Description
There’s something undeniably nostalgic about the smell of bubbling cheese and pepperoni wafting through the kitchen. Growing up in an Italian-American household, pizza night was sacred. But when I shifted to a keto lifestyle, I thought those cheesy, saucy, bread-laden dinners were a thing of the past. That is, until I recreated them—keto style.
Ingredients
Base Layer:
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1 lb ground Italian sausage (or ground beef)
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1/2 cup chopped onions
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 cup chopped mushrooms
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1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
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1 cup sugar-free marinara sauce
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1/2 tsp dried oregano
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1/2 tsp dried basil
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Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese & Toppings:
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1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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1/2 cup grated Parmesan
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1/2 cup shredded cheddar (optional for richness)
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12–15 slices of pepperoni
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Optional: olives, jalapeños, cooked bacon, banana peppers
Equipment Needed
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9x9″ or 8x8″ baking dish
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Large skillet
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Spatula or wooden spoon
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Oven preheated to 375°F (190°C)
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the ground sausage with onions and garlic until browned. Drain excess fat.
Add mushrooms and bell peppers, cooking until slightly tender (about 3 minutes). Stir in the marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Transfer the meat and veggie mixture into your greased baking dish. Spread it evenly.
Top with mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar cheese. Then lay your pepperoni slices (or chosen toppings) across the top like a classic pizza.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps it firm up and enhances the flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 casserole
- Calories: 420 calories
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g total
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: keto pizza casserole, low carb casserole, keto dinner recipe, keto pizza bake