Here at the Wholesome Yum house, we absolutely love pizza night. In fact, we have it for dinner in some form almost every week! Of course, this isn’t to say that keto pizza casserole actually replaces real pizza for us all the time. When we really want a true pizza – with the crust and everything – my keto pizza recipe is our absolute favorite. We alternate that one with a cauliflower pizza crust, portobello mushroom pizza, and chaffle pizza.
What Is Pizza Casserole?
Pizza casserole is a one-pan dish that with your favorite pizza toppings baked in! Variations of this casserole replace the usual crust with cooked pasta or vegetables. This dish uses roasted cauliflower as the crust substitute — and just like with cauliflower mac and cheese and cauliflower potato salad, it makes a perfect starch replacement!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for pizza casserole, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Cauliflower – I used cauliflower as a healthy base in this keto pizza casserole recipe. It works well since it has a neutral flavor, but you can get other ideas for the base in the Recipe Variations section below. Use fresh or frozen cauliflower florets, cut into bite-sized pieces. Riced cauliflower also works! Olive Oil – Extra virgin olive oil works well for this Italian recipe, but use any neutral cooking oil you like. Avoid butter because it can scorch before the cauliflower is cooked through. Italian Seasoning – I prefer to make my own homemade Italian seasoning, but store bought seasoning mixes work fine. Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For seasoning cauliflower. Marinara Sauce – Any kind of marinara will do, but I always use no or low sugar varieties, either store-bought or this sugar-free marinara sauce recipe. You can also use sugar-free pizza sauce or even make a white pizza casserole with alfredo sauce. Mozzarella Cheese – Shred it yourself or get it pre-shredded to save time. Pepperoni Slices – Regular pepperoni or turkey pepperoni both work well. You can also do other pizza toppings either on top or inside the casserole — see the Recipe Variations section below for ideas.
How To Make Pizza Casserole
This section shows how to make baked pizza casserole, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Recipe Variations
There’s more than one way to make this delicious pizza. Try these variations! To save on washing dishes, I used the baking dish that’s later used for the casserole, but the cauliflower does roast faster if you use a baking sheet.
Crockpot Pizza Casserole – Layer cauliflower florets in a slow cooker and pour in the marinara sauce. Cook on high for 2 hours. Add the cheese and pepperoni slices during the last 15 minutes. Zucchini Pizza Casserole – Use 1 lb of sliced zucchini instead of cauliflower. Brush slices with oil and season with salt, then roast on a sheet pan at 400 degrees F for about 20 minutes. Pat dry, transfer to a casserole dish, and proceed with the rest of the recipe as written. Pizza Pasta Casserole – Trade cauliflower with your cooked pasta of choice (I use keto egg noodles). Transfer pasta with sauce to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees F, then remove from oven and top with shredded cheese and pepperoni slices. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Use other veggies – Swap out some (or all) cauliflower for broccoli, mushrooms, onions, green bell peppers, garlic, or black olives. Cut into even pieces (so they roast at the same rate) and fold them into the cauliflower (the base layer of the pizza bake), or use them as toppings instead of pepperoni. Try other meats – I made a pepperoni pizza casserole since it’s the most popular flavor, but you can also make this dish with Canadian bacon, cooked ground beef (or ground turkey), Italian sausage, shredded chicken, or baked bacon. Add toppings – I used fresh parsley as a garnish, but you can also try fresh basil, crushed red pepper flakes, or grated parmesan cheese.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftover cauliflower pizza casserole in an airtight container up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Meal prep: Assemble ahead, cover in plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to bake. Or, freeze the assembled casserole and bake straight from the freezer. This method takes longer, but allows for more long term storage. It will last at least 3 months frozen. Reheat: Reheat portions in the microwave, or reheat the entire casserole in a warm oven at 350 degrees F. Freeze: Wrap fully cooled portions of keto pizza casserole in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Pizza Casserole
This easy pizza casserole recipe stands on its own, but for heartier appetites or if company’s coming, here are some extras to go with it:
Easy veggies – Share oven space with tasty sides like baked brussels sprouts, roasted green beans with garlic, and balsamic roasted mushrooms. Salads – Pair a pizza bake with a Caprese salad, Greek salad, or cucumber tomato avocado salad. Soups – Try this dish with chicken florentine soup, vegetable soup, or sausage kale soup. Chicken Wings – Whenever I ordered pizza in college, I always got an order of chicken wings on the side. So, on pizza nights we usually make air fryer chicken wings or baked chicken wings.
More Easy Casserole Recipes
Casseroles are among the most common dishes I make for dinner. Making a meal is so much faster and easier when you only have to make one thing! Here are more of my favorites: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. 📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle, Keto Ebook Bundle, and Winter Ebook Bundle!
