This Italian Meatball Casserole is a super simple dinner that has your crockpot doing all the hard work. All you need to do is combine the ground beef, coconut flour, cheeses, and spices, and in just a few hours, you’ll have a hearty but low carb keto meatball casserole. It’s perfect for any time of year.
HOW TO MAKE THIS KETO MEATBALL CASSEROLE
I love this Italian meatball casserole because it’s really simple to make. I had made BBQ meatballs before, so I knew it would be easy to make a couple of changes to the recipe to make keto/low carb Italian Meatballs. Usually, Italian Meatballs are served over noodles, but instead of making a noodle substitute, we just ate them right out of the casserole dish with a side of buttery broccoli.
If you’d like to eat with a keto/low carb noodle substitute, you could serve it over spaghetti squash (how to roast a spaghetti squash here) or with zucchini zoodles.
If you like this low carb meatball recipe, make certain to check out this Lazy Keto Chicken Parmesan Casserole {low carb} as well. It’s another easy casserole recipe that packs in the taste.
Ingredients:
- Ground Beef – I used 80/20 ground beef, but you could also sub ground turkey instead
- Cheeses– Parmesan and mozzarella cheese make this taste amazing.
- Coconut flour – Binds the ingredients together. You can sub almond flour instead.
- Eggs – Mix with the coconut flour to make the meatballs form properly
- Low Carb Spaghetti Sauce – Make certain it’s sugar-free as well.
- Seasonings– Use as directed and then taste test.
Steps to make Keto Italian Meatball Casserole:
Step 1: Combine all ingredients except the last three ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
Step 2: Heat a cast-iron skillet on medium on the stove.
Step 3: Cover the bottom of the skillet with ¼ inch coconut oil. You could also use olive oil or lard.
Step 4: When the oil gets hot, scoop meatballs with a cookie scoop into hot oil and brown. If you prefer, you can form the meatballs into balls by hand, but I have found that using a cookie scoop or ice scoop is easier.
Step 5: Once the meatballs are browned, place in the bottom of a crockpot.
Step 6: Pour a low carb spaghetti sauce on top of the meatballs. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low 4-5 hours.
Low Carb Marinara Sauce Options without any added sugars:
- Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce – 4g net carbs per ½ cup
- Rao’s Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce – 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 Sauce Marinara – 6g net carbs per ½ cup
- ALDI Simply Selected Premium Marinara – 5g net carbs per ½ cup
Step 7: Scoop out meatballs into a casserole dish.
Step 9: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese then basil on top. Then, broil in the oven on the top rack for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble and brown.
Yum! This keto meatball casserole is absolutely delish! It has so much flavor after slow cooking all day in the crock-pot.
KETO MEATBALL RECIPE TIPS
- Even though this simple meatball recipe is ultimately cooked in the crockpot, there is a portion to cook in a cast-iron pan as well. You’re going to fry up the meatballs until the outside has a nice brown crust before adding to a casserole dish.
- Use a big cookie scoop or ice cream scoop and pack the meatball tightly against the side of the bowl before dropping it into the oil to fry. This makes is so much easier and it’s not as messy.
- If you’re worried that they have a lot of grease on them after cooking in the oil, you can place them on a napkin to soak some of it up.
CAN YOU MAKE THESE ITALIAN MEATBALLS AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes. If you’re wanting to save a little bit of time and meal prep for later, you can make the meatballs and cook them up in your skillet and have them waiting in the fridge to add to the slow cooker. Slow cooker meatballs can be cooked later after you’ve done minimal prep.
WHAT DO I SERVE WITH IT?
This is such a simple and easy meal in itself and
- Serve as is with a simple leafy garden salad and Keto Cheesy Garlic Chaffle Bread.
- Roasted broccoli, asparagus, or keto air-fryer roasted green beans all make wonderful low carb side dishes.
- Serve over steamed riced cauliflower or zucchini zoodles for more of a pasta dish feel.
WHAT KIND OF TOPPINGS GO WELL WITH THIS KETO MEATBALL CASSEROLE?
Fresh parmesan is always a big hit. But you can also add diced onions, fresh jalapenos, and even some cilantro and chives too. As long as the toppings are low carb, they should be fine to add.
MORE LOW CARB DINNER RECIPES:
If you love our simple keto meatball casserole, then I know you will enjoy checking out all of my family’s favorite recipes in my Keto Recipes Index. With tons of delicious sweet and savory options perfect for the keto diet, you will love this tool. I’ve shared a few more favorites below for a quick start to your menu!
How to Make Keto Meatball Casserole
Italian Meatball Casserole {Keto/Low Carb}
Ingredients
- 1¼ lb Ground Beef 80/20
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 2 eggs
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp minced onion
- ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 24 oz jar low carb spaghetti sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon basil to sprinkle on top of cheeses
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the last three ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
- Heat a cast iron skillet on medium on the stove.
- Cover the bottom of the skillet with ¼ inch coconut oil.
- When the oil gets hot, scoop meatballs with a cookie scoop into hot oil and brown.
- Once the meatballs are browned, place in the bottom of a crock pot.
- Pour spaghetti sauce on top of the meatballs.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low 4-5.
- Scoop out meatballs into a casserole dish.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese then basil on top.
- Broil in the oven on the top rack for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble and brown.
Notes
Low Carb Pizza Sauce Options without any added sugars:
- Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce – 4g net carbs per ½ cup
- Rao’s Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce – 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 Sauce Marinara – 6g net carbs per ½ cup
- ALDI Simply Selected Premium Marinara – 5g net carbs per ½ cup
Nutrition
