Cheesy Dream: The Crustless Pizza Bake Recipe Everyone Loves

Whipping up a delightful crustless pizza bake can solve your dinnertime dilemma in minutes.

Cheese lovers rejoice as this low-carb wonder delivers maximum flavor without traditional pizza dough.

Packed with protein and vegetables, this recipe cuts calories while satisfying serious comfort food cravings.

Mozzarella melts into golden perfection, creating a dreamy layer that catches every savory herb and spice.

Families adore how quickly this dish comes together, making weeknight meals both simple and delicious.

Home cooks appreciate the flexibility of mixing in favorite toppings or using whatever ingredients are already in the refrigerator.

Dive into this crowd-pleasing meal that promises to become a new household staple.

Crustless Pizza Bake Loaded with Flavor

• Craft a Delicious Meal Quickly: This crustless pizza bake delivers all the classic pizza flavors without the hassle of making dough, perfect for busy weeknights when you want something tasty and fast.
• Customize with Ease: Swap out ingredients to match your family's preferences – try different meats, vegetables, or cheese types to create a personalized dish that everyone will love.
• Healthier Pizza Alternative: By skipping the traditional crust, this recipe reduces carbohydrates and offers a protein-packed meal that feels indulgent while being more nutritionally balanced.
• Minimal Clean-Up Winner: Using just one baking dish means less washing up, making this recipe a dream for those who hate spending time scrubbing pots and pans after cooking.

Ingredients for Crustless Pizza Bake

• Marinara Sauce: A classic tomato-based sauce that provides a rich, tangy foundation for the pizza bake.

• Ground Sausage: A savory meat that adds depth and hearty flavor to the dish.

• Green Pepper, Mushrooms, Onions: These fresh vegetables contribute crisp texture and enhance the overall taste of the pizza bake.

• Mozzarella Cheese: A creamy, melty cheese that creates a gooey, golden topping and binds the ingredients together.

Stepwise Guide to Making Crustless Pizza Bake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Crank up your oven to a toasty 400°F (200°C). Get that heat ready for some serious pizza magic.

Step 2: Create the Sauce Base

Spread a generous layer of marinara sauce across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. This will give your dish a rich, saucy foundation.

Step 3: Mix the Delicious Filling

• Chopped green pepper
• Sliced mushrooms
• Diced onions
• Crumbled ground sausage
• Mozzarella cheese
• Extra marinara sauce

Stir everything together until it’s well combined and looking irresistible.

Step 4: Layer the Filling

Pour the mixed filling into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to ensure every bite is packed with flavor.

Step 5: Top with Cheese

Blanket the entire dish with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. The more cheese, the merrier!

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Watch for the cheese to melt into gooey, bubbly deliciousness.

Step 7: Optional Broil Finish

For those who love a golden-brown top, pop the dish under the broiler for 3-5 minutes. Keep a close eye to prevent burning.

Step 8: Serve and Devour

Pull out your masterpiece and serve it hot. Get ready for a crustless pizza experience that’ll make your taste buds dance!

Tips to Make It Crispy and Delicious

• Replace ground sausage with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, lighter protein option that keeps the dish's delicious flavor profile.
• Experiment with additional vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or artichokes to increase nutritional value and add extra texture to the crustless pizza bake.
• Use a blend of cheeses like provolone, parmesan, or cheddar to create a more complex and interesting cheese layer that elevates the overall taste.
• Watch the broiling process carefully to achieve a golden-brown cheese top without burning, keeping the oven rack at least 4-5 inches from the heat source.

Variations to Try on This Pizza Bake

• Mediterranean Veggie Blast: Replace ground sausage with chickpeas, add kalamata olives, spinach, and crumbled feta cheese for a Greek-inspired version.
• Spicy Southwest Fiesta: Swap marinara for salsa, use ground beef, add jalapeños, black beans, and top with pepper jack cheese for a zesty southwestern flavor.
• BBQ Chicken Remix: Use shredded rotisserie chicken, substitute marinara with BBQ sauce, add red onions, and sprinkle cheddar cheese for a tangy barbecue experience.
• Breakfast Pizza Scramble: Incorporate scrambled eggs, crispy bacon bits, diced ham, and switch to a blend of cheddar and Swiss cheeses for a morning-style casserole.

Pairing Suggestions to Complete the Meal

• Pair Zesty Red Wine: Robust Italian red wines like Chianti or Sangiovese complement the sausage and marinara sauce, enhancing the rich, savory flavors of the crustless pizza bake.
• Create Fresh Green Salad: Toss a crisp arugula salad with cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette, and shaved parmesan to balance the hearty, cheesy main dish with a light, tangy side.
• Serve Garlic Bread Sticks: Warm, herbed garlic bread provides a perfect crunchy texture and additional Italian-inspired flavor that matches the pizza bake's classic taste profile.

Best Storage Methods for Pizza Bake

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or lid to maintain freshness and prevent odors from spreading.
• Transfer cooled pizza bake to a freezer-safe container or wrap securely in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Label with date and contents for easy tracking.
• Preheat oven to 350F. Place leftovers in a baking dish, cover with foil to prevent drying. Warm for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Remove foil for last 5 minutes to crisp the cheese.

FAQs

• Can I use different meats in this recipe?

Yes, you can substitute ground sausage with ground beef, ground turkey, or pepperoni for variety in flavor and protein.

• Is this recipe low-carb friendly?

Absolutely! By removing the traditional pizza crust, this dish becomes a low-carb alternative that’s perfect for those following keto or low-carbohydrate diets.

• Can I add more vegetables to the recipe?

Definitely! Feel free to include additional vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or olives to boost nutrition and customize the flavor profile.

• What if I want to make this dish vegetarian?

Simply omit the ground sausage and replace it with additional vegetables or plant-based protein like tofu or meat substitute crumbles.

Crustless Pizza Bake Recipe

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4.9 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Savory Crustless Pizza Bake delivers Italian-inspired comfort without traditional pizza dough, bringing layers of cheesy goodness and zesty ingredients to your dinner table. Hearty protein and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you will crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 pound (453 grams) ground Italian sausage

Cheese:

• 3 cups (340 grams) mozzarella cheese

Vegetables and Sauce:

• 1 jar (24 ounces/680 grams) RAOs marinara sauce
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• Mushrooms, sliced

Optional Toppings:

• Additional toppings of your choice (pepperoni, olives, bell peppers, etc.)

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Instructions

1. Spread marinara sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish, creating a flavorful base layer.
2. Combine chopped green peppers, sliced mushrooms, diced onions, crumbled ground sausage, first portion of mozzarella, and additional marinara in a mixing bowl, thoroughly blending ingredients.
3. Transfer the mixed topping evenly into the prepared baking dish, ensuring uniform distribution.
4. Generously cover the entire surface with remaining mozzarella cheese, creating a rich, melty top layer.
5. Place the dish in a preheated 400F (200C) oven and bake for 20 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt completely and ingredients to heat through.
6. Optional: Activate the broiler and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes to achieve a golden-brown, crispy cheese crust.
7. Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to settle and cheese to set.
8. Slice into portions and serve immediately while hot and bubbling, enjoying the robust flavors of this crustless pizza bake.

Notes

• Customize toppings easily by swapping ingredients like pepperoni, olives, or different vegetables to match personal taste preferences.
• Drain excess moisture from mushrooms and green peppers before mixing to prevent watery consistency in the final dish.
• Lower carb option by using lean ground turkey or chicken instead of traditional sausage for a lighter protein choice.
• Enhance flavor depth by adding Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes directly into the mixture for extra zesty notes.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 382 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 750 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 9 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg