The first time I spotted a pizza bowl while scrolling through TikTok, I was skeptical: A pizza minus the crust? But as a girl who loves travel-inspired food, and a low-carb girl, this fusion crustless pizza had me at first bite. This pizza bowl recipe includes all your favorite pizza flavors sauce, cheese, toppings minus the carbs. Whether you’re eating keto or simply want cheesy comfort, this hits the spot.
Table of Contents
Ingredients List
450 g (1 lb) Italian sausage or ground beef
240 ml (1 cup) Pizza or marinara sauce
225 grams (1 to 1/2 cups) shredded mozzarella
60 g (¼ cup) grated Parmesan
12 slices pepperoni (~60 g)
120 g (½ cup) mushroom slices (optional)
120 g ( ½ cup) of chopped bell-pepper (optional)
60 g (¼ cup) black olives, sliced (if using)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 205 degrees C (400 degrees F). Lightly oil 4 oven-proof bowls or ramekins.
- Brown sausage in large skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Mushrooms and bell pepper are added to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, or until softened.
- Ladle 60 ml (¼ cup) of sauce into each of 4 bowls. Top with meat-veggie mix, pepperoni and 50 g (⅓ cup) mozzarella.
- Repeat layering: sauce, toppings, Parmesan, mozzarella. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
- Bake on a sheet pan with sides 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Broil 1-2 minutes, to get a nice top browning if desired.
- Let sit for 3-5 minutes before serving, it’ll keep the bottom from getting too watery.
Tips & Variations
Substitute sausage for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles.
Cottage-cheese version? Combine 1½ cups cottage cheese with sauce, Parmesan, seasoning layer as above.
Want extra crisp? Skip individual bowls and top with grits in cast iron skillet.
Preparation: This can be made the day before and refrigerate it up to day before baking.
Use part-skim cheese and lean meats to save calories.
Mistakes to Avoid
Skipping the rest time: Cutting in too early leads to watery bowls. Letting them rest reabsorbs moisture.
Overloading on sauce: Use just enough to coat, not drown.
Not draining the meat: Excess grease can pool and create soggy texture.
Using low-moisture veggies raw: Sauté mushrooms and peppers first to reduce liquid content.
Want more recipe variety? Check out our Spaghetti Casserole for another hearty baked dish.
For something quick and fun, try our 30-Minute Pickle Pizza for a totally different flavour profile.
Storing and Reheating
Storing:
Cool completely, then store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing:
Assemble and freeze before baking, tightly wrapped for up to 2 months.
Reheating:
For best texture, reheat in the oven at 175 °C (350 °F) for 10-12 minutes. Microwave reheating may result in extra moisture but still works in a pinch.
Nutrition
Roughly 630 kcal | 38g fat | 28g protein per bowl.
FAQs
What Is a Pizza Bowl?
A pizza bowl is a pizza sans crust that combines your favorite toppings, sausage, sauce and cheese all in a bowl and baked until bubbly.
What are Marco’s pizza bowls?
Marco’s has a trio of “specialty pizza bowls” (baked crustless) All Meat (pepperoni, ham, sausage, bacon, cheese), Deluxe (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions) and Garden (mushrooms, olives, onions, tomatoes, feta).
What is a Papa John’s bowl?
Papa John’s does not currently serve an official pizza bowl. Most citations are DIY versions prepared from its ingredients.
Why did my cottage cheese pizza bowl turn watery?
Cottage cheese holds water. To avoid a watery texture, drain it or stir in 1-2 tsp cornstarch before layering. After baking, allow the bowl to sit for 3-5 minutes (This is for all the juices to be drunk up again).
Summery
Want pizza but avoiding the carbs? This pizza bowl recipe stacks up sausage (or beef), plenty of saucy-cheesy goodness and toppings in individual bowls and bakes till bubbly. Sausage, mozzarella, Parmesan, mozzarella, sauce, pepperoni, bell peppers, mushrooms, olives and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning. Bake at 205°C (400°F) for 20 minutes or until golden, broiling the top to brown. Allow to cool before serving to prevent soggy bottoms. Swap in cottage cheese for extra protein or personalize it with turkey, veggies or meatless crumbles. It’s low in carbs, adaptable, meal prep and super easy to throw together in less then 30 minutes. Rate it on DiversityRecipes.com!