Description
Savory low carb pizza bowls deliver classic Italian flavors without traditional crust. Packed with protein, melted cheese, and zesty marinara, this dish satisfies pizza cravings while keeping carbohydrates minimal for health-conscious diners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) marinara or pizza sauce (low-sugar or keto-friendly)
- 1 cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50 g / 1.8 oz) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 oz) sliced pepperoni or cooked sausage (or a mix)
- ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 oz) diced bell peppers
- ½ cup (50 g / 1.8 oz) sliced mushrooms
- ¼ cup (40 g / 1.4 oz) sliced black olives (optional)
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Calibrate oven to 400F (200C), creating an ideal thermal environment for melting cheese and warming ingredients.
- Sauce Foundation: Distribute marinara sauce evenly across the bottom of oven-safe bowls, establishing a robust flavor base.
- Layer Proteins and Vegetables: Strategically arrange pepperoni, sausage, bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives, constructing a complex flavor landscape with varied textures and profiles.
- Cheese Coverage: Blanket the layered ingredients with a generous mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan, ensuring complete ingredient coverage and creating a creamy, indulgent surface.
- Seasoning Enhancement: Sprinkle dried oregano and garlic powder across the cheese layer, introducing aromatic depth and culinary complexity.
- Baking Process: Transfer bowls on a baking sheet into the preheated oven, allowing 12-15 minutes for transformative cooking and cheese melting.
- Visual Doneness Cues: Observe the pizza bowls for golden, slightly crisp cheese edges and bubbling surfaces, indicating optimal cooking completion.
- Cooling and Garnishing: Remove from oven, let cool momentarily, then adorn with fresh basil leaves to introduce a vibrant, herbaceous counterpoint.
- Serving Presentation: Serve immediately while the pizza bowls remain piping hot, preserving their tantalizing warmth and melted cheese integrity.
Notes
- Customize Cheese Blend: Mix mozzarella with provolone or cheddar for enhanced flavor complexity and textural variety.
- Manage Moisture Levels: Pat wet ingredients like mushrooms and bell peppers dry to prevent excess liquid accumulation and maintain crisp topping integrity.
- Control Protein Distribution: Precook meats like sausage and pepperoni to reduce excess grease and ensure even heating throughout the pizza bowl.
- Dietary Adaptation Strategies: Substitute dairy cheese with plant-based alternatives for vegan versions, or use cauliflower base instead of traditional ingredients for lower-calorie options.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg