Keto Pizza with Zucchini “Crust”

Summertime is the ideal time to enjoy a healthy keto pizza with a zucchini crust.

The produce is lush, ripe, and bursting with flavorful goodness. So why not take advantage of the bounty of fresh ingredients?

You’ll find that this keto pizza checks off all the boxes for you.

• Delicious, yummy, and mimics the flavors of fresh, hot pizza
• Nutritious
• Easy to make in the air fryer (or grill or oven, if you prefer)
  

My tomatoes and zucchini are ripening faster than I can use them. I was harvesting beautiful, plump tomatoes the other day wishing for a pizza.

However, I just lost 45 pounds and am not willing to make sacrifice all my effort.

Looking over at my herb garden, I realized that I literally had everything in my garden or pantry to recreate those comforting pizza flavors.

The twist? I was going to do it in a new and healthier way.

So this keto pizza with a zucchini crust provides the solution that allows you to feed your cravings and keep on track with your nutrition goals.

What Makes This Recipe a Keto Pizza?

For those who might have heard of keto but are unclear precisely what it means, here is an overview.

The keto (short for ketogenic) diet is a low-carb nutrition plan. Keto followers increase their consumption of fat and proteins. And they decrease carb intake dramatically.

This tricks your metabolism. In turn, your body enters a state called “ketosis.”

Once the body enters ketosis, it begins to burn fat quickly.

How Quickly Does Your Body Burn Fat?

In one UK-based study of diabetic patients, participants who followed a ketogenic program lost three times more weight than those who followed their typical diabetic program.

The keto diet is wildly popular with people who need to lose weight quickly. Whether because of a health scare or to fit into a particular dress for that class reunion, it simplifies weight loss.

Foods That Are Keto Friendly

Keto-friendly foods are usually higher in fat and protein and lower in sugars.

Therefore, many fruits are not considered keto-approved.

I am on Weight Watchers, and I’ve never done keto personally (although I have friends who swear by it). Before I titled this recipe, I checked these ingredients individually against a list of keto foods.

Everything checked out as good to go.

Cooking Method: Air Fryer, Grill, or Oven

I love my air fryer and use it several times per week. It’s been triple-digit hot here in eastern NC.

As much as I’m tempted to grill, the air fryer is usually my go-to alternative. That essential cooking tool keeps me in the nice, cool house during the afternoon heat!

Although I used my air fryer, which cooks food evenly by circulating air around the foods, I don’t see why the oven or a grill won’t work for you.

Here is what my keto pizza looked like.

Prepping Your Air Fryer Keto Pizza

This recipe takes a little bit of chopping and slicing but very little time to air fry.

To prepare the zucchini, cut a long slice off a “top” and a “bottom” side of the “pizza crust.” You need the bottom slice to make the zucchini sit flat.

Once you’ve made the top slice, use a grapefruit spoon to hollow out a long channel. Remove some of the seeds and pulp and discard them. You will basically be stuffing the “pizza” inside here.

From there, this is very simple. Take a look.

Yield: 1 serving

Keto Pizza with Zucchini Crust

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

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Ingredients

• one small zucchini
• two medium tomatoes, diced
• one tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 4 slices of pepperoni or turkey pepperoni
• two tablespoons (ish) of mozzarella cheese
• fresh sweet basil
• fresh oregano

Instructions

1. Prepare your zucchini by making the bottom flat, slicing off the top side of "pizza crust," and using a grapefruit spoon to hollow out a channel that will hold the ingredients.
2. Dice the tomatoes, chop the herbs, and toss them in a small bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over these and stir it up.
3. Place the pepperoni in the top of the "crust." Placing this first prevents the fat in the meat from burning under the intense heat of the air fryer.
4. Distribute the tomato mixture over the pepperoni.
5. Put into the air fryer at 400 for 10 minutes.
6. Add the mozzarella cheese, and air fry for an additional three-minute cycle. It is ready to eat after your cheese melts.

Notes

Avoid the temptation to use an enormous zucchini. You will have raw zucchini in the center, and you will be disappointed!

While garlic is a great pizza topping, it doesn't always fare well in the air fryer--it becomes burned and bitter. Add garlic powder to the top if you wish--after it comes out of the fryer!

Nutrition Information

Yield

1

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 330 Total Fat 22g Saturated Fat 10g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 11g Cholesterol 55mg Sodium 537mg Carbohydrates 17g Fiber 5g Sugar 10g Protein 19g

Keto Pizza–Nutritious and Delicious!

You can enjoy your favorite pizza flavors and still stay true to your keto or other carb-restricted diet goals.

And, you’ll benefit from the fiber, Vitamin C, and lycopene you will consume when you treat yourself to a keto pizza. It really doesn’t get any better than that!

Do you want other air fryer recipes? Check out our Air Fryer Chicken Wings for another comfort food makeover.