Low Carb Crustless Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza: A Gluten-Free Comfort Food Recipe
Looking for an easy, low carb dinner idea? This crustless bacon chicken ranch pizza is gluten-free, satisfying, and perfect for anyone craving comfort food without the carbs.
Some Days Are Hard... But the Recipes Still Come
Today is one of those days. You know, the ones where you’re not sure how to say what’s on your mind—but you still feel the need to get it out. Lately, I’ve been working on low carb recipes again, and maybe you’re wondering why. Truth is, low carb eating has always been what works best for me when I want to lose weight and feel better overall.
And if you're here for it, I’d love to keep sharing more low carb recipe ideas—easy dishes you can whip up with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Creating Recipes for Strangers (And Friends)
Can I be honest for a minute? Creating recipes for people you don’t know can be... tricky. I’m just your average gal next door, experimenting in her kitchen and hoping the results speak to someone else. I’m not trained as a chef, and I don’t have a team testing each meal. It’s just me, trying something new each week, hoping it turns out and that it helps someone else who’s also navigating a tricky diet or craving a comforting bite.
Sometimes I win, sometimes I fail, and sometimes things don’t go quite as expected. But the experimenting never stops—because this journey has become more than just about food. It’s about connection, comfort, and finding our way together.
Going Gluten-Free: Where It All Began
When I first found out wheat, barley, and rye were no longer welcome in my diet, I was lost. Completely overwhelmed. Gluten-free foods weren’t as common back then, and the learning curve was steep. These days, you can find everything from gluten-free pasta to cookies and breads at your local store. But back then? It felt like wandering through a maze with no map.
I remember reading labels and being shocked by the ingredients—Twizzlers? Chicken salad? Ice cream? Who knew those could have wheat?
It’s a humbling experience to realize how much of our food system is built around ingredients we may not even think about. And for anyone just starting out on a gluten-free journey: I see you. It does get easier.
From Low GI to Low Carb (Again)
After experimenting with the low GI diet, I had to admit... the results were disappointing. I saw some weight loss, but not enough to justify the effort. Meanwhile, my husband cuts out sugary drinks and the pounds just melt off. (Why do men have it so easy when it comes to weight loss?!)
So here I am—back to low carb eating, the approach that has always made me feel my best. It’s not as easy this time around, though. I’m more aware of the health side of things, and yes, I still find myself reaching for bacon. (Let’s keep that between us, okay?)
What's in My Meat? and Grocery Store Surprises
After three years of eating mostly chicken, and with all the food recalls lately, I’ve become picky about my meat. It’s frustrating—plastic in ground meat? Seriously? These days, I try to buy meat in its most basic form. It’s safer, and it gives me more control over what goes on my plate.
I’m still leaning toward white meat, but when I saw that package of bacon in the fridge, I knew I had to use it up. And what better way than in a comforting, cheesy, crustless pizza that checks all the boxes: gluten-free, low carb, satisfying, and family-approved?
Crustless Bacon Chicken Ranch Pizza (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)
This recipe is a winner, friends. Someone local even said it reminded them of Cristy’s Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza—and I’ll be honest, that made my day.
Ingredients:
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3 chicken thighs, cooked and cut into chunks
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1 large green pepper, diced
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1 medium onion, diced
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4 oz cream cheese
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1/3 cup sour cream
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3/4 cup shredded cheese (I used colby jack)
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6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
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1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
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1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/4 teaspoon onion powder
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Salt and pepper to taste
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1/4 cup mozzarella cheese (or more if you like)
Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 375°F.
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In a skillet, cook chicken with diced onion and green pepper until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are tender.
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Reduce heat and stir in cream cheese, sour cream, colby jack cheese, bacon, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until creamy and cheese is melted.
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Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.
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Sprinkle mozzarella over the top.
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Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until top is golden and bubbly.
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Slice and serve hot!
Real Life, Real Food
I didn’t set out to copy anyone’s pizza, but when someone compared this dish to a local favorite, I was flattered. And honestly? I love how this one turned out. It’s creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor—everything I want in comfort food, without the carbs.
And let’s face it, sometimes we just need comfort food that doesn’t derail our goals.
What Do You Think—More Recipes or Something Else?
So tell me—are you along for the ride on this low carb journey with me? Or are you thinking, “Meh… not my thing”?
Some days I hear, "More recipes, please!" and other days it’s all about decorating or upcycling (and yes, sometimes it's shouted at me in all caps—UPCYCLING!) And hey, I get it. That’s part of what makes Vintage Style Gal so fun: it’s a little bit of everything that lights me up.
But I need your input. Should I keep mixing in recipes like this one? Or save them for special occasions?
Let me know in the comments—or shoot me an email if you're shy. Your feedback truly guides what I do here.
Until Next Time…
Thanks for spending a little time with me today. I know this post was a bit of a ramble at the beginning, but sometimes we just need to get the words (and the recipes!) out. I hope this Crustless Bacon Chicken Ranch Pizza brings a little joy to your kitchen, whether you're eating low carb, gluten-free, or just looking for a new dish to try.
Until next time, have a wonderful week, my friend.
Like you, I feel better when I avoid carbs and focus on protein. This recipe is right up my alley, and I would enjoy seeing more low-carb recipes, even though my main interests are DIY and upcycling. I generally avoid looking at pictures of food since I'm perpetually hungry, but this one caught my eye and I will try it after the next trip to the grocery store :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your input J! I hope you enjoy this recipe, we liked it a lot, and I have a recipe next week sharing what I did with the one left over piece. My upcycling seems to even venture over into the kitchen.
DeleteI have to watch my carb intake pretty carefully so this is a brilliant recipe for me! I love chicken, bacon and ranch food items in general, but this looks particularly delicious! I can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy this recipe Molly, I am looking forward to making this recipe again. When I began cooking as a teenager, I just made things up, never knowing what I was doing. As an adult, I started to study recipes so I had a feel on how much to use when it came to spices, and that is how I began making up my own recipes. You could add more veggies to this pizza, I just worked with what I had.
DeleteYea for low carb recipes, Cara! I'm learning how to eat differently too post Covid and Strep and goodness is it confusing! I feel like I'm doing all the right things but really haven't seen a difference in my weight either. It makes me feel totally normal to know you have to try lots of different things before you find the right thing though so I'm thankful that you share your health journey. Big hugs, CoCo
ReplyDeleteI am not always shy about sharing my ups and downs, and other times I am. I know low carb has worked in the past for me, but you're right things have changed so much with my body post covid and vaccine, and with this MCAS at times I am not sure what end is up. I hope you find something that works for her too. It sure is frustrating. My family doc suggested the low GI because it worked for her, but it didn't work for me. I think everyone is different, and you just have to experiment until you find what works for you. Agghhh!
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