Baked Low Carb Keto Spaghetti Casserole (Quick & Easy)

 

Baked Keto Spaghetti Casserole is the perfect alternative for your pasta cravings. Traditionally, Italian dishes are loaded with carbs, but you don’t have to miss out on your favorite dishes while eating a keto or low-carb diet! This dish is the perfect Keto comfort food!

I love spaghetti. It is always a go-to at our house for an easy weeknight meal. Since I always keep ground beef browned in my freezer, this Baked Low Carb Spaghetti Casserole comes together quickly on busy evenings when I really don’t feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

It does take a little getting used to spaghetti squash as a low-carb, gluten-free pasta. alternative if you haven’t tried it. I will never say, it is “JUST LIKE THE REAL THING,” I’ve been tricked by that before with mashed cauliflower and mashed potatoes. Instead, it is a good substitute, and it really tastes delicious.

Ingredients

• Ground beef – I prefer to use 80/20 to add extra fat to this dish. You can also use ground Italian sausage or ground turkey for a low-carb substitute if you do not like ground beef.
• Onions – Onions add flavor and a little extra texture but can be left out to reduce carbs.
• Spaghetti squash – Spaghetti squash is a fabulous low-carb pasta alternative to noodles, and it is super delicious!
• Olive oil: Adds flavor to the spaghetti squash when roasting and allows the salt and pepper to stick to the squash.
• Parmesan and mozzarella cheese – Add to the top of the casserole for that delicious baked spaghetti flavor.

Below you’ll find a step-by-step pictorial for those who prefer visuals. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card with the detailed ingredients and instructions.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350, cut up your onion, add it to the large skillet with ground beef and cook until browned; drain the ground beef and add it back to the pan.

Tip: I keep ground beef already browned in my freezer in gallon freezer bags. I buy ground beef in bulk and brown all at once. Easy meal prep like this makes dinners much easier and saves a ton of time.

Step 2: Add low-carb marinara sauce to the skillet with ground beef on medium heat and stir occasionally. If your sauce becomes too thick, add beef broth until it reaches your desired consistency.

Low Carb Spaghetti or Pizza Sauce Options Without Any Added Sugar

• Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce – 4g net carbs per ½ cup
• Rao’s Homemade Tomato BasilSauce– 3g net carbs per ½ cup
• Lucini Italia Organic Tuscan Marinara Sauce – 3g net carbs per ½ cup
• Lucini Italia Organic Rustic Tomato Basil – 3g net carbs per ½ cup
• Mezzetta Napa Valley Homemade Marinara – 6g net carbs per ½ cup
• ALDI Simply Selected Premium Marinara – 5g net carbs per ½ cup
• Victoria Trading Company Marinara Sauce – 5g net carbs per 1/2 cup

Step 3: Cut the spaghetti squash in half and then use a spoon to scrape all the seeds. Coat the squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper, place skin side up on the pan, and roast. My family likes our spaghetti squash to be more al dente, so if you prefer yours to be softer, adjust the time accordingly. Once it has finished roasting, use a fork to shred the inside of the squash into strands for a spaghetti noodles substitute.

This next step is crucial! Place the roasted spaghetti squash on paper towels to squeeze out the moisture so that the keto spaghetti casserole will not be watery when it is baked. This step is VERY IMPORTANT.

Tip: Spaghetti squash is extremely tough to cut. To make this process easier, pierce the outside of the squash with a fork or knife several times and throw it in the microwave for approximately 3-5 minutes. This will soften the skin and make it easier to cut. For more detailed instructions, How to RoastSpaghetti Sauce is a fantastic, thorough resource.

Step 4: Place the spaghetti sauce as the bottom layer in a 9×9 baking dish that has already been greased.

If it seems watery at all, drain it again on paper towels before adding the sauce.

Step 5: Next, spoon the low-carb meat sauce over the squash.

Step 6: Add the mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning to the casserole and bake. Garnish with oregano and Enjoy!

I always top my casserole with fresh or dried parsley. It really gives it a restaurant-style homemade look.

How To Make This Ahead of Time

This baked keto spaghetti casserole can easily be made in advance! Follow all of the steps of assembling the casserole but hold off on baking. Instead, store in the refrigerator covered until you are ready to bake. Bake time may be a little longer coming out of the cold refrigerator, so keep that in mind! You may want to set it out on the counter for a bit before baking, so it isn’t quite as cold going into the oven.

Can I Make Homemade Pasta Sauce

Yes! The homemade meat sauce is often lower in carbs; however, it is not always the most convenient option for my family, so I often use jarred. If you want to make your own low-carb marinara sauce, here is one of my favorite recipes, Keto spaghetti sauce.

What do I serve with it?

• Keto Cheesy Garlic Chaffle Bread
• Keto Cheesy Breadsticks
• Steamed Broccoli
• Fresh Leafy Garden Salad

More Easy Keto Casserole Recipes

• Easy Spaghetti Sauce Lasagna Boats
• The BEST Easy Keto Baked Italian Sausage
• Keto Italian Meatball Casserole