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Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole

15 October, 2013 by Stacey 68 Comments

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Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole

A low carb, keto, grain-free, gluten-free, & primal pizza pie layer casserole.

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole- Low carb & ketoPin

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole is a grain-free, low carb, and family-friendly casserole. We love this pizza casserole at my house. Even the kids love it. The veggies are hidden, and you really can’t taste them.  My daughter did notice the green specks of zucchini in the crust but thought it was herbs. If you leave out the cheese, then this casserole becomes paleo-friendly too.

Makes great leftovers too, and can be made in advance and reheated. Finally, something grain-free and low carb that I could bring to a potluck.

While making this, I was going to drain the meat completely but was too lazy to transfer from the pan, so I just poured a little off into a metal bowl. 

I was also going to strain and squeeze the ground zucchini but also felt that was too many steps so, I just dumped it in as-is. I put a little more coconut flour then I had originally planned on to absorb the zucchini moisture. Yay, it worked, I get to skip another step.  What is your favorite kitchen short cut?

Ground beef and sauce on the bottom layer.

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole layer 1Pin

 

Spread veggie crust layer over the top of meat layer.

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole layer 2Pin

 

Smooth out crust layer with the back of spoon or spatula.

Primal Pizza pie Layer Casserole layer 2aPin

 

Place pepperoni on top of the crust layer.

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole layer 3Pin

 

Sprinkle with the cheese.

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole layer 4Pin

 

Bake 30 minutes and enjoy the pizza goodness~

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole, primal and low carb with paleo option. beautyandthefoodie.comPin
Pizza Pie Layer Casserole

 

 

RECIPE AND DIRECTIONS BELOW:

📖 Printable Recipe Card

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole, primal and low carb with paleo option. beautyandthefoodie.comPin

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole

Stacey
A grain free, ooey, gooey, pizza layer casserole!
4.65 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 12 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 42 minutes mins
Course gluten free, grain free, low carb, paleo options, primal
Cuisine casserole
Servings 6
Calories 358 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Meat and Sauce Layer:
  • 1 lb ground beef browned and lightly drained.
  • 1 cup organic tomato sauce make sure tomatoes are the only ingredient., 8 ounces
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasonings.
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt.
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • Veggie Crust Layer:
  • ½ medium raw zucchini, grated or ground.
  • 1 cup raw cauliflower grated or ground.
  • 2 cloves garlic .
  • 2 eggs beaten.
  • 3 tablespoon coconut flour.
  • ¼ cup grated mozzarella cheese or cheese of choice * can omit for paleo.
  • 1 tablespoon butter melted or coconut oil, melted.
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt.
  • Topping Layer:
  • 16 slices of pepperoni or salami.
  • ½ cup grated cheese of choice I used mozzarella * can omit for paleo.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 F, and lightly grease a 9 x 11x3 inch oval casserole dish.
  • Using a large fry pan, brown ground beef. Lightly drain some excess grease.
  • Add to ground beef in pan: tomato sauce, Italian seasonings, garlic powder, oregano, and sea salt. Stir and heat over medium high heat until bubbling. Turn heat to low and cover. Simmer for 6 minutes.
  • In food processor add: zucchini, cauliflower, and garlic cloves. Process until veggies look like rice granules, or can grate them with grater or ricer.
  • In large mixing bowl combine: ground zucchini cauliflower garlic, 2 eggs, 3 tablespoon coconut flour, ¼ cup grated cheese, 1 tablespoon melted butter or coconut oil, and ¼ teaspoon sea salt. Mix together until a paste like dough forms, and make sure to break up any coconut flour clumps. Set aside.
  • Stir simmering ground beef, and remove from heat. Spoon ground beef into casserole dish and spread across bottom of dish.
  • Take veggie crust dough and spoon on top of meat layer in dish. With the back of large spoon or spatula, spread dough evenly across the top of meat layer and smooth.
  • Place pepperoni slices on top of veggie crust. Sprinkle grated cheese on top of pepperoni and crust layer.
  • Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until top of casserole is browning and crust is done.
  • Remove, cool, serve and enjoy 🙂

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Notes

Nutritional data includes all toppings and cheese.
* nutritional data is an estimate based on the products I used*

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 358kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 29gFat: 22gFiber: 2.2gSugar: 2g
Tried this recipe?Mention @gfbeautyandthefoodie or tag #gfbeautyandthefoodie
Nutrition Facts: Yield:6, Serving size: 1 serving out of 6 total servings, Calories: 358, Fat: 22 g, Carbohydrates: 8 g, Net Carbs: 5.8 g, Sugar: 2 g Fiber: 2.2 g, Protein: 29 g

*All nutritional data are estimates based on the products I used*

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  1. Dawn

    July 13, 2017 at 9:43 am

    5 stars
    Made this last night and it was great. Tasted like a pizza without all the hassel of trying to roll out paleo or keto dough. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 13, 2017 at 6:32 pm

      Dawn, thank you so much for trying the recipe and your kind words & feedback.

      Reply
  2. Lisa Cooks

    April 18, 2017 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing! Love it! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 20, 2017 at 9:21 am

      Thank you Lisa 🙂

      Reply
  3. Cassie

    February 19, 2017 at 11:27 am

    Prepping this right now - it looks so good! One question though... any reason why the crust doesn't go down first? It's counter intuitive for me. Plus my meat sauce is pretty saucy, just like we like it :). In that case, would it be ok to put the veggies down first, then the meat, then the cheese??

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 20, 2017 at 10:04 am

      Cassie, If the crust goes down first (under the saucy meat) it would become soggy and mushy, so that is why it is on top.

      Reply
      • Cassie

        February 21, 2017 at 4:45 pm

        Yep, that's what happened! Next time I will stick to the recipe! 😉

        Reply
        • Stacey

          February 22, 2017 at 8:23 am

          Cassie, oh no, I didn't get to you in time.

          Reply
          • Michael

            January 04, 2021 at 12:01 pm

            Ok, time to resurrect this nearly 4 year old thread to ask, how about if you build it entirely upside down. Cheese and pepperoni and whatever "toppings" you like, beef, sauce, crust. Make it a dump cake style pizza.

          • Stacey

            January 05, 2021 at 8:20 am

            Hi Michael, that is a great idea! Sort of like a cottage pie but with pizza ingredients 🙂

  4. Mary Ann

    August 04, 2016 at 10:53 am

    WOW! I've been perusing your site for some time now, how did I miss this WONDERFUL recipe. I'm going to try it ASAP!! Pizza has been the one thing I miss most about being grain free. The only thing not already in my kitchen is the cauliflower. I may rush right out and buy some so I can do it TONIGHT! 😀 Love your site, and love your style. Let's just say that "laziness" is the mother of invention. 😀 We aren't even close to lazy, we just believe in working smarter. 😀

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 05, 2016 at 7:21 am

      Thank you Mary Ann for your very kind words! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does. I guess we are not lazy, just very tired 🙂

      Reply
  5. Alicia Karash

    May 11, 2016 at 3:09 pm

    4 stars
    Do I measure the cauliflower before or after I great it?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 11, 2016 at 7:50 pm

      Alicia, I usually measure after I rice it

      Reply
  6. Charles

    April 01, 2016 at 5:33 am

    5 stars
    I came across your recipe while looking for something to prepare for my kids and I while my wife is out of town for a conference. There is no greater angst for me than trying to figure out what to make for dinner! We've been eating a paleo-esque diet for well over a year and Italian style food is not friendly to our diet, leaving me missing the flavor. With your paleo-friendly pizza casserole recipe, that is no longer the case... the taste is there, the prep is relatively simple, it's flexible due to the endless toppings you can add, and my kids & I loved it! Their verdict... it's a "do-over!"

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 01, 2016 at 9:07 am

      Charles, Thank you for trying the recipe and taking the time to share your results. I appreciate your kind words. I am thrilled that the kids approve! My kids are my toughest critics, lol.

      Reply
  7. Erin

    January 20, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    4 stars
    This was a hit! Next time I make this (so, yes, it's going into the regular rotation) I'll be making the following alterations:
    1. Adding extra toppings along with the pepperoni like green peppers, olives, etc
    2. Adding extra tomato sauce as we like our 'pizza' a bit saucier

    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 21, 2016 at 11:21 am

      Erin, Thank you for making the recipe and sharing your results & extra toppings ideas. My Hubby love extra sauce, but my kids like less sauce. I tried to make it at a medium level of sauce, lol. 🙂

      Reply
    • LAURA

      March 18, 2017 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      I added sliced red onion and spinach under the last layer of cheese. I cooked the onion and spinach just a little on the stove top before adding to the dish.

      Reply
      • Stacey

        March 18, 2017 at 8:35 pm

        Great tip Laura!

        Reply
  8. Ashlee

    January 06, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for dinner, and it was awesome! I did add 1/2 a diced onion to the burger, going to be a new favorite! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 06, 2016 at 4:34 pm

      Ashlee, Thank you for making the recipe and taking the time to comment. Your kind words made my day 🙂

      Reply
  9. Katie

    November 28, 2015 at 5:23 am

    5 stars
    Made this last night and it was fantastic!!! I did add green pepper and mushrooms with the pepperoni. This will be my go to when having a pizza craving. Thanks for a delicious recipe!!!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      November 28, 2015 at 7:58 am

      Awe, thank you so much Katie. I am so thrilled it was a hit. You made my day so much better 🙂

      Reply
  10. Stacey

    July 14, 2015 at 6:03 am

    I came across this looking for some more bagel recipes....and you may have just saved pizza for me. My four Manlings and my Hubs can eat pizza eight times a week and twice on Sundays if I let them. Needless to say, I'm not a real fan. But this...this looks right up their collective alley--and they even eat veggies! LOL I'm trying this for Thursday lunch (designated pizza day). Hopefully I don't get lynched...

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 14, 2015 at 9:24 am

      Stacey, I hope they like it. I know what you mean my son and hubby could eat pizza everyday & my son won't eat veggies if they are not well hidden. Manlings, I love that!!

      Reply
  11. Lisa

    March 12, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    This looks great! I'm trying it tonight. Do you know if this would freeze well? If it would, I'd like to double it and save one for later.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 14, 2015 at 11:55 am

      Lisa, I have not froze this, but some viewers have baked this, & froze it for later. So, I think it is doable.
      ~ Stacey

      Reply
  12. Lilia

    February 09, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    Hi. Just found your site and this recipe, sounds delish! Your serving size seems way to small for our family. A 9" pie dish would serve 1 maybe 2 of my teens. =) Would you recommend doubling the whole recipe if I want to make this in a 9X13 dish? Can't wait to try it and I love that you suggested using the veggie crust layer as single pizza crusts in the comments above. Will the crust get crispy if use it that way? Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 11, 2015 at 1:15 am

      Lilia, I make this in a 9x11x3 inch oval casserole dish, not a 9 inch pie dish. So it is a much deeper dish than a 9 inch pie dish. I think a 9x13 inch would work as well without doubling, but you could double it and make two 9x13 or 2 of the 9x11 casserole dishes. The crust on this one one is more bread like, not a crispy crust, but it may work for pizza crust if rolled out thin between parchment papers. Lol, I know what you mean about teenagers. I have 2 college students and a 12 year old boy. Not to mention, my hubby, who eats like a bear getting ready to hibernate and does not gain weight (so not fair).

      Reply
  13. Teresa

    December 16, 2014 at 8:43 pm

    Made this today and it was fab but I made too much of the cauliflower crust. Any suggestions what I can do with the left over grated cauliflower and zucchini mixture? I have already mixed it with the eggs, butter etc.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      December 19, 2014 at 5:32 pm

      Hi Teresa, thank you, I'm glad you like it. The leftover crust makes an excellent crust on a quiche, also is good fried as patties in oil as a fritter. Can also be pressed between two sheets of parchment paper to make a regular pizza crust.
      ~stacey

      Reply
  14. Caz

    November 01, 2014 at 8:47 am

    Hi, could you explain the serving size as I don't understand the size of 1 square. How many serves does this recipe contain.
    Thanks,
    Caz

    Reply
    • Stacey

      November 03, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      Caz, it is 1 serving out of 5 total servings. The info is at the top of the recipe card, but the print is so small. I will put it in the nutritional data as well to make it easier to see.

      Reply
  15. Melinda

    September 22, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    Could this be frozen before it's cooked?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 24, 2014 at 3:13 am

      Hi Melinda, I have made this in advance, and left in the fridge until ready to bake. I have not tried freezing it yet, but I would think you could and would just need to bake for a longer amount of time.
      ~Stacey

      Reply
  16. amber

    September 22, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    This looks great and I'm trying to do more l do more low carb foods. Do you think I could use frozen cauliflower after it's thawed? Or would it be too mushy.?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 24, 2014 at 3:01 am

      Amber, I think you could use frozen after thawed, but I would squeeze out excess water with a paper towel or cheese cloth first.
      ~Stacey

      Reply
  17. Dani

    September 20, 2014 at 1:44 pm

    I am making this tonight and can't wait! One change I will make is to bake it in the same cast iron skillet I brown the meat in...one less dish to clean 😉

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 21, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      Dani, I like the cast iron skillet idea it is genius! I am going to use one next time!
      ~Stacey

      Reply
  18. Rosanna

    September 12, 2014 at 12:09 am

    4 stars
    Made this for dinner tonight and my husband was so impressed! I had half a sweet potato hanging around, so I threw it in the food processor, too! I also grated asiago cheese on top instead of using processed shredded cheese, and it gave it such great flavor! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 12, 2014 at 1:14 am

      Rosanna, thank you for your kind words. And awesome tip on the sweet potato addition. That would be delish in there. I bet we could hide many different veggies in there.
      ~Stacey

      Reply
  19. Dee

    September 03, 2014 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    I've been slowly trying out new Paleo recipes on my family of seven (13, 11, 9, 4 and 2 months along with my husband and I,) and this was a hit. My 13 year old can smell coconut a mile away and claims to despise anything with it, but even she ate an entire serving. They had no idea how many veggies they were eating! The only complaint afterwards was that I didn't make enough so they were still hungry! (I had already doubled the recipe.) I didn't have pepperoni on hand, so that was left out. Might have to make it again soon with that included. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      September 03, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      Dee, thank you for trying the recipe and giving me your great feedback. Wow, you have a big family, I have five including my hubby and Myself, and we can eat the whole pie(doubled) and a salad, well my son won't eat the salad, lol. So you might need to triple it. Glad the kids liked it, I get so excited when mine eat veggies.
      ~Stacey

      Reply
  20. Mama Owl

    August 22, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    Oh my! I have not made this yet, but am in the middle of making the menu for next week and ran across this on pinterest. We used to make something called crockpot pizza before going LC, but it used pasta. DD was just talking about it the other day - how it's one of the things she misses. This just might fit the bill! Can't wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 22, 2014 at 4:22 pm

      Mama Owl, I hope your family loves it as much as mine does. Hmmm, you know this probably could be made in a crock pot. I will have to give that a go sometime. Thank you!
      ~ Stacey

      Reply
  21. Callie

    July 23, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    Could I prep this ahead of time and bake later? I want to make this tonight, but I'm signed up for a barre class from 5:30 till 6:30, and don't want to delay dinner too long when I get home. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 24, 2014 at 2:41 am

      Callie, I would think you could make ahead, and bake later.
      ~Stacey

      Reply
    • Rosanna

      September 12, 2014 at 12:05 am

      That's what I did! Prepped everything, stuck it in the fridge and baked a couple of hours later!

      Reply
      • Stacey

        September 12, 2014 at 1:11 am

        Rosanna, thanks for letting us know about prepping is advance. 🙂
        ~Stacey

        Reply
  22. Hilda Fields

    May 17, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious. I added finely chopped red bell pepper and chopped spinach leaves just before the pepperoni. I was curious about whether I cooked it long enough because I wasn't sure what the crust was supposed to be like. Mine was almost like a somewhat crumbly cornbread (in texture not taste). Should I have cooked it longer. Both my husband and I thought it was a great dish to add to our menu.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 18, 2014 at 5:11 pm

      Hilda, you did it right, the crust layer is supposed to be more like bread texture than pizza crust. It is a bit like corn bread texture.
      Sincerely,
      Stacey

      Reply
    • Hilda Fields

      May 18, 2014 at 11:19 pm

      Thanks for sharing this recipe. We finished off the leftovers tonight and it was equally delicious. I am trying to make at least 3 new low carb recipes a week. I am enjoying the experimenting.

      Reply
      • Stacey

        May 20, 2014 at 11:46 pm

        Hilda, thank you for trying it and letting me know how it went 🙂
        ~Stacey

        Reply
  23. Danielle Hunt

    May 14, 2014 at 12:46 am

    Oh my, I hope my family loves it as much as those who left comments, so excited to try it!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 14, 2014 at 6:51 pm

      Danielle, I hope they love it. If they are squimish about the green, could always leave out zucchini and replace with more of
      the ground cauliflower.
      ~Stacey

      Reply
  24. Carrie

    March 01, 2014 at 3:43 pm

    This was AWESOME! My husband who does not like cauliflower LOVED it! This recipe will be a regular in our home. The kids said they would like me to make it every week :-).

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 01, 2014 at 6:29 pm

      Carrie, thank you for the great feedback! My hubby hates cauliflower too and so do my kids. So I sneak it in where I can. Happy that your family tried it and enjoyed it!
      Sincerely,
      Stacey

      Reply
  25. Ally T

    February 25, 2014 at 10:06 pm

    This is a fantastic idea! I am curious, however, if anyone has an idea for replacing the cauliflower? I am allergic.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 26, 2014 at 2:26 am

      Ally, Thank you so much. I know people can be allergic to anything, but you are the first cauliflower allergy person I've heard from. You can just replace the cauliflower with more grated zucchini (double the grated or ground zucchini) and omit the cauliflower. I think my husband wishes he was allergic to cauliflower so I would stop sneaking it into his food.
      Sincerely,
      Stacey

      Reply
  26. Sarah

    February 13, 2014 at 3:32 am

    This was great! We are big veggie eaters, but my husband usually shies away from this sort of thing. He wasn't home when I prepared it, so I'm pretty sure he thought the zucchini/cauliflower layer was ricotta cheese or something. He had two helpings and is taking some for lunch tomorrow! I don't think I'm ready to tell him what that layer actually was, though. Lol. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 13, 2014 at 5:17 pm

      Sarah, thank you and great job being sneaky, lol. Sometimes husbands are more picky than the kids. I don't always tell my husband until he has eaten it a couple times. That way he won't suddenly change his mind just to prove to me he doesn't like cauliflower.
      Sincerely,
      Stacey

      Reply
  27. joanna

    February 10, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for the inspirational recipe! I made this last night and added broccoli to the crust, and hot sauce to the meat mixture. It was fantastic! I love all of your recipes!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 10, 2014 at 8:34 pm

      Joanna, you are welcome. Broccoli and hot sauce idea is brilliant! Thank you for your kind words and trying the recipes!
      Sincerely,
      Stacey

      Reply
  28. Krista

    January 15, 2014 at 2:11 am

    5 stars
    Just made and ate this! Delicious!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 15, 2014 at 8:25 pm

      Krista, thank you for the trying the recipe and the great comment. Also thank you for taking the time to leave one!
      Sincerely,
      Stacey

      Reply
  29. GiGi Eats Celebrities

    October 17, 2013 at 3:42 am

    5 stars
    I am speechless. Beyond speechless. This looks PHENOMENAL! I cannot wait to make this, and I am making it. Not just saying I will! But I am going to wait until I visit home because I KNOW my mother would really appreciate this recipe too. Pinning it NOW! 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacey

      October 17, 2013 at 4:08 am

      GiGi, thank you so much for your kindness and enthusiasm! I love your website and YouTube channel. You are smart, beautiful, really funny, and completely adorable. I think it is the first show I've subscribed to on You Tube. Very Entertaining!
      Sincerely,
      Stacey

      Reply

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