Easy Pizza Bowl Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

Put a fun spin on pizza night with this easy pizza bowl recipe! They are low in carbs, super customizable, and ready in just 20 minutes.

Easy Pizza Bowl Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (1)

If you love Papa John’s or Marco’s pizza bowls or just want to enjoy pizza without all the carbs, these crustless pizza bowls have your name on them.

These are a cross between my crustless pizza and chicken crust pizza but with a few tweaks. Baked in individual ramekins and oozing with plenty of cheese, even those who don’t watch their carbs will be obsessed.

Table of Contents
  1. Why this recipe works
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make pizza bowls
  4. Recipe tips and variations
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More low carb pizza recipes to try
  8. Best Pizza Bowl (Recipe Card)

Why this recipe works

  • Perfect flavor and texture. The texture ticks all the pizza boxes: cheesy, hearty, and with some crunch from the veggies. It tastes like any good pizza out there.
  • It’s quick and easy.This dish takes just 20 minutes to assemble, making pizza from scratch a reality any night of the week.
  • Better than Papa John’s. The popular fast-food pizza shop may have started the trend, but this homemade version is better for you AND more delicious.
  • Easy to customize. Like any good pizza recipe, you can add your favorite pizza toppings, sauces, and cheeses you like.
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Ingredients needed

This pizza in a bowl is so easy, and besides the ground meat and toppings, there isn’t much else needed to make. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Olive oil. To coat the skillet and saute the meat mixture.
  • Garlic and onion.These add a deep, savory flavor to the ground chicken crust.
  • Ground chicken.A flavorful ground chicken mixture is showcased on the bottom layer of each bowl. I used lean ground chicken as there is plenty of added fat with the cheese and pepperoni but use whichever you have on hand.
  • Black pepper and sea salt. To season the chicken.
  • Oregano and rosemary. Or use an Italian seasoning blend.
  • Cheddar and mozzarella cheese.I highly recommend using both. Cheddar adds a ton of flavor to the ground chicken mixture, while creamy mozzarella melted over the top leaves the bowls with irresistible stretchy cheese pulls.
  • Pizza sauce. Or any marinara sauce. You can also use my homemade keto pizza sauce if you follow a keto diet, or my homemade pomodoro sauce or sugo.
  • Mushrooms and pepperoni.My two favorite toppings, but you can use anything you like, including turkey pepperoni, Italian sausage, green bell peppers, pineapple, bacon, ham, or fresh herbs like fresh basil.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How to make pizza bowls

What I love about this keto pizza bowls recipe is just how easy they are to make. Even my younger family members help out when we whip them up.

Step 1- Make the base: Heat the olive oil in a non-stick pan, then add the garlic and onion and cook until fragrant.Add the ground chicken, salt, and pepper and cook until it’s no longer pink, then stir in the oregano and rosemary.

Step 2- Add to ramekins: Once cooked, evenly distribute the chicken amongst four small ramekins.

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Step 3- Assemble the bowls: Add a scoop of pizza sauce to each one. Then, top with cheddar cheese, mushrooms, mozzarella, and pepperoni.

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Step 4- Bake and serve: Bake the pizza bowls in the oven until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden around the edges. Let them cool for just a minute before serving.

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Recipe tips and variations

  • Broil at the end: To brown the top layer of mozzarella cheese, turn the oven on to broil during the last 2 minutes of baking. Remember to keep an eye on the bowls as the tops can burn quickly.
  • Use any oven safe bowl: No ramekins? That’s okay. You can make this recipe in any small oven-safe bowl. Also, I sometimes make this more like a ‘casserole’, especially if I’m feeding a large crowd.
  • Use other ground meat: The “base” is very forgiving and works with any kind of meat, including ground turkey, ground pork, or even ground beef.
  • Change the sauce: BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce are popular options, or make a simple creamy garlic sauce.
  • Use different cheese: Parmesan cheese, provolone cheese, and crumbled feta are all fabulous additions.

Storage instructions

To store. Let the leftovers cool in the ramekins, then cover them with plastic or transfer to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.

To freeze. I recommend baking the pizza bowls in aluminum foil ramekins if you’re planning on making freezer meals. Once baked and cooled, cover the bowls with plastic and freeze them for up to 6 months. Let thaw in the fridge before reheating.

To reheat. Microwave the bowls for 1 to 2 minutes or heat them in the oven until hot and bubbly.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you serve pizza bowls?

Serve them on their own with a spoon or take them up a notch with a few sides for dipping. Salads, vegetables, or something for dipping (like sourdough bread!) are great.

How many carbs are in these pizza bowls?

There are virtually zero carbs in the ground chicken filling, cheddar, and mozzarella cheese. However, the pizza sauce and toppings do contribute a few carbs per serving.

Can I make this in advance?

For sure! The night before serving, prep each layer and assemble them in the individual ramekins. Cover with plastic and keep them in the fridge until baking the next day.

More low carb pizza recipes to try

  • Keto pizza– My classic recipe that tastes BETTER than Domino’s!
  • Eggplant pizza– Swap your standard base with eggplant.
  • Cauliflower pizza– The BEST cauliflower crust that holds its shape.

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Best Pizza Bowl

5 from 119 votes

Put a fun spin on pizza night with this easy pizza bowl recipe! They are low in carbs, super customizable, and ready in just 20 minutes.

Servings: 4 pizza bowls

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

Rate This Recipe

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Video

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 small onion sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried Rosemary
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • 1/4 cup mushrooms sliced
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup pepperoni

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease four, 2-cup ramekins and set aside.

  • In a non-stick pan, add the olive oil, garlic, and onion, and cook until fragrant. Add the ground chicken, salt, and pepper, and break it apart and cook until no longer pink. Stir through the oregano and rosemary. Remove the pan off the heat. Distribute the meat mixture evenly amongst the four ramekins.

  • Add 1/4 cup of pizza sauce on top of each one, followed by the cheddar cheese, then the mushrooms, the the remaining mozzarella cheese. Top with the pepperoni.

  • Bake the pizza bowls for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden around the edges.

  • Remove the pizza bowls from the oven and let them cool for a minute before serving.

Notes

TO STORE: Let the leftovers cool in the ramekins, then cover them with plastic or transfer to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.

TO FREEZE: I recommend baking the pizza bowls in aluminum foil ramekins if you’re planning on making freezer meals. Once baked and cooled, cover the bowls with plastic and freeze them for up to 6 months. Let thaw in the fridge before reheating.

TO REHEAT:Microwave the bowls for 1 to 2 minutes or heat them in the oven until hot and bubbly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pizza bowlCalories: 404kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 38gFat: 26gSodium: 865mgPotassium: 880mgFiber: 2gVitamin A: 685IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 492mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 4g

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsem*nt, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

Easy Pizza Bowl Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

FAQs

Who has no crust pizza in a bowl? ›

What is a papa bowl? A Papa Bowl is a creative way to enjoy all the Papa Johns pizza toppings you love, but without the crust.

How to make pizza step by step list? ›

Pinchin' Pennie$ in the Kitchen: 7 Steps to Making Your Own Pizza
  1. Start with a crust. ...
  2. Add a sauce. ...
  3. Add some veggies, such as:
  4. Try some fruit on your pizza, such as:
  5. Add some protein, such as:
  6. Add cheese. ...
  7. Bake your creation in a hot oven (450 F or above). ...
  8. Whole-wheat Pizza Crust.

How to make a homemade pizza better? ›

  1. The critical element of a great pizza is the crust. Don't use all purpose flour. ...
  2. Crank the oven temp as high as it will go. For most home ovens this will be about 550 F.
  3. Use less cheese. ...
  4. Play with toppings. ...
  5. Tossing on some arugula or other leafy greens right at the end of baking can do wonders!
Oct 24, 2023

Is crustless pizza good for you? ›

Crustless pizza is low carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free. And it really satisfies those cravings! Like most red-blooded people, I love pizza. I love the combination of spicy meat, pungent tomato sauce, and melty cheese.

How many carbs are in a crustless pizza bowl? ›

Each bowl contains 10 net carbs. For this recipe, I used 5 inch diameter, 10 once ramekins to bake the pizza bowls. You can switch out the sausage and mushrooms for other traditional pizza toppings.

What are the 3 main ingredients in pizza? ›

Pizza has three main elements: crust, sauce, and toppings. All of them have a variety of preparation methods. Crust: Traditional pizza crust is similar to bread dough. It's a combination of flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt, and oil.

How to make pizza in 7 steps? ›

  1. Buy dough, pizza sauce, cheese and any toppings you would like. ...
  2. Spread the dough onto a pizza pan. ...
  3. Spread the tomato sauce onto the pizza dough evenly.
  4. Sprinkle the cheese onto the pizza evenly.
  5. Fill the pizza with the toppings you chose.

Why does restaurant pizza taste better than homemade? ›

The No. 1 reason restaurant pizza is better than homemade is that they have ovens that can reach 900°F, or even hotter, which makes for perfectly crisp and chewy crusts, with those lovely charred spots, says Kierin Baldwin, chef-instructor of Pastry & Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education.

What is the best cheese to use for homemade pizza? ›

The most commonly used cheese on pizza is mozzarella, because it melts beautifully without turning oily or lumpy. Cheeses such as feta, haloumi and aged gouda are tasty toppings, but they're a bit fancy for families and don't melt as well as mozzarella. Low-moisture mozzarella in particular has great melt and stretch.

What are 3 unusual pizza toppings? ›

Exploring Unconventional Pizza Toppings
  • Beetroot pesto with goat cheese. ...
  • Caramelised onions, apples and goat cheese. ...
  • Breakfast pizza. ...
  • ‍Bacon, sausage, jalapeno and sriracha sauce. ...
  • Rhubarb, basil and apple honey BBQ sauce. ...
  • Grilled honey chicken with sriracha sauce. ...
  • Calamari. ...
  • Red peanut curry.
Aug 8, 2023

What can I add to pizza to make it better? ›

Almost any vegetable in your fridge or counter can be added to your pizza. Thinly slice vegetables like fresh mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers, and toss them in olive oil and seasonings before putting them on the pizza while it's still frozen. If you have leftover cooked vegetables those work, too.

What is the most popular pizza ingredient? ›

Pepperoni. Poll after poll, pepperoni always tops the list of America's favorite pizza toppings. When it doubt, you can't go wrong with a classic.

What pizza chain has crustless pizza? ›

Major chains with crustless pizza options include Giovanni's, Marco's, Noble Roman's, Papa Murphy's, Papa John's, and Pizza King. Many of these options are pizza bowls, which are exactly what they sound like—all the fixin's, in a bowl instead of carb-heavy crust.

Does Domino's sell a crustless pizza? ›

In its latest product, Specialty Chicken, there's no pizza crust in sight. Instead, the U.S. chain has replaced it with breaded, white boneless chicken pieces that are then topped with sauce, cheese and other assorted pizza toppings.

Does Domino's have a crustless pizza? ›

Domino's once introduced a crustless chicken pizza back in 2014, but it has since been removed from the menu. There are currently no crustless pizzas or low-carb pizza crust options at Domino's in the US.

Does Little Caesars have a crustless pizza? ›

Little Caesars says that its Hot-N-Ready No Crust Pepperoni Pizza doesn't need a crust with all of its melted cheese and pepperoni.

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