Crustless pizza is a fun and easy keto dinner recipe. This delicious air fryer pizza serves just two people and satisfies that pizza craving like nothing else. Oven instructions included too.
I’ve created all sorts of keto pizza recipes before, so it’s shocking to think that I have never made a crustless pizza. Shocking, I say.
I’m all the more shocked since I now see just how easy and delicious a crustless pizza can be. Why did I think I always had to make some keto pizza crust when the toppings are the best part anyway?
Whenever I’m in a group that’s ordering pizza, I do exactly that. I eat off the toppings and throw the crust away. Often to the horror of my fellow diners, but I no longer care. My health is far more important than what someone thinks of my table manners. And besides, I can truly say that after years on the keto diet, I no longer crave the bready portion of the pizza.
I simply have no interest in it. This is what happens when you are truly keto adapted. You really do get to the point where you no longer miss some of those high carb favorits.
Air Fryer Pizza for Two
I’ve also never made pizza in the air fryer before and this happens to also be an air fryer pizza recipe. Because heating up my large oven for a meal that serves only two is a waste of energy and time.
Why did I made this crustless pizza so small? Well I’ve long had the idea to do a fun keto cookbook for two. My mini keto desserts for two are among some of my most popular, and not everyone wants a whole lot of leftovers hanging around.
Popping this crustless pizza into my air fryer for 8 minutes was just about perfect, and saved me time and energy. My whole recipe was done in 25 minutes, start to finish!
Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, it can easily be made in the oven too.
Tips for making Crustless Pizza for Two
Ground meat for the base
I chose to use spicy Italian sausage but you could use any ground meat here. Mild sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey would also be just fine. You need to pan fry it and cook it thoroughly before adding to the casserole dish.
If using sausage, read the label carefully and make sure it contains no added sugars. Choose sausage that has no more than 1g carbs per serving.
Tip for small batch recipes: Ground meat often comes in 1 pound packages. You can divvy it up into two portions and freeze the unused portion while it’s raw, or you can cook the whole lot and freeze half for later.
Keto-friendly marinara sauce
A lot of tomato sauce has added sugar, so again, read your labels and choose wisely. Rao’s marinara is well known to be quite low carb so it’s a good choice. It is pricier, though.
Look for a marinara or tomato sauce that has no more than 5 or 6g carbs per ½ cup serving. Or simply use tomato puree and add in a little garlic powder and perhaps a pinch of salt. You won’t need much since the other ingredients are quite salty.
Baking in the air fryer
The most important thing to note is that every air fryer is different. I have the Cuisinart Air Fryer that also doubles as a convection and toaster oven, and I love it. Your cook time may be more or less than that, depending on your air fryer.
You do need to choose a dish that will fit properly into your air fryer. You can do all of the crustless pizza in one dish, as I did, or use two ceramic ramekins. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s heatproof. Ceramic is a better choice than metal for this recipe.
Baking in an oven or convection oven
You can also do this little pizza in a standard oven or even a small countertop convection oven. For a regular oven, preheat to 375F before baking. For convection, you will want to drop the temperature to 350F.
How long the crustless pizza for two takes to bake depends entirely on your oven so keep an eye on it. When the cheese is melted and beginning to brown, it’s ready.
Let it rest
When this keto pizza casserole comes out of the air fryer or oven, it is hot, hot, hot. Do not be tempted to dig in right away or you will burn your mouth. Just like regular pizza, it’s best after cooling for 10 minutes or so.
Ready to enjoy Keto Crustless Pizza for Two?
Crustless Pizza for Two
Ingredients
- ½ lb bulk Italian sausage (hot or mild)
- ¼ cup marinara sauce (choose a low carb one like Rao's)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella (about 2 ounces)
- ½ ounce sliced pepperoni
- ⅛ medium green pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon sliced black olives
- 2 small mushrooms, thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until cooked through, breaking up any clumps with the back of a wooden spoon, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain. (if your sausage is in links, remove the casings before cooking).
- Spread the sausage in a small casserole dish or heatproof bowl, or in two 8-ounce ramekins.
- Spoon the marinara sauce over the sausage and layer on the cheese and toppings. Save a little cheese to sprinkle over the topppings so that they stay in place.
- Air fry at 350F for 8 to 12 minutes, or bake in a 375F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
Holly Yordy says
A Perfect Score!
The cheese-meat combo is chewy enough to mimick a bread crust – without being bread! I used diced Sweet Italian sausages, stewed Italian tomatoes(drained and thickened a bit with tomato paste, diced Canadian bacan and Salami with onions and peppers. Thanks for the great recipe. My husband will make the next batch – it’s that easy!
S says
So delicious and all organic too.
April says
I LOVE this! Trying to watch my carb intake, but I just can’t give up pizza! This is perfect!
Matt says
My kind of air fryer pizza recipe. I love keto recipes and this one is so good. All the taste from a traditional homemade pizza without the carbs. So good!
katerina @ diethood.com says
Oh my goodness, this looks incredible! I bet it tastes amazing!
KATHRYNE TYSON says
I’ve been Keto just over a year; lost 120 lbs. Started my 51 year old daughter on Oct. 1, 2021; lost 50 lbs. already even though she’s much more picky. She LOVES this crustless pizza!! I like to use ground turkey and it’s delicious. My new “go-to” recipe! Thank you for your site and reliable GOOD TASTING recipes.
Maggie says
I have to confess to winging this, based on what I had in the house (raining, didn’t want to go to the store!). And it was just Dee Lish Shuss!
Nancy says
This is outstanding. My husband would eat it every night — or at least twice a week. I used an 8″ square casserole dish, which was perfect. I only used the measured amounts of sausage and sauce. For the rest, I added each topping until I liked the looks of it. Probably a bit more than the recipe, but not much.
Sandra Gregg says
My husband loved this recipe. He ate all but one serving and that was mine. I will definitely make it again.
You don’t need the crust.
Birdie Harms says
I make my own marinara sauce using pizza spices and organic tomato sauce. So much cheaper and I have control over the ingredients that are included.
Lisa says
Awesome recipe! That would make for a great dip as well!
Marla says
Carolyn, I just want to add my 5 cents worth to the Cookbook for 2! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea as well and would purchase it in a heartbeat! There is only me and I get sick of leftovers quickly and don’t always want to freeze things, so 2 servings is perfect! I have made this recipe before and really enjoy it. I realized as I was reading it I have everything on hand so can do it again! Yay! I need this!
LoveToBeKeto says
I just have to tell you. You are a genius with ALL your recipes! This crust less pizza is the best I ever had since starting Keto. Thank you so much!
Kate says
So excited to hear about a cookbook for two! I have made this and I’ve actually added a few dollop of cream cheese over the meat. Not a Lot but enough to give it a rich, creamy texture. I’ve also made this on top of cauliflower florets!
Carolyn says
Great idea! I got sidetracked from working on the book but hope to get back to it next week!
Gentle says
Truly enjoyed this recipe! I added more veggies, mushrooms, colores peppers, onions, black olives,. I used turkey Italian sauage, turkey pepperoni and bacon bits. I added parmesan cheese to my mozzarella. Simply delicious!
Carolyn says
Excellent!
Saundra says
I’ve been making these since the early 70s and I love them
Tiffany Fletcher says
This looks amazing and excited to try in Air Fryer. What size casserole dish did you use? Thanks!
Carolyn says
I don’t know the exact size because I bought it at a thrift store. I don’t think it really holds more than a cup or cup and a half, in terms of volume.
Sue says
You could make this in a cast iron fry pan on stove top and serve with nice big salad?
Carolyn says
This is an oven or air-fryer recipe. Not sure how it would fare on the stovetop, since that wouldn’t melt the cheese or brown the toppings.
Tracy says
I prefer the air fryer method but have made it in a cast-iron skillet. I throw a small ice cube in after toppings go on, pop a lid on the top to trap in the steam needed to melt the cheese. I love the air fryer method because I don’t like cooking any tomato based recipes in my cast iron pans. Plus, crispy pepperoni and brown cheese via the air fryer is my jam ♥ Great recipe! Love the cooking for two cookbook idea….I’m all in Ü
Marla says
I LOVE LOVE the idea of a cookbook with recipes for two! Thankfully, there are now a few other companies out there making Tomato sauce or Marinara sauce with no sugar. Though to be truthful if could be under the last ingredient listed as “spices”. I have found two (in the western US at WalMart) that I use, since Rao’s is too expensive for my budget. One is called Mezzetta (or Napa Valley) which is usually under $5 a jar and another that is newer is Farm to Fork. Both are delicious. I tend to measure out 1/2 cup individual servings and freeze what I don’t use in little baggies. That way I can take out just what I need and thaw. It has worked really well!
Carolyn says
Good to know!
Claudia says
This looks yummy! I am SUPER EXCITED to hear that you’re thinking about writing a cookbook for those of us cooking for only one or two!!!!!