This Parmesan crust pizza recipe skips the dough entirely and replaces it with a sheet of Parmesan cheese baked until it crackles, pops, and turns into a crispy, golden, lacy cheese crust called frico. Top it with pepperoni, fennel seeds, and pizza seasoning before it goes in the oven, and what comes out is a low-carb pizza that tastes more satisfying than most versions made with traditional dough.

Frico is baked or pan-fried Parmesan that sets into a crispy wafer. It takes about 10 minutes in a hot oven and the result is crunchy, salty, and very cheesy. This is a fast weeknight dinner or game day snack that requires almost no effort and zero kneading.

What Makes This Parmesan Crust Pizza Special

This crustless pizza recipe uses only Parmesan cheese which means the crust itself is the most flavorful part of the pizza. A 475 degree oven and a silicone mat or parchment are essential. Too low and the cheese melts without crisping. The right temperature creates the lattice pattern and golden color that makes frico work.

Watch it carefully in the last two minutes. Once the cheese starts to pop and bubble it can burn quickly.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Parmesan Pepperoni Crustless Frico Pizza Recipe

Servings: 4

Author: Jackie Alpers

Cost: $6.00

This crustless pizza is a fast & easy, low-carb, high protein way to enjoy pizza night anytime. Use a cookie sheet covered with a silicone baking mat or parchment so that the cheese slid right off.

Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4-6 oz sliced pepperoni. I used vegetarian.
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon of pizza or Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper - optional
• Sprinkling of Kernel Season's Pizza Popcorn Seasoning - optional

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to 475 degrees.
• Line a 12x18" jelly roll pan or high-sided baking sheet with a Silpat, aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Cover with a layer of shredded Parmesan cheese. You should just barely see the bottom of the pan through the cheese. (See my photograph below.)
  
• Sprinkle cheese with pizza flavored popcorn seasoning if you are using it.
• Top with a layer of pepperoni. Feel free to experiment by adding/substituting your favorite pizza toppings.
• Sprinkle on the fennel, pizza spice and crushed red pepper.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes. Monitor the progress carefully during the last few minutes. After the cheese starts to pop, it can burn quickly. You want the surface to have a nice lattice pattern and a golden brown color.
• Remove from the oven and let cool to the touch before peeling from the foil or Silpat.
• Cut into pieces and enjoy!
• Serves 4.

Notes

Do I need a silicone mat or parchment? Yes. This is not optional. The cheese will stick to an unlined pan and tear when you try to remove it. A Silpat silicone baking mat gives the cleanest release. Parchment paper also works well. Aluminum foil is a reasonable backup.

Is this recipe keto or low-carb? Yes. The only ingredients are Parmesan cheese, pepperoni, and spices which are all naturally low in carbohydrates. This crustless pizza fits comfortably into keto, low-carb, and grain-free diets.

Can I use other toppings? Yes! Any pizza topping that doesn't release too much moisture works well. Good options include cooked Italian sausage, olives, roasted red peppers, fresh basil added after baking, or a drizzle of hot honey. Avoid fresh tomatoes or other high-moisture toppings as they will make the frico soggy.

Why does my cheese burn before it crisps? The oven may be running hot, or the cheese layer may be too thin. Make sure you can just barely see the bottom of the pan through the cheese. Also make sure your oven is fully preheated to 475 before the pan goes in. Start checking at 8 minutes and watch closely after that.

Can I make a vegetarian version? Yes. The recipe notes that vegetarian pepperoni works well as a substitute. Most grocery stores carry it near the regular deli meats or in the natural foods section.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword cheese crust pizza recipe, crustless pizza, crustless pizza recipe, Frico Parmesan Peperoni Pizza recipe, game day snacks, Jackie Alpers, keto pizza recipe, no carb pizza recipe, parmesan crust for pizza recipe

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