This low carb 4-ingredient pepperoni pizza skillet is the kind of back-pocket dinner that saves busy weeknights and still feels fun enough to set out for a casual gathering. It has all the best pizza flavors without the crust, and it comes together with minimal prep in one skillet or casserole dish. It reminds me of those simple neighborhood recipes that always disappeared first at late-summer get-togethers, mostly because gooey cheese, savory pepperoni, and warm tomato sauce are hard for anyone to resist.
Serve this with a crisp green salad, roasted broccoli, sautéed zucchini, or garlic butter green beans to keep the meal low carb and balanced. If you are putting it out for a party spread, it also works well with toothpicks for scooping or alongside toasted low carb bread, cauliflower breadsticks, or a simple antipasto platter with olives and cucumbers.
Low Carb 4-Ingredient Pepperoni Pizza Skillet
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 pound Italian sausage
2 cups low sugar pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
24 to 30 pepperoni slices
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. If using sausage links, remove the casings. In an oven-safe skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage, breaking it into crumbles, until fully browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease if needed.
2. Stir the pizza sauce into the cooked sausage and spread the mixture into an even layer across the skillet.
3. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the sauce, then arrange the pepperoni slices on top in a single layer.
4. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the pepperoni is lightly crisped at the edges. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Add a veggie layer: If you want to stretch this into a fuller skillet dinner, add a thin layer of sautéed mushrooms, chopped bell peppers, or spinach over the sausage before the sauce. Just cook off extra moisture first so the skillet stays rich and gooey instead of watery.
Use ground meat you have: Ground beef, turkey, or chicken sausage all work here if that is what you already have in the fridge. The flavor will shift a little, but the method stays the same, which is helpful on nights when dinner needs to happen fast.
Make it extra browned: For a more classic pizza-shop finish, switch the oven to broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end. Keep a close eye on it so the cheese blisters nicely without burning.
Meal prep tip: Brown the sausage and stir in the sauce up to 2 days ahead, then store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat, top with cheese and pepperoni and bake until hot and bubbly.
Choose the right pan: An 8- to 10-inch oven-safe skillet or small casserole dish works best for keeping the layers thick and satisfying. If your skillet is larger, the mixture will spread thinner and bake a little faster, so start checking it early.