If you are looking for a new family dinner this Keto Meatball Casserole should be it. Juicy, flavorful meatballs baked until golden and then covered with tomato sauce and cheese. My low carb Meatball Parmesan Casserole was a hit with my family and should be a hit with yours.
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When I was in college I was still a vegetarian. One of my favorite meals from the dining hall takeout was a vegetarian Italian meatball parmesan sub. I have no idea what those "meat"balls were made of, and I probably don't want to know, but it was terriffic.
It was smothered in tomato sauce and topped with provolone. I'd look forward to Tuesdays so I could get dining hall take-out and my favorite meatball parmesan sub. Almost fifteen years later that is the only dining hall food I recall and that is my inspiration for my cheesy meatball casserole.
This casserole with meatballs was a perfect substitute. I could eat this Italian meatball casserole recipe once a week for the rest of my life and never get sick of it. And my whole family would agree. We enjoy it with a side salad, vegetables, or any of the main low carb pasta options out there such as palm noodles and zoodles. This easy family dinner is also low carb, gluten-free, grain-free, and a THM S recipe.
Ingredients
To make this meatball casserole you only need a handful of common ingredients:
Ground Meat - I typically use ground turkey but ground beef, ground pork, or ground chicken work as well.
Ground Sausage - I use sweet Italian sausage but hot Italian sausage is fine or a combination of the two. If you are doing low carb or keto just watch for added sugar in the sausage.
Egg - The egg is the binder in this in addition to the grated parmesan cheese.
Shredded Zucchini - You can't taste it and it gives a lot of moisture to the meatballs.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese - You can also use a blend of Italian cheese.
Keto Marinara Sauce - I like to make my own but any pasta sauce or tomato sauce without added sugar is fine.
Spices - I prefer to use dried onion, garlic, and basil in these. You can use Italian seasoning in place of the basil if you prefer the flavor of that.
Salt & Pepper
How to make a Keto Meatball Casserole
Step One: I just dump all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix it by hand. In the photo above you can see all the different layered ingredients for the low carb meatballs in my meatball parmesan. For a bowl of raw meat, it looks pretty nice.
Step Two: Next, scoop the meatballs. You should end up with 24 meatballs. Bake in a baking dish coated with cooking spray until they are almost completely cooked. I shoot for 150-155 on my meat thermometer.
Step Three: Top with sauce and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and finish baking. For the best golden brown cheese on top broil the low carb meatball casserole for 2-3 minutes, watching it carefully.
Expert Tip - you can make the Italian meatballs ahead of time, cook until fully cooked, and then freeze the cooked meatballs in a freezer bag. Just place the frozen meatballs in the casserole dish, bake until thawed, and then top with the sauce and cheese. This easy prep idea is always a perfect meal on busy weeknights. I don't meal prep much but I do do this.
Leftovers: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Variations
Fresh Basil - If you have fresh basil feel free to mix some into the ground meat mixture, add some to the marinara, or sprinkle on top after baking.
Spices - Swap the dried minced onion and garlic for onion powder and garlic powder, or sub in Italian seasoning.
Common Questions
What should I serve with meatball casserole?
Our family favorite ways to serve this is on top of zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. For any non-keto eaters you can serve with garlic bread or a side of al dente pasta.
Alternatively, you can serve with a side of roasted broccoli or green beans or a green salad.
A Cookie Scoop for Meatballs?
Yup! Here the meatballs are after forming them. I use a large cookie scoop to simplify the process. Since there is no need to get up to your elbows in raw meat this is a great task to get the kids involved in. Mine are pros at scooping low carb meatballs by now. Make sure to also check out the video below.
Do I Have to use Zucchini?
That hidden zucchini in my juicy meatballs is my sneaky mom favorite addition. My kids don't even notice it's in there. If you really want to hide it you can peel the green skin off first.
If you would like to substitute another veggie for the zucchini I would recommend chopped spinach. You can also just leave the green stuff out and serve this with some Caesar salad, green beans, or roasted broccoli. The low carb meatball parmesan will still work.
Can I Freeze Keto Meatballs?
Absolutely! This easy meatball recipe also freezes really well! Go ahead and make a double batch and then next time you want an easy Meatball Casserole just thaw, dump into the baking dish, and cover with sauce and cheese. Meatball Parmesan in a jiffy!
I love to always have a bag of low carb homemade meatballs in the freezer for nights that I don't want to cook. Those and frozen taco meat have saved us from spending too much money on take-out more than once.
What Casserole Dish Should I Use?
I need to give a little shout out to the Emile Henry ceramic company for this beautiful casserole dish. I absolutely love it. It is gorgeous, distributed the heat evenly for this casserole, and washed up in a cinch.
This sausage parmigiana is also a great choice if you need more dinner recipes! Or for a vegetarian version sub in cauliflower and try my Cauliflower Parmesan.
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📖 Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Meatball Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ⅓ cup grated or shredded parmesan
- 1 shredded zucchini about 1 cup
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Casserole Ingredients:
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 8 oz shredded cheese (I used a two cheese pizza blend of mozzarella and provolone)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray
- Combine all the ingredients for the meatballs and mix thoroughly. Make about 24 meatballs and put them in the casserole dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through. Carefully drain the cooking liquid from the casserole dish.
- Top with the sauce and cheese. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Optional: I broiled for 3-4 minutes at the end to toast the cheese. Watch it carefully if you put it under the broiler. The cheese can burn easily.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published September 23, 2016. Revised and Republished April 24, 2023.
Jodi Huggins says
This looks delicious! Can't wait to make it for my family.
Tina says
I forgot to give this a 5 star rating on my earlier comment. It was really delicious, plus easy to make. Tina
Tina says
I just made this the other night and it was really good! I didn't have any ground turkey, so I substituted ground beef, and it still came out delicious. The only thing I will change for next time is to not use quite as much salt. That could be because I used the beef instead, I don't know. Anyway, I will be making this again soon. Thanks for the great recipe! Tina
Christine says
Delicious will definitely make again
Kimmi says
Absolutely delish! Loved it.
Julie Smith says
They look delicious I’m going to try them.
Toni says
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. I will be on a permanent rotating dinner choice from now on. Thank you so much for sharing all your yummy recipes.
Amanda Carroll says
This recipe is SO SO GOOD! It was one of the first low carb recipes I made when I started Keto and we use it SO often. I have used both home made sugar free sauce and regular spaghetti sauce. I've made it as a recovery meal and it went over so so well. We have 4 young kids in my house and I always joke that this recipe is "6 Carrolls Approved" because it is so rare when that happens. My kids will usually eat some bread on the side or this or even some pasta noodles, but it's not really needed. It heats up so well for days too! This is the TOP recipe I recommend to people that start keto/low carb and have no idea what to make. It feels like it would be hard but it's so easy when you actually do it. My trick for my kids is I peel off the green from the outside of the zucchini....they know it's in there now but at first they just thought it was cheese. I LOVE THIS RECIPE!!
Teresa Dimmitt says
Easy to prepare and yummy! Will definitely make this again. Another winner from Taryn's kitchen. Served with Penne Pasta made from Chickpeas. Banza brand.
Sydney says
I don't comment on recipes often unless they are amazing...and after numerous successes and happy filled tummies, I must say....THANK YOU! Used homemade marinara, seasoned regular sausage with an Italian herb blend and fennel, etc, our own eggs from our free range chickens and mwahhh, that's me kissing you, 💋
Rebecca Buck says
Do I have to use the Italian sausage? Will it work ok with say ground turkey and ground pork?
Taryn says
It will work but you may want to add a little extra seasoning. Ground sausage is flavored already.
Danielle says
Can i reheat these in an air fryer?
Taryn says
I haven't tried that but you should be able to reheat in the air fryer.
Sandra says
This recipe was a winner with the family! We are just starting Keto and this recipe is definitely a repeat for us! Thank you so much!!!!
Honey says
Oh YES YES YES! This is my families fav keto meal. I am the only keto in the Fam but they eat my food. They scream for joy when I tell them I’m making these meatballs. I use heaps of fresh basil throughout instead of dried. I also use a passatta but pimp it up with onions, garlic salt and of course more fresh basil. I reduce till the passatta is super super tasty.
Thank you for this awesome recipe
Leighanna says
These are delicious and a family pleaser! Easy to make and have been a go to at our home!
Angela says
I made this for my family and they loved it.
Rose says
I love this! I’ve made it several times and it’s attractive and even better - delish! Tonight I sprinkled shredded fresh basil and oregano from my garden, which was a nice addition.
Thanks for posting this - definitely a keeper.
Patricia Foust says
Super easy and delicious!!
Becky says
Delicious! Will make many more times.
Brittany says
Love the flavor of these!!! Definitely will make them again and again!
Romeo A. Macainag says
Tried furst time turned out ok.like burger patty.my wife (diabetic) liked it.tx.