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This Crustless Pizza Bowl for One delivers all the delicious flavors of a classic pizza without the crust. Made with Italian sausage, marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and your favorite toppings, this easy low-carb recipe is baked to bubbly perfection and ready in about 20 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: Enjoy all the classic pizza flavor without the crust. This easy pizza bowl fits perfectly into low-carb or keto meal plans.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in about 15 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight or anytime meal.
- Customizable: Add your favorite pizza toppings – pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, or extra cheese, for a bowl that’s just right for you.
- Gluten-Free: Made without dough, this pizza bowl is naturally gluten-free and full of flavor.
- Perfectly Portioned: Designed as a single serving, it’s ideal for anyone cooking for one or watching portions.
What I love most about this Crustless Pizza Bowl is how it gives me all the flavors of a classic pizza – melty cheese, rich sauce, and perfectly seasoned sausage, without the crust.
It’s simple, quick, and completely customizable with whatever toppings I have on hand. Whether I’m in the mood for something hearty or lighter and low-carb, this single serving pizza bowl always hits the spot.
If you enjoy this crustless pizza bowl, try more of our pizza recipes like mini Detroit style pizza, French bread pizza for one, personal pepperoni pizza, and a small crustless pizza quiche.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this low-carb crustless pizza bowl recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Olive Oil: Used to sauté the vegetables and meat. You can substitute with avocado oil if preferred.
- Onion & Green Bell Pepper: Add crunch and natural sweetness. Swap with any vegetables you like. Use leftover onion and bell pepper in small slow cooker ropa vieja, chicken tacos for one, and pepper steak for one.
- Garlic: Brings depth and flavor. Use 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder as a quick substitute.
- Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite jarred marinara, pizza sauce, or tomato sauce. Our small batch tomato sauce works beautifully here. Choose a sugar-free version to keep it low carb. Any extra sauce can be used in stuffed shells for one and single serving chicken Parmesan.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Provides a melty, cheesy layer. Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded. For a dairy-free option, use vegan cheese. Extra mozzarella is great in single serving lasagna soup, Italian chopped salad, and mini vegetable lasagna.
- Italian Sausage: Adds flavor and spice. Turkey sausage is a leaner option. Leftover sausage can be used in tortellini soup for one and zuppa toscana for one.
- Pepperoni: A classic topping. I use 5 slices to line the bottom of the ramekin. Substitute with ham or chicken if you prefer. Extra pepperoni can be used in a mini muffuletta.
- Fresh Basil (optional): Adds a fresh, aromatic finish.
Recipe Variations
The beauty of this crustless pizza bowl is its adaptability. Feel free to get creative with these recipe variations:
- Garden Veggie Pizza Bowl: Use a base of marinara sauce, sautéed onions and green peppers, then layer spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and banana peppers. This vegetarian version keeps it fresh and flavorful.
- Hawaiian Pizza Bowl: Start with marinara, then use sweet pineapple chunks, salty ham, crumbled cooked bacon and mozzarella cheese for a classic sweet-and-savory combo.
- Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza Bowl: Replace sausage and pepperoni with cooked ground beef and crispy bacon. Use shredded cheddar cheese or a cheddar-mozzarella blend to mimic cheeseburger flavor.
- BBQ Chicken Pizza Bowl: Swap marinara for BBQ sauce and add chopped cooked chicken and red onions. Top with Monterey Jack cheese for a tangy, satisfying twist.
- Vegan Pizza Bowl: Use vegan cheese and amped-up veggies such as spinach, mushrooms, zucchini and bell peppers. Choose a sugar-free tomato sauce to keep it low-carb and completely plant-based.
How To Make A Pizza Bowl For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make an individual crustless pizza bowl. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Cook the Sausage: In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and break it apart with a spatula. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Add the chopped onions, green bell peppers, and garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often, until the onions soften.
- Drain: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage and vegetables to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- Layer the Sauce and Pepperoni: Spoon half the marinara sauce into the bottom of a 10-ounce ramekin, then line the bottom with pepperoni slices.
- Add the Filling: Spread the sausage and vegetable mixture evenly over the pepperoni.
- Top with Sauce and Cheese: Spoon the remaining marinara sauce over the top, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
- Bake: Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let the pizza bowl cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- Read the Recipe First: This pizza bowl comes together fast, so review the full recipe and gather all ingredients before you start.
- Keto-Friendly Option: Choose a tomato, pizza, or marinara sauce without added sugar to keep it low carb.
- Serve as a Dip: Enjoy it with slices of bread or crostini for a fun pizza dip.
- Use the Right Dish: A 10-ounce oven-safe ramekin works best.
- Adjust for Dish Size: If your ramekin is larger or smaller, adjust the amount of toppings as needed.
Storing And Reheating Your Pizza Bowl
Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Warm in the microwave until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 10-ounce ramekin works best.
Yes. If you’d like to make pizza bowls for two, just double the ingredient amounts Yes. Double the ingredients and divide the mixture between two 10-ounce ramekins, or use one 5×5-inch baking dish.
Yes. Assemble the layers ahead of time, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Bake just before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Yes. Reheat at 350°F (177°C) for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through and the cheese is bubbly.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy pizza bowl recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Crustless Pizza Bowl For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 4 ounces ground Italian sausage
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- ¼ cup chopped green bell peppers
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- 2 tablespoons marinara sauce -divided
- 5 slices pepperoni
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional: fresh basil for topping
Instructions
- Set the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and break it apart with a spatula. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
- Add the chopped onions, green bell peppers, and garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often, until the onions soften.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage and vegetables to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of the marinara sauce into the bottom of a 10-ounce ramekin, then line the bottom with pepperoni slices.
- Spread the sausage and vegetable mixture evenly over the pepperoni.
- Spoon the remaining marinara sauce over the top, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
- Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the pizza bowl cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Read the Recipe First: This pizza bowl comes together fast, so review the full recipe and gather all ingredients before you start.
- Keto-Friendly Option: Choose a tomato, pizza, or marinara sauce without added sugar to keep it low carb.
- Serve as a Dip: Enjoy it with slices of bread or crostini for a fun pizza dip.
- Use the Right Dish: A 10-ounce oven-safe ramekin works best.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I enjoy these pizza bowls on the weekends not s lot of fuss and mess. I was wondering if a couple of these could be made up and put in the freezer?
Yes, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. To freeze, let the pizza bowls cool completely, then either cover the ramekin tightly with plastic wrap and foil or transfer the contents to an airtight container if you prefer not to freeze the ramekin. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven or microwave. Glad you’re enjoying them!
What could be used instead of pepperoni? It just doesn’t agree with me.
Use your favorite pizza ingredients. Either add more vegetables or use cooked sausage instead of pepperoni.
Glad I found this recipe! Pizza is my all time favorite food, but the crust isn’t the best for my diabetes. So this crustless version means I can still enjoy my pizza. 🙂
I love that you can put your own likes in it and still have a pizza bowl!
So easy to make! Great taste!
Terrific recipe.