With keto pizza casserole, you can have pizza dinner ready in less time it takes to have pizza delivered.
Your whole family will love this easy dinner that is ready in 15 minutes and has only 5g net carbs per serving.
Warm and cheesy. This low carb pizza casserole is the perfect healthy comfort food for busy nights when you are hit with a pizza craving.
Made with cauliflower this casserole was inspired by my keto pulled pork mac and cheese and follows the same cooking method as my keto cheeseburger casserole.
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Ingredients
The base of the casserole is made using steamed cauliflower chopped into bite-sized pieces. You could use cauliflower rice as well to have a thinner “crust”.
The cheese sauce and pizza sauce used in this keto pizza casserole transform the cauliflower into a buttery flavor that is kind of magical. The cauliflower flavor becomes so mild you can barely taste it.
Here’s what you need to put together this pizza casserole recipe. As you’ll see, you can easily find all of these at your local grocery store!
- Steamed cauliflower – fresh or frozen cauliflower works well. The key is to drain the cauliflower of all excess liquid.
- Italian seasoning – gives that fresh herbed flavor.
- Onion powder – or onion flakes.
- Garlic salt – or garlic powder and add salt to taste.
- Eggs – this will help hold the casserole together.
- Mozzarella cheese – I used pre-shredded cheese, but feel free to experiment. ricotta cheese is also delicious here too.
- Heavy cream – milk or half and half works too.
- Marinara sauce – to keep it simple use a jarred marinara sauce that has simple ingredients and no sugar added.
- Pizza toppings – select your favorite pizza toppings like pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, ground turkey, peppers, onions, olive oil drizzle, etc.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
To start, you will want to prep and steam your cauliflower.
If using frozen cauliflower, then steam following the directions on the bag and drain any excess water from the cauliflower.
If using fresh cauliflower, you will want to wash and chop the head of the cauliflower. Next, place it in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add some water to the bottom of the bowl and cover it with a plate.
Microwave the cauliflower for 5-7 minutes. Then remove and drain all the excess water from the cauliflower.
In a bowl, mix together the eggs, cream, 1 cup of cheese, and seasoning with a fork.
Next, spread the steamed cauliflower out in a casserole dish, pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower, and spread it out.
Then pour the pizza sauce over the casserole and spread it to the edges of the low carb pizza casserole.
Finally, top the casserole with the remaining cheese and add your pizza toppings. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 220C-425F.
When your keto pizza casserole is done baking let it cool for 5 minutes to set. Then slice and serve.
I like to top mine with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and some chili flakes for a bit of a kick!
Hint: serve your casserole with keto Cesar salad.
Substitutions
Each person has different dietary needs, tastes, or ingredients availability. Or, perhaps you just want to use what you already have first without running to the store!
Below you will find substitution recommendations if you need to make some adjustments.
- Heavy cream – half and half can be used in place of heavy cream.
- Marinara – crushed tomatoes or tomato puree can be used. You may want to season the tomatoes to meet your tastes.
- Cauliflower– broccoli, zucchini, or other low-carb vegetables can be used in place of cauliflower. You will need to roast or steam the vegetables first and make sure to drain any excess liquids, or your casserole will become soggy.
If you make a substitution or come up with your own, share it in the comments so others can see how you enjoyed it.
Keep in mind that any changes made to the recipe will impact the nutritional values in the recipe below.
Variations
Pizza can be made in endless variations, which is part of the fun! Below you will find seven toppings variations to help get you started.
- Sausage – cut the sausage into smaller pieces or use ground Italian sausage and drop it on top.
- Bacon – add cooked bacon to the top.
- Cheese – skip the toppings and just add cheese.
- BBQ – Drizzle keto bbq sauce over the top or replace the marinara with it.
- Vegetarian – Skip the pepperoni and add your favorite veggies. Sliced mushrooms work great for the keto diet.
- Supreme – Load it up with vegetables and meats.
- Meat Lovers – Add a variety of cooked meats like sausage, pepperoni, ham, and bacon.
Looking for an even quicker pizza option? Check out these pizza chaffles that only take minutes to make.
Equipment
You will need a casserole pan and oven to bake keto pizza casserole.
I used a microwave to quickly steam my cauliflower. However, you can also steam your cauliflower on the stovetop.
Other than that you don’t need a lot of equipment beyond measuring spoons and cups, a cutting board, and a knife.
Storage
The leftover casserole should be stored covered in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
To reheat this casserole, you can use the oven or microwave. I prefer to reheat the casserole a slice at a time in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
If you are meal prepping, this keto pizza casserole can be prepared 1-2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Bake according to the directions, but it may take longer to cook since it will be cold.
Top tip
Drain as much liquid from the cauliflower as possible before adding it to the casserole dish. This will ensure your cooked casserole doesn’t have excess liquids.
FAQ
Many pizza toppings can be enjoyed on keto. You can have meats like pepperoni, ham, sausage, bacon, chicken, ground beef, etc.
You can also enjoy vegetables like onions, bell peppers, hot peppers, spinach, mushrooms, black olives, etc.
To keep the carb count within keto ranges, you should choose to skip fruit like pineapple on your pizza.
Choose a pizza with a keto-friendly crust and no sugar added to the sauce. Cauliflower or Fat Heat dough are great keto crust options.
Yes, onions are low in carbs and keto friendly.
Cauliflower crust can be keto-friendly if made without carb and sugar fillers. Always read the ingredients to see what is included. When in doubt, make your own crust or make keto pizza casserole instead.
The Best Keto Pizza Casserole
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Casserole Dish
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower chopped and steamed
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1½ cups pre-shredded/grated mozzarella
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- pizza toppings of choice pepperoni, bell peppers, onions, etc
Instructions
- Wash and chop the head of cauliflower into bite sized pieces and remove the leaves. Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl. Add some water to the bottom of the bowl then cover the bowl with a microwave safe plate. Steam the cauliflower in the microwave for 5-7 minutes. Then remove and drain all the water from the cauliflower. Set aside until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F/220°C. Grease a casserole pan with olive oil. Spread the steamed cauliflower out in the casserole dish. In a bowl mix together 1 cup cheese, both eggs, cream, and seasonings. Pour the egg/cheese mixture over the cauliflower and spread it out with the silicone spatula.
- Next, pour the marinara sauce over the casserole and spread it out evenly. Top with the remaining cheese and add your favorite pizza toppings. Bake in the oven uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until the casserole is cooked through and all the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven, cool 5 minutes, then cut and serve.
Nutrition
Casseroles are definitely our go to for busy weeknights! Here’s a few more ideas you can bookmark for later.
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Sorry, cant see the cream amount listed under ingredients
Hello, thank you for catching that. I have updated the recipe. You will use 1/3 cup of cream.
Hi Libby! I do not find cream in the list of ingredients in the recipe in the article. I have not looked at the .pdf. I look forward to trying this recipe! Thank you !
Hello, thank you for catching that. I have updated the recipe. You will use 1/3 cup of cream.
How much cream do u used?
Hi nancy, you will use 1/3 cup of cream.
That sounds amazing! What a great idea.