High-Protein Creamy Sausage Tomato Bake

Italian sausage in a melted cheese sauce with roasted cherry tomatoes — low carb and keto-friendly

This high-protein creamy sausage tomato bake is a skillet-to-oven bowl of browned sausage, cream cheese, and mozzarella. Cherry tomatoes roast on top until they blister, just like the photo. Each serving has 32 g of protein and 5 g net carbs.

Low carb, sugar-free, and keto-friendly — no pasta.

Prep10 min

Cook25 min

Servings4

Protein32g

Net Carbs5g

Calories420

Why you’ll love this bake

32g protein per serving
Only 5g net carbs
No pasta
Keto-friendly
Sausage and melted cheese
Cherry tomatoes on top

Health notes

High protein: Italian sausage plus mozzarella.
Low carb: Cream sauce instead of noodles.
Sugar-free: No jarred sweet marinara.
One pan: Brown, sauce, then bake.

Key element — drain the sausage

Extra grease makes the cheese sauce split. Pour off most of the fat after browning, then build the cream sauce in the same pan.

Ingredients

Bake (4 servings)

1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot), casings removed
4 oz cream cheese, cubed
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup chicken broth
1½ cups shredded mozzarella
¼ cup grated parmesan
1 cup cherry tomatoes
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp chopped parsley

Swaps

Chicken sausage: Leaner, still high protein.
Ground turkey: Add extra Italian seasoning.
Spinach: Wilt a handful into the sauce before baking.
Spicy: Use hot sausage and red pepper flakes.

Instructions

Heat the oven. Heat to 400°F (200°C). Brown the sausage in an oven-safe skillet, breaking it into chunks. Drain most of the fat.

Make the sauce. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in cream cheese, cream, broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth. Mix in half the mozzarella and the parmesan.

Top. Scatter remaining sausage chunks if you pulled some aside, then add cherry tomatoes and the rest of the mozzarella.

Bake. Bake 12–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tomatoes blister. Rest 5 minutes. Finish with parsley.

Pro tips

Leave the tomatoes whole so they stay juicy.
Softened cream cheese melts without lumps.
If the sauce is thick, splash in more broth.
A broiler minute at the end browns the top.
Serve in bowls so you catch the sauce.

Nutrition

Nutrient	Per serving
Calories	420
Protein	32g
Net carbohydrates	5g
Total carbohydrates	6g
Fiber	1g
Total fat	30g
Sodium	780mg

Estimates based on 1 lb Italian sausage, cream cheese, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes, divided into 4 servings. Exact numbers vary with sausage fat percent.

Variations

Pepperoni

Add sliced pepperoni under the cheese.

Mushroom

Sauté sliced mushrooms with the sausage.

Zucchini

Stir in diced zucchini before baking.

Skillet only

Skip the oven and simmer 5 minutes with a lid.

Storage

Method	Time	Notes
Refrigerator	Up to 4 days	Reheat with a splash of cream
Freezer	Up to 2 months	Thaw overnight
Reheat	325°F oven or skillet	Microwave can split the sauce

FAQ

Yes. There is no pasta, so each serving stays around 5g net carbs.

Yes. Add extra Italian seasoning so it still tastes like sausage.

The sausage fat was not drained. Pour most of it off before adding cream cheese.

No. A covered simmer works. Baking blisters the tomatoes like the photo.

Yes, but drain them. Whole cherry tomatoes stay juicier.

Four servings match the per-serving macros on the card.

Test your knowledge

5 quick questions about this sausage tomato bake

1. Protein per serving?

2. Net carbs per serving?

3. What goes on top of the bake?

4. What should you do after browning the sausage?

5. Is this bake keto-friendly?

Creamy Sausage Tomato Bake