Keto Italian Meatball Casserole
This Italian Meatball Casserole is a super simple dinner with your crockpot doing all the hard work. All you need to do is combine the ground beef, coconut flour, cheeses, and spices; in just a few hours, you’ll have a hearty but low-carb keto meatball casserole. This keto casserole is perfect for family dinners, game days, and get-togethers with friends!
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. This recipe is so versatile; if you don’t own a crockpot, you can still bake this casserole; you can change ground beef out with ground turkey! This recipe will quickly become one of your favorites.
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 noodles.
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 – Acts as a binder, so all the ingredients stay 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; spaghetti sauce also adds moisture to the keto meatballs.
- Seasonings– Use as directed and then taste test.
Steps to make Keto Italian Meatball Casserole:
Step 1: Combine all ingredients except the low-carb spaghetti sauce, mozzarella, and basil. Stir the mixture until combined.
Step 2: Place a cast-iron skillet on medium heat on the stove, and cover the bottom of the skillet with coconut or olive oil.
Step 4: When the oil gets hot, scoop meatballs with a small 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 them in the bottom of a crockpot, and pour the low-carb spaghetti sauce over the top of the keto 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. Make sure to spray the casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray, so you can easily scoop out the meatball casserole.
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. Once out of the oven sprinkle with parsley and enjoy!
Yum! This keto meatball casserole is 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 will fry up the meatballs until the outside has a nice brown crust before adding to a casserole dish.
- Use a 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 it 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.
How to Store Keto Italian Meatball Casserole?
Allow the leftovers to come to room temperature, and then put them into an airtight container. They can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days. To reheat, add the keto meatball casserole to a saucepan on medium heat and cook to warm through, or place in a microwave at 30-second intervals.
Can You Make these Italian Meatballs Ahead of Time?
Yes. If you want 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.
In addition, you can also forgo cooking them in a skillet, freeze them as raw meatballs, and then brown them once you are ready to cook.
What do I Serve it With?
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 make wonderful low-carb side dishes.
- Serve over steamed riced cauliflower or zucchini zoodles for more of a pasta dish feel.
What Kind of Topping go with this Keto Italian Casserole?
Fresh parmesan is always a big hit. But you can also add diced onions, parsley, and even some fresh basil and chives. As long as the toppings are low carb, they should be fine to add.
Mor 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
