layer 3: Cheese. Then repeat once more: sauce, toppings, cheese.
- Bake: Place bowls on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 15-20 minutes until cheese starts to bubble and gets slightly golden brown on top. Optional: Broil for last minute of cooking so the cheese gets nice and brown!
- Cool: Allow pizza bowls to cool for 3-5 minutes and enjoy!
Notes
Expert Tips:
-
- Brown meat and veggies: If you are using sausage or another meat, I always like to brown the meat, then when it’s almost done, throw in my veggies and sauté them for a few minutes with the meat. It helps release the moisture in the veggies and gives you an extra layer of flavor.
-
- Broil: For a nicely browned top, broil 1-2 minutes at the very end of baking.
-
- Add freshness: Add some freshness to your pizza bowl, and sprinkle on some fresh toppings like chopped fresh basil, arugula, cherry tomatoes, or a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese after they come out of the oven.
-
- Make ahead tip: Pizza bowls are great to make ahead! Assemble the bowls and cover with plastic wrap. Store them in the fridge until you are ready to bake.
I would like to know if I could do in a cast iron skillet?
That’s a great idea! I don’t see why not!!! Let us know how it turns out! XO ~ Casey
Not using sausages. Ground beef amount?
I would use about 1/2 lb. 🙂
If I use ground beef, how much would be used per layer? How much sauce per layer? My bowls are 16 0z.
Don’t worry, you can’t really mess it up! You can totally measure with your heart 🙂 Off the top of my head, I would say 1/2 lb. total so 1/4 lb. on each layer. So brown up 1/2 lb of ground beef and then just divide it equally between the two layers. It will be delish! XO~ Casey
My family loves these bowls because they can each customize them however they like! I hope you love them as much as we do! XO ~ Casey
So so good for pizza night, added a bit of heat with red pepper flakes on one.
I’m all about cutting carbs everywhere I can, and my daughter is gluten sensitive so we really try to avoid crust. This is the perfect way to still enjoy our favorite food!
Sooooo good!! This is a winner any night of the week, but especially on a family night when we all need to agree on the same thing. So easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
This keto friendly, carb smart pizza bowl sounds delicious.
Ummm YES PLEASE. This was delicious! I’m always in for all pizza all the time in any form. Everyone loved this!
I have been trying to cut back carbs in my diet, so I am excited to try this! 🙂 Looks delicious.
This is such a fun and easy idea for lunch or idea especially since we all love pizza! Thanks so much for the recipe- will be making this often!
Thank you so much! The flavors are perfect and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
What a great idea. I usually get my pizza crust premade (gluten free) and spend all my time on the toppings. When I’m out of crusts, no pizza! At least until now.
These are everything we love about pizza but lighter, and low carb! So versatile too!