Love a hot slice of ooey-gooey pizza but not the bloated feeling you get afterward from eating all the pizza crust. Try indulging in a healthier alternative to traditional pizza with these cauliflower pizza bowls.
Packed with flavors like Italian sausage, marinara, and salami, these pizza bowls are gluten-free and low in carbs. Plus, they are so easy to make you can have a hot and delicious meal on the table, ready to eat, in under 20 minutes.
Get ready to elevate your pizza game and discover a healthier approach to everyone's favorite comfort food and transform your pizza nights into a healthy and enjoyable experience!
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
Why This Recipe Works
You'll love this recipe because of how easily customizable it is. You'll also love how fun these bowls are to make, and did I mention that this recipe offers a guilt-free pizza experience to enjoy any night of the week?
One of the great things about cauliflower pizza bowls is their versatility. You can customize them to suit your preferences and dietary needs. From choosing your favorite toppings to experimenting with different spices and cheeses, you have the freedom to get creative and tailor your pizza bowls to your liking.
Additionally, making cauliflower pizza bowls can be a fun and interactive cooking experience. Lay out your favorite toppings and ingredients, and get your friends or family members in the kitchen. You'll have a blast creating personalized pizza bowls together.
Also, cauliflower pizza bowls are generally lighter and less calorie-dense than traditional pizza. By swapping out the heavier dough for cauliflower, you can enjoy a satisfying meal without feeling weighed down or guilty about indulging.
Ingredients
Italian Sausage:
If you want to save yourself some time, you can buy Italian sausage crumble at the grocery store. However, for a fresher, more flavorful cauliflower pizza bowl, get some Italian sausages directly from your butcher or deli. Simply remove the casings and crumble the sausage directly into your pot to start browning.
Salami:
While this recipe calls for salami, you can substitute any of your favorite pizza toppings here. Ham, mushrooms, pepperoni, tomato, or basil all make delicious salami substitutions for this recipe.
Marinara Sauce:
You can use your favorite brand of jarred sauce to create this recipe, or you can choose to make your own marinara sauce from scratch for that added freshness.
Cauliflower Rice:
Cauliflower rice has become increasingly popular as a convenient and healthy alternative to traditional rice. Pre-made cauliflower rice is typically available in the produce section or frozen food aisle. You can also make it yourself. Start by pulsing cauliflower florets in a food processor until they reach a rice-like consistency. Simply bake it in the oven at 400F for about 10-15 minutes, or until it becomes slightly golden and starts to dry out before you use it in your pizza bowls.
Mozzarella:
While this recipe calls for mozzarella as it's traditionally used in pizza, there are plenty of other cheese options that you could decide to use instead. Parmesan, romano, fior di latte, buffalo mozzarella, cheddar, gouda, goat cheese, feta, or your favorite plant-based alternative are all excellent choices..
How to Make Cauliflower Pizza Bowls
Step One:
Brown the sausage in a pot over medium-high heat.
Step Two:
Add the cauliflower rice and mix to combine.
Step Three:
Stir in the seasonings until combined, followed by the marinara.
Step Four:
Sprinkle with cheese and allow to cook for 3-5 more minutes.
Step Five:
Divide this mixture between two oven-safe bowls.
Step Six:
Add a layer of salami to each bowl, followed by a layer of cheese. Use as much or as little cheese and salami as you like here.
Step Seven:
Broil the bowls on high for 5-10 minutes. Keep a close watch to prevent burning.
Step Eight:
Serve and enjoy 🙂
Tips
- Cauliflower rice can have lots of excess moisture, so if you are making your own, you might need to remove some before using it in the bowls. If your cauliflower is still too moist after baking, use a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth to wring out excess moisture.
- Bake the cauliflower bowls until they are golden and crispy before adding your toppings. If the cauliflower isn't baked long enough, it can result in a soggy pizza bowl, so it's better to err on the side of over-baking. After adding your pizza toppings, put the bowls back in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese and heat the toppings.
What to Serve With Cauliflower Pizza Bowl
These cauliflower pizza bowls are an excellent meal on their own. However, you can also choose to serve them alongside some delicious pasta dishes such as eggplant pasta, smoked lasagna, or rigatoni.
Additionally, you can choose some more fun sides to go with your cauliflower pizza bowls, such as crispy chicken wings, avocado fries, or tater tots.
FAQs
How long can leftover cauliflower pizza bowls be stored?
Leftover cauliflower pizza bowl can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or frozen and an airtight container for up to 2 months. To reheat, place the thawed pizza bowls on a baking sheet and heat them in the oven at 350F for about 10-15 minutes or until they are heated through and the toppings are melted and bubbly.
Can I use frozen cauliflower rice?
Yes, you can absolutely use frozen cauliflower rice in your pizza bowls. This might require cooking the meat and rice mixture for a bit longer to allow any excess moisture to cook off.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
By swapping the Italian sausage for tofu, the salami for some veggies, and the mozzarella for your favorite plant-based cheese alternative, you can absolutely make this recipe vegan.
What can I use as a substitute for cauliflower rice?
There are many options to use instead of cauliflower rice. Alternatives such as broccoli rice, sweet potato rice, cabbage rice, quinoa, couscous, and regular rice all work with this recipe.
Pizza Recipes
Cauliflower Recipes
Cauliflower Pizza Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 12 ounces cauliflower rice
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon marinara sauce
- 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 2-10 slices salami
Instructions
- Brown the sausage in a pot over medium-high heat.
- Add the cauliflower rice and mix to combine.
- Stir in the seasonings until combined, followed by the marinara.
- Sprinkle with cheese and allow to cook for 3-5 more minutes.
- Divide this mixture between two oven-safe bowls.
- Add a layer of salami to each bowl, followed by a layer of cheese. Use as much or as little cheese and salami as you like here.
- Broil the bowls on high for 5-10 minutes. Keep a close watch to prevent burning.
- Serve while hot, and enjoy 🙂
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- Cauliflower rice can have lots of excess moisture, so if you are making your own, you might need to remove some before using it in the bowls. If your cauliflower is still too moist after baking, use a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth to wring out excess moisture.
- Bake the cauliflower bowls until they are golden and crispy before adding your toppings. If the cauliflower isn't baked long enough, it can result in a soggy pizza bowl, so it's better to err on the side of over-baking. After adding your pizza toppings, put the bowls back in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese and heat the toppings.
Looks great but the Marinara sauce in the recipe above under Ingredients calls for only 1 teaspoon and in the steps/pictures it looks like a lot more is added. You may want to adjust the recipe. Can't wait to try this!