Cauliflower Pizza Crust
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Updated Nov 29, 2022
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Cauliflower pizza crust is a delicious gluten-free, low-carb and keto pizza recipe. It’s a simple blend of cauliflower, eggs, cheese, and a few spices that’s flattened and baked into a golden crust. Freeze it for later or top it off with fresh ingredients for a healthy dinner recipe.
I’m happy that cauliflower is having a star moment right now. From cauliflower steaks to roasted cauliflower soup, this vegetable can transform into just about anything! But when cauliflower pizza crusts became a thing, I knew I had to whip up a version of my own.
While you can buy pre-made cauliflower pizza crusts, corn starch or potato starch tends to be the main ingredient in these products. So by making it yourself, you’ll know your crust is made from fresh ingredients without unnecessary additives.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust Ingredients
Yes, this pizza crust requires only 3 main ingredients, plus seasonings. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cauliflower – you’ll need about 1.5 pounds of cauliflower florets (I’ve gone into detail about the different types of cauliflower below)
- Cheese – you can use a variety of cheeses, but here is the general rule:
- 1/2 cup of shredded cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, etc)
- 1/3 cup of soft cheese (goat cheese, etc)
- Egg – 1 beaten egg
- Italian Seasoning – 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, but feel free to use additional spices
- Salt and pepper – to taste
Types Of Cauliflower To Use
There’s several options when it comes to making cauliflower rice. You can make it from fresh cauliflower, frozen florets, or buy it pre-riced. But if you’re wondering which type of cauliflower is best to use, here’s the answer. After testing all three variations, the consistency turned out pretty much the same for each.
I know pre-riced cauliflower may not be available for many people. So choosing between fresh cauliflower and frozen florets, the frozen florets required the least amount of work (no cutting mess or cooking needed). Thus, it quickly became my favorite method.
Here’s a breakdown of how to prep each type of cauliflower:
Fresh Cauliflower
If you’re using fresh cauliflower, you’ll need 1 large cauliflower head (about 2 pounds, which yields 1 1/2 pounds of florets).
- Remove the florets from the head of the cauliflower, and cut them into even sized pieces.
- Grate the florets using either the grater attachment on a food processor or box grater.
- Microwave the cauliflower rice for about 4-5 minutes to soften it.
- Drain the cauliflower rice by using a nut milk bag and squeeze it until all the moisture is out.
Frozen Cauliflower Florets
You’ll need 1 1/2 pounds of frozen cauliflower florets.
- Thaw the frozen cauliflower in the fridge overnight.
- Grate the florets using either the grater attachment on a food processor or box grater.
- Drain the cauliflower by using a nut milk bag and squeeze it until all the moisture is out.
Pre-Riced Cauliflower
You’ll need approximately 5 cups of pre-riced cauliflower.
- Microwave the cauliflower rice for about 5 minutes to soften it.
- Drain the cauliflower by using a nut milk bag and squeeze it until all the moisture is out.
How To Make Cauliflower Pizza
Now that you’ve got your cauliflower all prepped, here’s the full recipe on how to make the crust. Watch the tutorial video below to see how I make it step-by-step!
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grate the cauliflower florets to make cauliflower rice, using a food processor or box grater.
- Microwave your cauliflower for about 5 minutes to soften it. Alternatively, you can saute the cauliflower for 10 minutes on medium heat on the stove.
- Drain the cauliflower. Transfer the grated florets into a nut milk bag or dish towel. Squeeze the cauliflower until all the moisture is out. Make sure to let the cauliflower cool down a bit before squeezing so you don’t burn your hands!
- Mix the cauliflower rice, cheese, egg, and seasonings. Using your hands, toss everything together in a large bowl until it’s all combined.
- Shape your pizza crust. On a baking sheet, press the dough down into an even circle. The diameter should be about 9 inches.
- Bake for 25 minutes. If you started with frozen cauliflower, it may need to cook a few minutes more. Then remove from the oven.
- Add the toppings. Then pop the pizza back into the oven for an additional 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: If you’d like to get your cauliflower crust as crispy as possible, bake it on a pizza stone rather than a baking sheet.
Cauliflower Pizza Toppings
Now comes the fun part – pizza toppings! One thing I will note here is that chunkier is better. You don’t want your ingredients to be too oily or runny, otherwise it will make your crust even soggier.
In terms of flavor, the combinations are endless. But, I’ve decided to whip up two of my favorite flavors: pesto chicken and Margherita pizza. You can find the full recipes below, but here’s a quick run down of what ingredients you’ll need.
- Pesto Chicken Pizza: shredded chicken, mozzarella cheese, sauteed spinach, pesto sauce, and garlic cloves.
- Margherita Pizza: marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves.
How To Freeze Cauliflower Pizza Crust
If you want to meal prep for the week, frozen pizza crusts will be your best friend. Once you’ve baked the crust, let it cool and then place it into an airtight container or freezer safe bags.
Because a large 9-inch round pizza is harder to store, I recommend making two smaller crusts and stacking them on top of each other, with parchment paper in between. Even better, double this recipe and make 4 small crusts for the future. They’ll last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
When you’re ready to make your pizza, just remove it from the freezer, and re-heat it in the oven. Bake it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes to thaw, then add your toppings and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cooked through.
More Low-Carb Cauliflower Recipes
For more unique and fun ways to cook with cauliflower, here’s a few delicious low carb recipes to try. You’re going to love these!
- Roasted Cauliflower Hummus
- Mashed Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower with Dates, Pine Nuts and Thyme
Cauliflower Pizza Crust Recipe Video
Want to see how I make this recipe? Watch the video below!
Cauliflower Pizza Crust (Low Carb Keto Pizza)
Description
Video
Ingredients
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- 1.5 pounds cauliflower, florets
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese, or 1/3 cup soft cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper, to taste
Pesto Chicken Pizza
- 1/3 cup pesto sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded chicken
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 cups (packed) baby spinach
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Margherita Pizza
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce
- 4 oz mozzarella ball, sliced
- fresh basil leaves
- red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the cauliflower florets from the stem or use frozen and thawed cauliflower florets. Grate them using a food processor or box grater.
- Add the cauliflower rice to a microwave safe bowl, cover, and microwave for 4-5 minutes to soften. Alternatively, you could saute the cauliflower rice in a pan on medium heat on the stove for 8-10 minutes. Then let it cool to the touch.
- Transfer the cauliflower rice into a nut milk bag or thin kitchen towel. Drain the cauliflower by squeezing it until all the excess moisture is out. Squeeze as hard as you can!
- Place the drained cauliflower rice in a large mixing bowl. Add the cheese, egg and seasonings. Use your hands to mix everything together to form the pizza dough.
- On a parchment lined baking sheet, press the dough dough down into an even circle. The diameter should be around 9 inches. If you have a pizza stone, that's even better and will produce a crispier crust.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until slightly golden, then remove from oven. You could also bake for 20 minutes and flip the crust over, then bake an additional 5-10 minutes for an even crispier crust.
- Add the toppings and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Lisa's Tips
- The nutrition facts are for the Margherita pizza flavor.
Nutrition
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The pizza was delicious, however, I cooked the crust for 45 minutes. Flipped it over added my toppings and cooked it for another 20. I have never made one of these before.And I think I’ll make it only for special occasions.
Followed instructions perfectly but the base didn’t want to become any sort of semi solid. Mushy and the base acts as scrambled cauliflower.