I saw one of those recipe videos on Facebook one day last week for Italian Meatballs and I’ve been craving them ever since. Since I had made BBQ meatballs before, I knew it would be easy to make a couple of changes to the recipe to make keto/low carb Italian Meatballs. Since we were spending the day at home, I prepared the meatballs earlier in the day, fried them in oil on the stove to sear in the juices, then popped them in my crock pot with a jar of spaghetti sauce to simmer the rest of the day. Usually, Italian Meatballs are served over noodles, but instead of making a noodle substitute tonight, we just ate them right out of the casserole dish with a side of buttery broccoli. Having been following this way of eating now since May, I don’t even miss the noodles. Crazy huh? I have found it to be true that many of the cravings stop after your body becomes fat adapted. 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.
Italian Meatball Casserole
Here’s a little tip if you like to save as much time when cooking, don’t even worry about rolling out the meatballs. Just get 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. I can’t stand touching raw meat, so this is my lazy girl solution. Also, if you wanted you could skip the last step of browning the cheese in the oven by adding the cheese in the crock pot and allowing it to melt. Personally, I think cooking the meatballs in a casserole dish in the oven is worth it. There is just something about the cheese being all browned that makes it taste so much better.
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.
Nutritional Information per MyFitnessPal app based on 6 servings – 485 calories, 34g fat, 36.9g protein, 5.6g carbs – 1.9g fiber = 3.7g net carbs
Check out all of my Keto Recipes in my Keto Recipe Index.
Yum!
Josh says
Nutrition on this? I’m keeping a carb count a day so I want to know how many carbs and the serving size. If it’s not too much trouble
Kasey says
Nutritional info is included on the recipe card.
Corrie says
Just wanted to say how delicious this was!! Also, is the nutritional information for the entire recipe or per serving. Fitness pal says 1 recipe so i just wanted to clarify!!! Thank you!!!
Kasey says
Glad you enjoyed! Nutritional information is per serving.
FamgirlShay says
I absolutely LOOVVEE this recipe, family asks for it multiple times a month!! I add fresh chopped onions and usually make larger portions because they devour it! Thankyou for sharing this!
Kasey says
Perfect! So glad everyone loves it.
Tracy says
I’m gonna try it this soooo excited!!!! Wish me luck ladies
Shawna B says
I made this tonight and should have already though comments. I had forgotten this was a crockpot recipe so into the pressure cooker mine went to get the same outcome in less time. I cooked for about 20 mins on medium heat and it was all good and tender! GREAT recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Kasey says
Glad you enjoyed it!!
Tracy says
Did you still brown the meatballs in the stove? And then just combine everything in the instapot, I’m gonna do it that way.
Tiffany says
Do you brown the meatballs until completely done in the center or until they’re just brown?
Kasey says
No, just the outside.
Michelle Bolden-Butler says
I am confused one part of the recipe says coconut flour the other says coconut oil is it both?
Kasey says
Coconut flour is in the recipe, coconut oil is used in the pan before cooking the meatballs.
Penny says
Love this- I make it all the time! I brown the balls and then cook it all in the oven.
Kasey says
Glad you enjoyed!
Shari says
How long do you cook it in the oven
Kasey says
I’m not sure. I’ve only made this recipe as is.
Renee says
I just baked this in the oven at 350° for about 30 min, then topped with the cheese and broiled as directed. The family loved it! Browning the meatballs first is key 😉
I should note that I more than doubled the recipe, though — I used 3lbs ground beef and adjusted the recipe accordingly — so your cooking time may vary.
Thanks so much for this recipe!
Kirsten says
How long do you cook them in the oven for and at what temp?
Peggy says
This recipe has become a staple in my house. Perfect. No noodles required.
Kasey says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed!
Leslie says
I didn’t read all of the instructions before beginning to make the meatballs that it was a crockpot recipe. Not having hours to spend – I decided to make it in my foodi ninja instead. I followed the instructions up to putting in the crock pot, I instead put them in my foodi. I also didn’t have spaghetti sauce so I used pizza sauce. I set the foodi to pressure cook on high for 15 mins. After it finished I did a quick release on the pressure. Then sprinkled the cheese (a mixture of provolone and mozzarella) and the basil on top and used the air fryer lid to broil it for 3 mins. It turned out PERFECT. Thank you for the recipe. The meatballs are great on their own but served over some zucchini noodles would probably make it that much better 🙂 DELICIOUS!
Kasey says
Awesome! I love the Foodi Ninja!! Glad it turned out so good!
Lisa says
This recipe is amazing! The entire family enjoyed it! I think it’s now my new favourite! Thanks for posting such great recipes!
Kasey says
Thanks so much!! Glad your family enjoyed it!!
Pauline says
Can you use frozen meatballs?pauline
Kasey says
I haven’t tried them but that would be your call.
Ann says
Can I use almond flour instead of coconut flour?
Mary Trenum says
Sure
Tami says
Definitely a keeper! Even the hubs who is not Keto loved it and wants it again🙌🏻🥰
Dena says
Thanks I love this recipe
.Kasey says
You’re welcome. I’m glad you love it!
Jenny says
Do you think I could just mix and roll the meatballs and leave in the fridge until ready to cook? I am meal prepping for the week and wanted to make them on Tuesday night.
Thanks!
Kasey says
I would think they would be fine but I’ve never personally tried making them in advance.
Karen says
What spaghetti sauce do you use?
.Kasey says
Rao’s or Mezzetta. Can fine both at Walmart.
Leslie says
Recipe did not disappoint!! How many meatballs in one serving?
.Kasey says
The nutritional info is for six servings. You will just need to do the math, according to how many meatballs you make.
Kathy H says
This is in the crock pot right now but I can already tell this will be a keeper, smells so good I can’t wait until dinner! Thanks for all the great recipes you provide us, they are appreciated!