Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef or Italian sausage with the diced onion, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Cook for 7-8 minutes until the meat is fully browned and the onions are soft. Drain excess grease well.
- Add the diced bell pepper and sliced mushrooms to the same skillet over medium heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are tender-crisp and the mushrooms have released and cooked off their moisture.
- Stir in the garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat the meat and vegetables evenly, then remove the skillet from the heat.
- Transfer the meat and vegetable mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer across the bottom.
- Pour the low-carb marinara sauce evenly over the meat layer. Spread toward the edges so everything is coated, stirring gently to let the sauce work into the meat if needed.
- Scatter the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan evenly across the top. Lay the pepperoni slices over the cheese, covering as much surface area as desired.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted, bubbling at the edges, and starting to turn golden brown on top with crispy pepperoni edges. If the cheese browns too quickly, lay a sheet of foil loosely over the dish and continue baking.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the sauce to settle for cleaner servings.
Notes
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in oven at 350F covered with foil for 10-12 minutes, or microwave individual portions at 70% power for 2 minutes. Freeze unbaked (assembled through step 7) for up to 2 months; thaw overnight before baking. Substitutions: Ground turkey works in place of beef or sausage. Add extra seasoning to compensate for the milder flavor. Toppings: Customize like a real pizza. Black olives, banana peppers, cooked bacon bits, or jalapenos all work well. Marinara: Choose a no-sugar-added sauce with under 5g carbs and 2g sugar per half-cup serving to keep net carbs low.