Pizza night just got a high-protein, meal prep-friendly makeover! These Crustless Pizza Bowls are made with a saucy ground turkey and veggie filling, then topped with plenty of melty mozzarella and turkey pepperoni. They’re low carb, gluten free, and have 45g of protein in each serving, making them the perfect healthy meal prep lunch!
It’s episode 3 of my “Prep School” series where I’m bringing you all the healthy meal prep recipes you need for busy days at school or work. Today we have a recipe that feels so comforting and nostalgic, yet packs in 45g of protein and tons of hidden veggies! Say hello to my easy and healthy Crustless Pizza Bowls.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know my husband and I love to whip up a Sunday pizza and experiment with all sorts of different topping combos. But on the weekdays, when we want something a little bit more balanced and filling, we reach for these Crustless Pizza Bowls. They are meal prep perfection, making for an easy grab-n-go lunch to enjoy throughout the work week.
The filling of these pizza bowls is inspired by a supreme pizza (sans the olives because I can’t hang with those). You’ll find protein-rich ground turkey, sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers and onions, marinara and even some sneaky cauliflower rice in there. Then, it gets divided between 4 meal prep containers, topped with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni for the dreamiest meal!
Why You’ll Love these Crustless Pizza Bowls
- These deliver on all the satisfying flavor of pizza, but in a low-carb, high-protein meal prep format!
- Each pizza bowl sneaks in tons of veggies that you can barely even taste.
- They make a great healthy lunch option for busy work or school weeks.
- You can easily customize this recipe with your favorite add-ins, ground meat and sauce.
- They are naturally gluten and grain free, with 45g of protein in each serving!
What You Need to Make these High Protein Pizza Bowls
- Olive Oil: Or avocado oil, for sautéing both the veggies and the ground turkey. Measure with your heart!
- Baby Bella Mushrooms: We are going for more of a supreme-style pizza bowl, so finely diced mushrooms are added into the mixture.
- Green Bell Pepper: Or really any color that you prefer, seeded & finely diced.
- Red Onion: Yellow onion also works.
- Ground Turkey: I used 98% lean, but this will also work totally fine with 92-93% lean. It’s a great way to boost the protein content of these pizza bowls!
- Frozen Cauliflower Rice: For additional hidden veggies that you can barely taste! No need to thaw the cauliflower rice beforehand.
- Garlic Powder, Oregano, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper & Red Pepper Flakes: For seasoning the ground turkey mixture and the veggies. Adjust the red pepper flakes to taste based on your spice preference, or leave them out altogether.
- Tomato Paste: This adds more concentrated tomato flavor to really bring out the pizza vibes!
- Marinara Sauce: 1 jar (24oz) of your favorite marinara sauce, I used Bove’s which is locally made in Vermont.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Freshly grated is the way to go here for the best melty texture. I used low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella, but part-skim is great too.
- Turkey Pepperoni: Or normal pepperoni, for a savory, salty, and slightly spicy pizza bowl topping.
- Fresh Parsley: Optional, for a bright garnish.
How To Make these Crustless Pizza Bowls
Preheat Oven:
First, preheat your oven to 400F and place four 2-cup glass storage containers (or similar-sized oven safe dishes) onto a baking sheet. Set aside.
Sauté Veggies, Then Set Aside:
Bring a large pan up to medium-high heat. Once hot, add enough oil to coat the pan, then add diced mushrooms, bell pepper & red onion. Season with kosher salt & black pepper and sauté, stirring only occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until tender. Remove veggies from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
Brown Ground Turkey, Add in Cauliflower Rice:
Next, add more oil to the pan, then add ground turkey, garlic powder, oregano, kosher salt, black pepper & red pepper flakes (if using). Cook, breaking the turkey apart into small pieces, until mostly browned, then add in the cauliflower rice and sauté for 3 more minutes.
Stir in Tomato Paste, Marinara & Sautéed Veggies:
Reduce heat to medium, add in tomato paste, stir to coat with the turkey and let cook for 1-2 minutes. Then, add in the marinara and sautéed veggies and stir until combined.
Transfer to Glass Dishes, Top with Mozzarella & Pepperoni:
Divide this filling mixture evenly between the 4 glass containers, then top each with grated mozzarella and 5-6 turkey pepperoni slices. Transfer to the oven to bake for ~12 minutes, then switch to broil for an additional 1-2 minutes until the cheese is just starting to turn golden. If you are not intentionally making these for meal prep or would prefer to dirty less dishes, you can also keep the filling in the pan, add the mozzarella and pepperoni directly on top, then cover the pan and let simmer on low heat until the cheese has melted, about 5-6 minutes.
Garnish & Enjoy:
Optionally, garnish your crustless pizza bowls with chopped parsley and more red pepper flakes. Let stand for a few minutes before enjoying.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I use a different ground meat? Absolutely! Ground chicken or beef would also be great here, but the nutrition info may vary slightly.
- Do I have to freshly grate the mozzarella? Technically, no. I prefer to freshly grate it as I find that it melts better and creates the most dreamy cheese pull, but in a pinch, pre-grated works just fine.
- Can I use different veggies or leave out the cauliflower rice? You can certainly experiment with some other veggies like zucchini instead of mushroom. I haven’t tested this recipe without the cauliflower rice — it should work but may be a bit more “soup-y.”
- What marinara sauce do you recommend? I personally use Bove’s (locally made in Vermont) but any brand you love will work. Just be sure to use a high quality one since it really carries the weight of the recipe. This isn’t the place for one of those watery, ultra low-calorie sauces.
How Should I Store Leftover Crustless Pizza Bowls?
These Crustless Pizza Bowls were designed with meal prep in mind. First, let them cool down completely, then cover with a lid and transfer to the fridge for up to 4 days. For the best texture, reheat them in the oven at 350F for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through and the cheese is gooey. For a quicker option, you can microwave them for about 2 minutes.
Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.
Looking for more High Protein Meal Prep Recipes?
- Southwestern Chicken Salad
- Maple Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches
- High Protein Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- High Protein Stuffed Shells
Crustless Pizza Bowls
Equipment
- large pan
- spatula
- medium bowl
- cheese grater
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- olive oil or avocado oil
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- ½ red onion diced
- 1 lb ground turkey (I used 98% lean)
- 6 oz frozen cauliflower rice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp oregano
- kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes optional, to taste
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 jar marinara sauce (24oz)
- 2 cups freshly grated low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 20-24 slices turkey pepperoni
- chopped parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 400F and place four 2-cup glass storage containers (or similar-sized oven safe dishes) onto a baking sheet. Set aside.
- Bring a large pan up to medium-high heat. Once hot, add enough oil to coat the pan, then add diced mushrooms, bell pepper & red onion. Season with kosher salt & black pepper and sauté, stirring only occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until tender. Remove veggies from the pan and set aside in a bowl.olive oil, 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, 1 green bell pepper, ½ red onion, kosher salt & black pepper
- Add more oil to the pan, then add ground turkey, garlic powder, oregano, kosher salt, black pepper & red pepper flakes (if using). Cook, breaking the turkey apart into small pieces, until mostly browned, then add in the cauliflower rice and sauté for 3 more minutes.olive oil, 1 lb ground turkey, 6 oz frozen cauliflower rice, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp oregano, red pepper flakes, kosher salt & black pepper
- Reduce heat to medium, add in tomato paste, stir to coat with the turkey and let cook for 1-2 minutes. Then, add in the marinara and sautéed veggies and stir until combined.2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 jar marinara sauce
- Divide this filling mixture evenly between the 4 glass containers, then top each with grated mozzarella and 5-6 turkey pepperoni slices. Transfer to the oven to bake for ~12 minutes, then switch to broil for an additional 1-2 minutes until the cheese is just starting to turn golden.NOTE: If you are not intentionally making these for meal prep or would prefer to dirty less dishes, you can also keep the filling in the pan, add the mozzarella and pepperoni directly on top, then cover the pan and let simmer on low heat until the cheese has melted, about 5-6 minutes.2 cups freshly grated low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella cheese, 20-24 slices turkey pepperoni
- Optionally, garnish your crustless pizza bowls with chopped parsley and more red pepper flakes. Let stand for a few minutes before enjoying.chopped parsley
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @munchinwithmaddie_ on Instagram and/or hashtag it #munchinwithmaddie.