Enjoy pizza night with this cheesy, saucy, high protein pizza made with all your fave toppings but without the carbs!
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: This pizza bowl is rich, cheesy, and savory with bold Italian spices, smoky sausage, zesty pepperoni, and a comforting pizza flavor in every bite.
- Tools: Oven-safe ceramic bowls are the perfect choice for individual, customizable meals.
- Swaps: My favorite high-protein combo for that true takeout flavor is Italian sausage, pepperoni, extra mozzarella, and a little parmesan. It tastes just like a classic pizzeria order.
- Serving suggestions: For a family dinner night pizza buffet, I set up a make-your-own pizza bowl topping bar. Simply prep the veggie-cauliflower base and cooked meat ahead, then let everyone customize their own bowls with fave sauces, proteins, veggies, and cheeses.
Low Carb Pizza Fixings
- Cauliflower: Fresh or frozen, both work. If using frozen, just be sure to thaw and squeeze it dry so the base does not become soupy.
- Meat: Using pre-cooked sausage saves time. Choose turkey or chicken sausage for a lean, high-protein option. For pepperoni, use slices or quarter them for better distribution.
- Sauce: Look for a low-carb, low-sugar pizza sauce and zest it up with Italian seasonings and some fresh oregano or basil.
- Cheese: Pizza means loads of melty cheese! Low moisture shredded mozzarella melts best and browns beautifully, while Parmesan adds a salty, sharp finish.
- Veggies: Green bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives make the perfect pizza toppings.
Variations
- Add cooked onions, sliced olives, and extra mushrooms or swap green with red peppers for a sweeter flavor, or use zucchini or spinach.
- Experiment with diced ham, bacon bits, or salami in place of sausage. Or boost the protein with extra sausage, shredded chicken, or even a spoonful of cottage cheese under the mozzarella for a creamier bake.
- For heat lovers, be sure to use hot Italian sausage and crushed red pepper for a spicy kick.
- Romano or Asiago cheese make great substitute for the Parmesan.
How to Make a Pizza Bowl
- Cook garlic, green pepper, and mushrooms in oil (full recipe below).
- Stir in the cauliflower rice and herbs and cook through.
- Divide the mixture between 4 bowls and top with the remaining ingredients.
- Bake until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
Holly’s No-Fail Tips
- Dice veggies small for a quick sauté and evenly distributed bites. Be sure to cook mushrooms until most of their moisture is released, and spread the sauce in a thin, even layer, to avoid watery bowls.
- If using frozen cauliflower rice, thaw and press out excess water before cooking.
- Use oven-safe bowls that can handle 450°F, or bake in a small casserole dish and portion afterward.
- For extra browning, sprinkle parmesan on top and bake on the upper rack for the last few minutes.
Round Two: Reheating Leftovers
Cool crustless pizza bowls, place in an airtight container, and refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat in the oven, cover loosely with foil and warm at 350°F until hot, then uncover briefly to re-crisp the cheese. To reheat in the microwave, heat in short bursts to avoid rubbery cheese, then rest 1 minute before eating.
High Protein, Low Carb Dinners
Did you enjoy this recipe for Pizza Bowls? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Pizza Bowls
Cheesy pizza bowls bake up bubbly with sausage, pepperoni, and a veggie-packed cauliflower rice base for an easy and comforting low carb dinner.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup green bell pepper diced
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 3 cups cauliflower rice
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon basil
- 1 cup low carb pizza sauce
- ½ pound Italian sausage cooked and crumbled
- ¼ cup pepperoni slices
- 1 tablespoon black olives optional
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Heat oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add garlic, green pepper, and mushrooms. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in cauliflower rice, oregano, and basil. Cook until cauliflower is cooked through.
- Divide the mixture over 4 oven-safe bowls. Top with pizza sauce, cooked sausage, pepperoni, olives, and cheeses.
- Bake 15 minutes or until cheese is browned and bubbly.
- Top with fresh herbs if desired.
Video
Notes
- Prepare all ingredients in advance for a pizza buffet or quick and easy dinner.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 518kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1338mg | Potassium: 903mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 843IU | Vitamin C: 94mg | Calcium: 416mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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This was really good! The whole family loved it.
Thank you for trying our recipe! So happy you enjoyed it.
This recipe was Excellent. My family members are plain jane’s when it comes to pizza so I didn’t get to put all the lovely sautéed vegetables in the cauliflower rice mixture. I made several different versions using ground beef for some, and ground turkey for others. Everyone is a pepperoni lover, so that stayed in!! The reviews were all thumbs up. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! We will use it over and over again.
So happy to hear that! I am glad everyone enjoyed it, even if you had to skip some delicious parts 😉
Hello,
Low carb pizza sauce? What brand?
Hope try this recipe in the future.