An easy low carb pizza casserole that's just like eating a supreme pizza but without the breading and carbs! Our pizza casserole without pasta combines Italian sausage, pepperoni, olives, low carb veggies, sauce, and cheese into the ultimate crustless pizza.
You'll love this no crust pizza casserole!
Guys, let's be real, there's something magical about a good casserole, and this pizza casserole without pasta is no exception. You'll still get all of the traditional pizza flavors you love – sweet marinara sauce, hearty Italian sausage, fresh bell peppers, and of course, loads of gooey cheese.
Our version gets layered twice so you have lots of toppings in every bite!
What you'll need
- Italian sausage: you can also use ground beef or chicken Italian sausage if you prefer a lighter flavor.
- Garlic cloves: these add a punch of flavor; feel free to use garlic powder if you don't have fresh.
- Red onion: try swapping for white onion or yellow onions.
- Green and red bell peppers: you can experiment with different colored peppers like orange or yellow. We also like to use the colored mini bell peppers sliced into rings.
- Button mushrooms: switch these out for your favorite mushroom variety, such as baby Bella's or portobello.
- Marinara sauce: we love Rao's, but use any low-sugar, keto-friendly option you prefer. You can also use pizza sauce here.
- Cheeses: mix and match your favorite melty cheeses. A blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan is our go-to for this recipe. We always recommend shredding your cheese from a block of cheese since pre-packaged cheese is coated in starch which sneaks in carbs and means your cheese doesn't melt as well.
Variations
- Without meat: you can make a vegetarian version by replacing the sausage with additional veggies or a plant-based meat substitute.
- With extra veggies: add in other pizza favorites like tomatoes, spinach, or artichokes. You can also sneak in 1 lb cooked cauliflower rice to add even more vegetables.
- With different cheese: feel free to experiment with other cheeses like provolone, feta, or even some ricotta for a creamy touch.
- Spice it up: add a little heat with some crushed red pepper flakes or diced jalapenos.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9x13 pan - feel free to cut the recipe in half!
How to Make Pizza Casserole (No Pasta)
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425 F and grease your pan.
Step 2: Brown your sausage and set it aside.
Step 3: In the same pan, saute your veggies until tender.
Step 4: Assemble your casserole in layers and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Step 5: Let it rest before serving and enjoy!
** These are a summary of the pizza casserole recipe steps, it's not the complete recipe and instructions. Please go to the bottom of the post to the recipe card to get the full recipe ingredients and steps! 🙂
Jenni's notes
- Shredding your own cheese is recommended, it melts better and is lower in carbs.
- This is a great recipe to customize and use your favorite topping ingredients!
- Leftovers will last up to 4 days in the fridge or you can freeze it for 2 months. Defrost the casserole before baking it.
FAQ's
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the casserole and refrigerate it up to a day in advance. Just pop it in the oven when you're ready to cook. If you're cooking it after making it in advance, it'll take longer to cook.
Is this keto-friendly?
Absolutely! Our pizza casserole recipe is low in carbs and high in protein, making it a great option for a keto diet. Feel free to cut out any ingredient such as onion or bell peppers to reduce the carbs even more.
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Recipe
Keto Pizza Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb Italian sausage swap 1 lb for ground beef or chicken Italian sausage if preferred
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ large red onion chopped
- 1 cup green pepper chopped
- 1 cup red bell pepper chopped
- 8 ounces button mushrooms sliced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 5 oz pepperoni
- 2 cups marinara sauce Rao's recommended
- 4 ounces black olives sliced
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 F. Grease a 9x13 pan and set it aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausage until cooked through. Set it aside, leaving the grease in the pan (add olive oil if more grease is needed) to cook the veggies.
- In the same skillet, saute the garlic, sliced onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning until the veggies are tender.
- You're going to take half of the ingredients and layer them into the 9x13 pan and then repeat the layers with the other half of the ingredients. We made two layers in this order: ½ the ground sausage, ½ of the cooked veggies, 1 cup of marinara sauce, ½ the cheese, ½ the pepperoni, and 1 /2 of the black olives. Repeat these steps.
- Bake the pizza casserole for 15-20 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes if you want the cheese to be more golden in color. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, and more parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Shredding your own cheese is recommended, it melts better and is lower in carbs.
- This is an easy recipe to customize and make like your favorite pizza! Feel free to skip any of the vegetables or cut back on certain ones to reduce the carbs.
- To sneak in even more vegetables, mix in 1 lb sauteed or microwaved cauliflower rice.
- We recommend Rao's brand marinara sauce since it tastes homemade and it doesn't add sugar. For the lowest price, stock up at Costco or get it from Walmart, it's often 30% cheaper than a traditional grocery store. Feel free to substitute whatever your favorite brand of sauce is or use pizza sauce instead.
W says
Eating this now. YUM. Thank You