Crustless Pizza
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
My crustless pizza is the ultimate low carb comfort that has all the best parts of a pizza, minus the crust! Cheesy, meaty, and easy to customize, I love that it needs just one skillet and takes just 15 minutes.
My family loves a simple keto dinner recipe, one that we can put together with minimal prep and that tastes delicious. When the comfort food cravings strike, nothing beats a low-carb pizza dupe, especially in the form of this crustless pizza.
As the name suggests, a crustless pizza is everything you love about a pizza, minus the crust. Essentially, it’s a base of ground meat and cheese, topped with more cheese, and baked until golden and sliceable.
I took inspiration from my chicken crust pizza and Papa John’s new crustless pizza, but tweaked it to use ground turkey instead. It wasn’t an identical swap, though, so it took some testing to get it just right: I’m talking about a sliceable pizza that holds its shape and is mild-tasting, so you forget there’s meat there! My carb-loving partner can polish off half the pizza on his own!
Table of Contents
Why make my crustless pizza recipe
- Made in just one skillet. From cooking the ground meat to assembling the no-crust pizza, it’s all made in the same skillet. No washing up or multiple mixing bowls needed.
- Ready in 15 minutes. From prep to plate, this recipe takes less than 15 minutes.
- Non-keto eater approved. My partner is the furthest from a keto dieter, and he requests this over traditional pizzas- it’s that good.
- Slices like real pizza. My combination of ground meat and cheese creates a base that is firm enough to hold toppings and slice cleanly.
Key Ingredients
Here are some notes on the main ingredients, along with some tested substitutions. For the complete list and measurements, jump to the recipe card below.
- Ground turkey. I like to use lean ground turkey, as it reduces the overall fat content (to balance out all the cheese!).
- Garlic and Italian seasoning. Ground turkey on its own is a little bland, so I like to add some freshly minced cloves for flavor. Italian seasoning is my all-in-one secret weapon for anything remotely Italian!
- Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. The cheddar is mixed into the ground turkey to add a cheesier flavor, and the mozzarella is sprinkled on top until it’s melty and golden.
- Pizza sauce. Skip the carbs and make your own keto pizza sauce.
- Pizza toppings. I enjoy using bell peppers, mushrooms, and pepperoni, but use whatever you prefer!
How to make a crustless pizza
Step 1- Prep the meat. Heat olive oil in a 12-inch skillet. Once hot, add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the ground turkey and use a spatula to break it apart. Cook the ground turkey for 5-6 minutes, until it is no longer pink.
Step 2- Mix. Stir through the cheddar cheese and mix until fully incorporated.
Step 3- Assemble. Form the base of the ‘pizza’ in the skillet. Add the pizza sauce, then the pizza toppings, and finally, add the mozzarella cheese on top.
Step 4- Bake the crustless pizza for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling on top. Remove the pizza from the oven before slicing and serving it.
Recipe tips and variations
- Don’t omit cheese in the crust. Adding cheese to the cooked ground meat enhances the cheesy flavor while keeping it moist. Skipping it risks drying it out once all the pizza toppings are added, and it is baked again.
- Upgrade with a crust. If I ever want to go all out, I’ll sometimes make my fathead crust and assemble the pizza on top. Be wary, though- it’s very rich and satisfying.
- Ground meat alternatives. I’ve had success testing this with extra-lean ground beef, ground pork, and even ground lamb. If you use ground beef or lamb, adding some extra Italian seasoning masks any meaty flavors.
- Watch your toppings. Most pizza toppings are naturally low carb, but pineapple and store-bought sausage with fillets can add hidden carbs that push the recipe out of keto range.
How to store leftovers
To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days.
To freeze: Place the cooled pizza in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. I like to keep them in individual containers for quick, single-serve meals.
Reheating: Either microwave for 30-40 seconds or warm up in a preheated oven. I prefer the oven for the crisp edges!
Crustless Pizza
Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound lean ground turkey ground beef works
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1/2 cup keto pizza sauce
- 4 small mushrooms chopped
- 1/4 cup olives slices
- 8 slices pepperoni
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
- Add the olive oil to a skillet and place it over medium heat. Once hot, add the garlic and cook for a minute. Add the ground turkey and break apart using a rubber spatula. Cook for 4-5 minutes, until no longer pink. Stir through the Italian seasonings.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir through the cheddar cheese. Spread the pizza sauce on top, followed by the mushrooms, olives, and pepperoni. Top with the mozzarella cheese.
- Place the skillet in the oven and bake the crustless pizza for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and slice into four portions and serve immediately.
Notes
- Ground meat: You can also use lean ground beef, ground pork, or ground lamb.
- Leftovers: Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
More low carb pizza recipes
Originally published January 2022
. Wow! Crustless pizza! I love this idea. as much as I like the crust, this really sounds like a good low carb alternative and a good way to save some calories. I’ll probably try using ground beef.
Hi Char- thanks for that. Yeah, it’s a great alternative. Let me know how you go with beef- it will likely pool some liquid (especially if you use higher fat cuts), so drain it before mixing in the cheese and egg.
Fantastic! My husband and I both loved this dish!
Love to hear that, Barbara. Thanks for taking the time to leave a lovely review and rating!
I don’t eat Turkey so can I substitute ground pork, Canadian Bacon (Ham) or Spicy Sausage?
Of course! They sound like delicious alterations.
Great idea and because I just love Pizza I will try this using italian sausage or just ground pork that I add Italian seasonings to at home.
Yum!!! Yes, that is a great idea to season it yourself. Let me know how you go!
Great pizza without all the carbs.
Thanks for the feedback and review, Chris!
I’ve made this recipe three times in 2 weeks. My husband and I love it! Also, Big Mans World beef stew is another favorite. Thank you!
Three times in two weeks? Brenda, I’m jealous- I love this recipe but I haven’t had it in a while. Thanks for making this and my beef stew, too 🙂
This pizza is amazing. Packed with flavor. I did not chande a thing, nor will. Excellent!