Keto Pan Fried Zucchini Pizza Recipe (5g Net Carbs)
A single-pan zucchini pizza cooked stovetop with a covered lid for the crackling base and cheesy top. Serves 2 with 380 calories, 18g protein, and 30g fat and 5g net carbs per portion. Ready in 20 minutes. The crust is a grated zucchini and egg batter, no almond flour dough required. Built for keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and vegetarian keto eaters who want pizza without preheating an oven.
Why This Works on Keto
Traditional pizza crust runs 30-40g of carbs per slice. This zucchini base drops that to 3g per full pizza by using grated, salt-drained zucchini bound with egg and a small hit of grated parmesan and mozzarella.
Cooking in a nonstick pan with a lid on medium-low steams the top while crisping the bottom, no oven required. Toppings stay keto-friendly: sugar-free tomato sauce (2g carbs per 2 tbsp), fresh mozzarella, basil.
Total carb breakdown per serving: 3g from the crust, 1g from sauce, 1g from any veg topping. Macro split lands near 70% fat, 20% protein, 10% carbs.
For more on this topic, check out our guide on keto avocado smoothie.
Pan Fried Zucchini Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- Olive oil 1 tbsp
- Almond flour 2 tbsp
- Egg 1 pcs., medium
- Zucchini 1, medium
- Parsley 1/2 cup, chopped
Topping
- White cheddar cheese 1 cup, shredded
- Baby spinach 15-20 leaves
- Cherry tomato 4 cherries
- Paprika to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the zucchini well, peel it into strips, and grate it. Now, put the grated zucchini in a deep bowl. Crack an egg, beat it, and add it to the zucchini. Then add parsley, almond flour, and some black pepper. Mix well.
- Preheat a non-stick pan on the smallest burner of the stove. Add ½ tsp of olive oil to the pan. After the olive oil is heated, add the zucchini mixture, spread it in the pan, and fry it on low heat, then increase the heat until it browns. If the pizza base moves as a whole when you lightly shake the pan and the cooked side turns golden brown, turn it upside down now.
- Add the remaining 1/2 tbsp of olive oil to the pan before flipping it. If you’re a beginner, lift the pizza base with a fork to turn it over, place a plate underneath, and flip it.
- You can now add the toppings. To continue preparing, first spread the shredded cheese on the pizza. Sprinkle paprika, salt, and pepper. Then, arrange the thoroughly washed baby spinach leaves. Finally, arrange the sliced cherry tomatoes. Cover the pan and let it cook until the bottom is golden brown and the cheeses are completely melted.
- Transfer the zucchini pizza to a large plate. Slice it into 4 equal parts like a regular pizza. Let it cool down a bit and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredient Notes
Grate zucchini and salt for 15 minutes to pull water, then squeeze aggressively in a clean towel. This step defines the crust. Wet zucchini equals soggy pizza. Full-fat block mozzarella grated fresh, not pre-shredded (pre-shredded contains starch that softens the crust).
Parmesan from a wedge, grated fine, adds structural protein to the batter and helps it hold shape. Sugar-free marinara: Rao’s Homemade at 4g carbs per 1/2 cup is the gold standard; Primal Kitchen and Otamot are also clean. Skip Prego, Ragu, and generic jarred sauces that add 8-12g sugar per serving.
Fresh basil, fresh mozzarella for the topping (drain water beads from the fresh mozzarella before topping).
Tips and Variations
Whisk 2 eggs into 1 cup squeezed grated zucchini plus 1/4 cup grated mozzarella plus 2 tbsp grated parmesan plus salt and pepper. Heat a 10-inch nonstick pan on medium with 1 tbsp olive oil. Pour the batter and spread into a 9-inch round, 1/4 inch thick.
Cover and cook 5 minutes until the bottom is golden and the top has set. Flip carefully with a wide spatula, add sauce, cheese, and toppings, cover again for 3-4 minutes until cheese melts. Rest 2 minutes before slicing.
For a dairy-free version, replace mozzarella with 1/4 cup nutritional yeast plus 2 tbsp cashew cream and skip the parmesan; add 1 tbsp ground flax to help the batter bind. For higher-protein, add 2 oz cooked crumbled sausage or 3 oz shredded chicken on top.
For vegetarian keto, top with roasted red pepper (2 tbsp only for carb control), sliced olives, and fresh arugula. For a spicier version, brush the finished pizza with chili oil and top with red pepper flakes.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftover slices up to 2 days in a sealed container. Reheat in a hot dry pan for 3 minutes covered, or in a 400F oven for 6 minutes. Microwaving turns the crust flabby. Not recommended for freezing; the crust weeps water on thaw.
