Crustless Pizza Bake Recipe

Juicy Crustless Pizza Bake Recipe: A Cheesy Family Favorite

Whipping up a delightful crustless pizza bake can turn an ordinary dinner into a mouthwatering adventure.

Cheese lovers rejoice with this low-carb marvel that packs all the classic pizza flavors without the heavy crust.

Packed with protein and vibrant vegetables, this dish delivers serious satisfaction in every single bite.

Home cooks will appreciate how quickly this recipe comes together, making weeknight meals a breeze.

Nutritious ingredients blend seamlessly to create a comforting meal that feels indulgent yet wholesome.

Customize with your favorite toppings and watch this simple bake become a household favorite.

You’ll want to dive right into this cheesy, flavor-packed creation that proves healthy eating can be seriously delicious.

Why Crustless Pizza Bake Wins Every Time

  • Simplify Pizza Night: A crustless pizza bake transforms traditional pizza into a healthier, low-carb alternative that delivers all the delicious flavors without the heavy crust.
  • Master One-Pan Cooking: This recipe requires minimal kitchen tools, making cleanup a breeze and allowing home cooks to prepare a complete meal in a single baking dish.
  • Customize Your Comfort: Packed with flexibility, this dish welcomes creative ingredient swaps like different vegetables, meats, or cheeses to suit personal tastes and dietary needs.
  • Nutrition-Packed Meal: Loaded with protein from eggs and cheese, plus vegetables, this dish provides a balanced meal that satisfies hunger and supports wellness goals.

Key Ingredients for Crustless Pizza Bake Success

Base Ingredients:
  • Eggs: Essential protein-rich base that helps bind the dish together.
  • Heavy Cream: Adds richness and creates a smooth, creamy texture.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Provides classic pizza-like melting cheese flavor.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Offers a sharp, tangy complement to the other cheeses.
Vegetable Mix:
  • Onion, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms: Create a flavorful vegetable foundation with varied textures.
  • Spinach: Adds extra nutrition and green color to the dish.
Seasoning and Sauce:
  • Tomato Sauce: Gives a classic pizza flavor profile.
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance overall taste.
  • Oregano, Basil: Traditional Italian herbs that provide aromatic depth.
Optional Protein:
  • Sausage: Adds hearty meat flavor and extra protein to the crustless pizza bake.

How to Prepare Crustless Pizza Bake Easily

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab a 9×9-inch baking dish and lightly coat with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Sauté Colorful Vegetables

Heat skillet over medium flame. Add and cook these ingredients until tender:
  • Diced onions
  • Chopped bell peppers
  • Sliced mushrooms

Optional: Brown ground sausage during final cooking minutes.

Sprinkle with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper for extra flavor.

Step 3: Whisk Creamy Egg Base

In large mixing bowl, combine eggs and heavy cream.

Whisk until smooth and fully integrated.

Step 4: Create First Sauce Layer

Spread half the tomato sauce across bottom of prepared baking dish, creating an even foundation.

Step 5: Build Vegetable Layer

Distribute half the mozzarella cheese over sauce. Add sautéed vegetables and optional spinach across the cheese layer.

Step 6: Pour Egg Mixture

Gently pour whisked egg and cream mixture over vegetable layer, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 7: Add Final Toppings

Top with remaining tomato sauce.

Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across surface.

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place dish in preheated oven.

Bake 25-30 minutes until center sets and edges turn golden brown.

Step 9: Rest and Serve

Remove from oven.

Allow bake to cool 5-7 minutes before slicing and serving warm.

Helpful Tips for Crustless Pizza Bake Perfection

  • Sauté veggies before adding to the bake to enhance their flavor and make nutrients more bioavailable.
  • Pat vegetables dry after sautéing to reduce excess moisture that could make the dish soggy.
  • Replace heavy cream with Greek yogurt or milk for a lighter version without compromising texture.
  • Skip tomato sauce or use a sugar-free marinara to keep the dish keto-friendly and reduce carbohydrate content.
  • Add cooked chicken, ground turkey, or plant-based protein crumbles for extra nutritional value and satiety.

Fun Variations to Explore with Crustless Pizza Bake

  • Vegetarian Delight: Replace sausage with plant-based protein like crumbled tofu or tempeh, adding extra herbs for depth of flavor.
  • Low-Carb Champion: Swap tomato sauce with homemade low-carb marinara and increase vegetable content for a nutrient-dense meal.
  • Dairy-Free Option: Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream, and substitute mozzarella with dairy-free cheese alternatives like almond or cashew-based cheese.
  • Mediterranean Style: Incorporate feta cheese, black olives, and swap bell peppers for zucchini and artichoke hearts for a Greek-inspired version.

What Goes Best with Crustless Pizza Bake

Complement the savory pizza bake with a medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese, which cuts through the richness and enhances the tomato and herb flavors.

Create a light, crisp green salad with arugula, basil, and parsley dressed in a simple vinaigrette to balance the hearty, cheesy pizza bake.

Prepare thin, crunchy garlic bread slices to add textural contrast and boost the Italian-inspired flavor profile of the dish.

Prepare a cool, tangy cucumber yogurt dip to provide a refreshing counterpoint to the warm, cheesy pizza bake and cleanse the palate between bites.

How to Keep Crustless Pizza Bake Fresh and Tasty

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the dish cools completely before sealing to prevent moisture buildup.
  • Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Place in a freezer-safe container to prevent freezer burn.
  • Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Cover with foil to prevent excessive browning.
  • Warm individual portions on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add a splash of water to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.

FAQs

  • Is this recipe low-carb friendly?

Yes, this crustless pizza bake is perfect for low-carb and keto diets since it eliminates the traditional wheat-based pizza crust, replacing it with a protein-rich egg and cheese base.

  • Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Absolutely! Simply omit the sausage and load up on vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions to create a delicious vegetarian version of the dish.

  • What cheese works best in this recipe?

Mozzarella and Parmesan are ideal, providing classic pizza flavor and great melting properties. You can also experiment with other melting cheeses like provolone or fontina for variety.

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Crustless Pizza Bake Recipe

Crustless Pizza Bake Recipe


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4.6 from 18 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Comfort meets convenience in this simple crustless pizza bake, where classic Italian flavors meld without traditional pizza dough. Melted cheese, savory meats, and zesty marinara create a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Proteins:

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage, cooked and drained (optional)

Cheeses and Dairy:

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream (or milk)

Vegetables and Seasonings:

  • 2 cups tomato sauce (pizza sauce)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 cup diced bell peppers (mixed colors)
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 cup fresh spinach leaves (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and coat a 9×9-inch baking dish with a light layer of cooking spray.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium temperature and sauté diced onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms until they soften and become translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
  3. If incorporating sausage, add it during the final 2 minutes of vegetable cooking and season the mixture with salt, pepper, oregano, and basil.
  4. Whisk eggs and heavy cream together in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly blended and smooth.
  5. Spread half of the tomato sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating an even base layer.
  6. Distribute half of the mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then carefully arrange the sautéed vegetables and optional spinach on top.
  7. If using sausage, gently incorporate it throughout the vegetable layer.
  8. Carefully pour the egg and cream mixture evenly over the vegetable layer, ensuring complete coverage.
  9. Top with remaining tomato sauce, spreading it gently across the surface.
  10. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the entire dish.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the top turns golden and the center sets completely.
  12. Allow the pizza bake to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to help it stabilize and cool slightly.

Notes

  • Swap vegetables freely based on seasonal availability or personal preference to keep the dish exciting and fresh.
  • For a lighter version, replace heavy cream with milk or a dairy-free alternative like unsweetened almond milk.
  • Add protein variety by substituting sausage with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for different dietary needs.
  • Consider using pre-roasted vegetables to enhance depth of flavor and reduce overall cooking time.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 230 kcal
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 520 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 18 g
  • Cholesterol: 140 mg
Mike Reynolds

Mike Reynolds

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Farm-to-table cuisine, Seasonal recipe development, Sustainable cooking techniques, Food photography

Education

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech)
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

Mike studied culinary arts with a strong focus on farm-to-table principles and sustainable cooking. His training emphasized the importance of fresh, local ingredients and environmentally responsible practices in the kitchen.


Mike’s food journey began deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where weekends at farmers’ markets and home-cooked meals sparked a lifelong obsession with simple, seasonal eating.
After earning his Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, he set out to bring farm-to-table cooking into everyday kitchens, without the fuss.
Mike’s philosophy is all about keeping it fresh, unfussy, and full of heart. When he’s not crafting new single-serving recipes, he’s hiking mountain trails, chatting with local farmers, or experimenting with wild ingredients in his backyard kitchen.

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