Lean & Green Italian Hamburger Pizza Meal (& Optavia Zesty Cheddar & Italian Herb Crunchers Hack)

This is a delicious, flavorful &
satisfying meal❣

Ingredients: 

9 ounces extra lean cooked ground beef

2 cups (8 ounces) grated reduced fat mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup crushed Optavia Zesty Cheddar & Italian Herb Crunchers (1/2 fueling)**

1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan or sea salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend***

1 cup canned petite diced tomatoes (Walmart Great Value Brand ~ no salt added)

1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend***

1/4 cup chopped orange or red bell peppers

1/4 cup chopped yellow bell peppers

1/4 cup chopped regular onion (or 1/2 cup chopped shallots or green onion)

8 slices (1 ounce) sliced turkey pepperoni

4 cups spring lettuce mix

2 cups chopped English cucumber

6 tablespoons Walden Farms salad dressing

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional garnish)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Add the beef, 1 cup of the cheese and the crushed Italian crunchers to a bowl and stir to combine. Add the salt, garlic powder, onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Mix thoroughly together with your hands. Pat into a 10 inch circle on a pizza baking stone, pizza pan or foil lined baking sheet.

Use an immersion or other blender to puree the tomatoes and 1/4 teaspoon Italian spice blend together. Spread on top of the meat. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese, bell peppers and onions evenly over the meat and sauce. Cut the pepperoni slices in half and arrange on top of the pizza.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edge of the meat is crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting into 4 equal segments.

Place one segment on a serving plate. If desired, sprinkle 1/16 teaspoon of crushed red pepper on each pizza portion. Add 1 cup of the lettuce and 1/2 cup of the cucumber to the plate. Drizzle 1 1/2 tablespoons of your favorite Walden Farms dressing on top of the salad. Makes 4 servings. Store leftover portions in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

**I used the Zesty Cheddar & Italian Herb Crunchers, but all of the savory Optavia cruncher fuelings work well as a substitute for bread crumbs.

***I make my own Italian herb blend and keep it on hand in an airtight container. Here is the link to that simple recipe: 

Homemade Italian Blend Seasoning ~ Gluten & Chemical Free  https://carriekitchencreations.blogspot.com/2019/09/homemade-italian-blend-seasoning-gluten.html

Each meal serving equals: 1 lean, 3 green, 1 1/5 condiments & 1/8 fueling

Nutritional info per serving, approximately: 364.6 calories ~ 17.7 grams fat ~ 13.23 grams carbs ~ 11.3 grams net carbs ~ 38.66 grams protein

Notes: This Italian Hamburger Pizza is so delicious ~ my gluten & carb eating husband loved it, too. Very simple to make and definitely a family pleasing meal!