The Low Carb Pizza Casserole is a weeknight dinner favorite for anyone looking to cut back on carbs without sacrificing flavor. Loaded with Italian sausage, fresh veggies, and a gooey mozzarella topping, this dish captures all the flavors of your favorite pizza minus the crust. It’s a perfect choice for keto dieters or anyone seeking a gluten-free alternative to traditional pizza night.
This casserole is also great for meal prep or family-style dining. With minimal ingredients and quick prep, it’s convenient and satisfying. You can customize it by swapping in different veggies, adding pepperoni or bacon, or using your favorite low-sugar pizza sauce. Each bite is savory, cheesy, and packed with that classic pizzeria aroma you love.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy, based on preference)
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1 cup sliced mushrooms
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1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
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1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
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1/2 cup chopped onion
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1/2 cup sliced black olives
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1 cup low-sugar marinara sauce
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1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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Salt and pepper to taste
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Optional: crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil for garnish
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
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In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned, breaking it into crumbles. Drain any excess fat.
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Add the chopped onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender.
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Stir in marinara sauce, garlic powder, oregano, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
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Transfer the sausage and vegetable mixture into a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish.
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Sprinkle sliced olives over the top, then cover evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
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Garnish with fresh basil or red pepper flakes before serving, if desired.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes
Kcal: 320 kcal | Servings: 6 servings
If you’re on a low-carb or keto journey and craving the comforting taste of pizza without the carbs, Low Carb Pizza Casserole is the ultimate answer. This hearty and satisfying dish delivers all the delicious flavors of a traditional pizza savory sausage, melty cheese, tangy marinara, and crisp vegetables but skips the crust entirely. It’s an excellent weeknight dinner idea and a reliable meal prep option that suits a variety of dietary needs.
Whether you’re following a ketogenic lifestyle, reducing your carbohydrate intake, or simply looking for a healthier alternative to your favorite cheat meal, this casserole is a winner in both taste and nutrition. Let’s explore what makes it so appealing, why it’s good for your diet, how you can adapt it to suit your preferences, and how it can become a staple in your meal rotation.
A Low-Carb Twist on a Comfort Food Classic
Pizza is one of the most universally loved comfort foods gooey, savory, filling, and endlessly customizable. But for people following a low-carb or keto-friendly diet, the traditional crust can be a major obstacle. This is where Low Carb Pizza Casserole shines. By removing the crust and layering pizza toppings into a baked dish, you keep the flavor and indulgence while eliminating the high-carb base.
This dish embraces the “casserole” style: ingredients are layered and baked in a dish, creating a bubbly, cheesy masterpiece. The base is made of browned Italian sausage and sautéed vegetables that mimic the flavor and texture of pizza toppings. Everything is tied together with a savory low-sugar marinara and topped with melty mozzarella cheese. It’s a brilliant fusion of simplicity and satisfaction.
Ideal for Keto and Low-Carb Diets
One of the biggest advantages of this recipe is how well it fits into low-carb dietary patterns. Traditional pizza contains upward of 30-40 grams of carbohydrates per slice due to its crust. By comparison, a serving of this casserole typically contains fewer than 10 grams of net carbs, depending on your ingredients. This significant reduction allows keto dieters to enjoy pizza flavor without worrying about ketosis interruption.
The high-fat content, provided by the sausage and cheese, makes it especially suitable for keto. Fat is essential for maintaining energy levels in low-carb diets, and this dish delivers that in a delicious form. Plus, the protein from the sausage helps keep you full longer, making it a well-balanced choice for dinner or lunch.
Easy to Prepare, Easier to Customize
One of the best things about this pizza casserole is its versatility. You can tweak it in countless ways to suit your taste, dietary restrictions, or what’s available in your fridge. Want a spicier version? Use hot Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes. Prefer vegetarian? Skip the sausage and load up on mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach.
You can also mix and match your favorite toppings just like you would on a pizza. Try adding pepperoni, diced bacon, green olives, or different cheeses like provolone, cheddar, or parmesan. You can even bake individual servings in ramekins to suit different family members’ preferences, making it a perfect customizable family meal.
For those avoiding dairy or reducing calories, opt for dairy-free cheese alternatives or reduce the amount of cheese while still retaining the flavor. Even the marinara can be changed just choose one with no added sugars to maintain its keto-friendly profile.
Perfect for Meal Prep and Leftovers
If you’re into batch cooking or meal prepping, Low Carb Pizza Casserole is a dream. It stores beautifully in the refrigerator for up to five days and can be frozen for longer storage. In fact, many people say the flavors deepen over time, making leftovers taste even better.
Simply portion it out into meal prep containers, reheat in the microwave or oven, and enjoy. It’s a convenient and reliable way to stay on track with your low-carb goals during a busy week. You’ll be able to resist takeout temptations with something this tasty and easy at your fingertips.
Family-Friendly and Crowd-Pleasing
Many low-carb dishes are delicious but may not appeal to kids or picky eaters. This one’s different. Because it captures the familiar and much-loved flavors of pizza, it’s more likely to be a hit with the entire family kids included. The gooey cheese, flavorful sausage, and pizza seasoning are hard to resist, even for those not concerned with carbs.
It also works well for potlucks or casual gatherings. Make a double batch, and you’ve got a filling, comfort-filled casserole that’ll please both carb-conscious eaters and traditional pizza lovers. Serve it with a crisp green salad or steamed veggies to round out the meal.
Nutritional Advantages and Health Benefits
Aside from being low in carbohydrates, this casserole offers a range of nutritional benefits depending on how you prepare it. The vegetables provide fiber, vitamins A and C, and important minerals like potassium. Mushrooms, for example, are rich in antioxidants and immune-boosting compounds. Bell peppers add crunch and a natural sweetness without piling on the carbs.
Choosing quality marinara sauce made with olive oil and no added sugar ensures you’re consuming heart-healthy fats and antioxidants like lycopene, which supports cardiovascular health. Lean sausage or turkey sausage can also reduce saturated fat intake, depending on your dietary goals.
By omitting processed crust and unnecessary refined flours, this dish becomes a healthier alternative for individuals managing insulin resistance, PCOS, or metabolic syndrome. It keeps blood sugar stable, minimizes insulin spikes, and supports sustained energy levels.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve Low Carb Pizza Casserole on its own or pair it with a variety of low-carb sides for a more complete meal. Some popular options include:
- A fresh green salad with olive oil vinaigrette
- Roasted or steamed broccoli, asparagus, or cauliflower
- Zucchini noodles or sautéed spinach
- Cloud bread or low-carb garlic breadsticks
You can also use it as a filling for a low-carb wrap or enjoy it cold from the fridge as a quick snack. Its versatility extends beyond dinner it works for lunch, brunch, or even a post-workout recovery meal.
Conclusion: A Must-Have Recipe in Any Low-Carb Kitchen
The Low Carb Pizza Casserole is more than just a quick dinner recipe it’s a flavorful, wholesome, and adaptable dish that brings joy to anyone avoiding carbs without sacrificing indulgence. It delivers everything we love about pizza while staying aligned with low-carb, keto, gluten-free, or diabetic-friendly eating.
From busy weeknights to family dinners and meal prep Sundays, this casserole deserves a place in your regular recipe rotation. It’s satisfying, simple, customizable, and an excellent gateway dish for those new to low-carb cooking. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder why you ever missed the crust.
In a world full of complicated diets and restrictive plans, this dish proves that eating well doesn’t have to mean giving up on flavor or comfort. Try it once, and it may become your new favorite way to satisfy that pizza craving guilt-free and totally delicious.