Keto Meatballs in Marinara Sauce : Yummy Low Carb Italian Comfort Meal

Introduction

Meatballs in marinara sauce is a standard Italian dish that is wholesome and tasty, making it ideal for a home-cooked meal. The usual marinara sauce recipes for meatballs are normally packed full of carbs from the breadcrumbs and sugars in the sauce but this keto version is all the flavor without all the carbs.

 No fillers here as almond flour, eggs, cheese and zucchini replace the breadcrumbs of this dish and still the meatballs remain tender. And no sugar is incorporated in the recipe for the sauce, for sweetness it uses ripe tomatoes. 

If you are a rigorous keto diet follower or just want to reduce your carbohydrate intake, these keto meatballs in marinara will be one additional meal to the family’s preferred meals.

Keto Diet Basics

The ketogenic or “keto” diet is extremely low in carbohydrates and high in fats that induce a metabolic state called ketosis in the body where fats are metabolized to generate energy instead of carbohydrates. This state helps in the breakdown of stored fat in the body to enable weight loss and also has other health benefits which include its effect on blood sugar, brain, energy, and inflammation.

 Protein intakes must remain moderate, while carbohydrates should be limited to less than 50 grams a day to maintain ketosis and have high-quality fats make up the majority of calorie consumption. 

In the same way, like with any change in diet, it would be advisable to consult the doctor before adopting the keto diet especially if one has an underlying condition or is taking some medication.

Advantages of Preparing Keto Meatballs and Marinara Sauce

There are several reasons why this recipe for Keto Meatballs in Marinara Sauce is a great meal option while following a ketogenic diet:There are several reasons why this recipe for Keto Meatballs in Marinara Sauce is a great meal option while following a ketogenic diet:

1. The secret of this dish is that it does not have any carbs in it except for some low carb vegetables, and instead of breadcrumbs, almond flour is used, so it keeps you in ketosis and burns fat. Meatballs contain mozzarella cheese while sauce contains olive oil and parmesan cheese ensuring that you have enough beneficial fat to keep your body and brain functioning.
2. Healthy components – The meatballs contain healthy fats and beside the ground beef there are zucchinis and the sauce contains tomatoes and the eggs used to make the meatballs also provide protein. Adding fresh herbs such as parsley, basil and oregano is a way of adding vitamins in preparation.
3.  Meals of meatballs and sauce -This is a perfect example of comfort food as I found a bowlful of the two very comforting. I think this is the reason why it is hard for one to overindulge in food when on the keto diet since the foods are rich in protein and fat.
4.  Super easy – It is pretty easy to whip up the meatballs and the marinara sauce and requires ingredients you probably already have. Cook them during a weeknight or cook them in large portions over the weekend and freeze or portion them and store in your fridge so you can heat them during any night.

Directions for preparing marinated Keto Meatballs in Marinara sauce

This recipe gives us the same taste as the traditional Italian meatballs simmering in a thick, creamy marinara sauce with purely homemade fresh basil; everything becomes keto-friendly by merely replacing a few elements. Best of all, it’s a tasty meal that you can enjoy on any weeknight or bring to entertain guests without spending all evening cooking.

Ingredients:

For the Keto Meatballs:

• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 tbsp grated medium zucchini, well squeezed to remove any juices.
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg lightly beaten
• 1 ts garlic powder
• 1 tsp Italian herb seasoning
• Usually I would add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
•  ¼ to 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
•  Olive oil, especially the virgin olive oil or even the extra virgin olive oil for cooking.

For the Simple Marinara Sauce:For the Simple Marinara Sauce:

• 2 No. 28 canned whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes
• 1 cup of yellow onion of medium size, chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• Prepare and use the following ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
• 1⁄4 cup red wine is also used at this step which is optional.
• 3 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh parsley
• It can be prepared using 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil-Absolutes of dried herbs are used in culinary measurements.
• 1 bay leaf
• As needed, salt and pepper
• Parmesan cheese, freshly grated using small holes of the grater for sprinkling.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1. Make the Keto Meatballs:

Mix ground beef, grated zucchini, almond flour, parmesan cheese, eggs and spices (garlic powder through black pepper) in a large container. Stir well until evenly distributed throughout the mixture using your hands. Divide the mixture into small portions the size of golf balls and then put it in the baking sheet lined with papers.

 Depending on the size of the meatballs you should have between 15 and 18 in total.

2. Prepare the Marinara Sauce:

Place the canned whole peeled tomatoes that include their juice into the jar of a blender or a food processor. First, stir in chopped onion, garlic, olive oil, red wine if you are using it, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, bay leaf and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Blend until smooth.

3. Cook the Meatballs:

Take 1 tablespoon of olive oil on a large skillet and set it on medium high heat. If necessary, do it in portions so that several meatballs are not crowded in the pan. Continue browning, about 2-3 minutes on each side. 

Some of the ground beef might stick to the surface of the skillet when it is ready to be turned; when this happens, transfer the meatballs to a plate.

4. Simmer the Sauce & Meatballs:Simmer the Sauce & Meatballs:

Return the marinara sauce into the same skillet that the sautéed vegetables were cooked in. Place a few pieces of meatball equally in the sauce and then put some sauce over them. After that let the sauce simmer very gently. Stir and cover, and let it cook for 15 minutes then flip the meatballs over in the sauce halfway through. 

Stir in the remaining meatballs and let cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until the meatballs are no longer pink in the center and the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency; add the reserved meatballs to the pan occasionally as there is space, and gently stir to coat them in the sauce. Discard bay leafs.

5. Serve Immediately:

Meatballs and marinara sauce should be warm; you can serve it over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash if you prefer. Serve with ground freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil leaves. Even though this is low carb comfort food, you can still enjoy it!

Some helpful advice that may help the preparation of the keto meatballs in marinara sauce to be more efficient and successful are as follows:

• Substitute the ground beef with Italian sausage to add flavor or you can use all turkey or all chicken.
• Make meatballs golf ball size for appetizers or if it will be the main course, meatball size should be larger.
• One can bake these meatballs at 375°F on a parchment lined sheet until browned and firm before adding them to the sauce if desired.
• A level of flexibility to the spices used in the meatballs and the sauce
• Replace half of the almond flour with crushed pork rinds that have been process into breadcrumbs
• For a quicker sauce, use the canned diced tomatoes instead of the whole ones.
• If used, simmer sauce and meatballs for a longer period for a thicker consistency.
• Add chopped or diced zucchini or mushrooms into the sauce for the final five minutes.
• Spoon over cooked spaghetti squash strands or zucchini noodles for added vegetables to the dish

More Delicious Keto-Friendly Recipes

If you love Italian food but want to stick to low carb eating, these keto-friendly recipes deliver on flavor and nutrition without the excess carbs:If you love Italian food but want to stick to low carb eating, these keto-friendly recipes deliver on flavor and nutrition without the excess carbs:

Keto Chicken Parmesan – All the deliciousness of breaded chicken parmesan minus the carbs due to baked chicken cutlets, finished off with marinara sauce, and melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella.

Keto Eggplant Lasagna – When aimed at low carb vegetarian lasagna, thin slices of eggplant work great, as they replace the noodles here; the dish is filled with marinara sauce, ricotta cheese filling, and melted mozzarella.

Keto Chicken Cacciatore – Chicken thighs slowly cooked in a rich sauce with peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, olives and herbs makes for a delicious, Italian dish in a single pan.

Keto Pesto Zoodles – For lighter meal, zucchini noodles which are made from spiralizing vegetables are combined with a quick pesto sauce made keto friendly by using avocado oil instead of vegetable oil

It is virtually easy to cook lots of marvelous Italian meals which are suitable for consumption under the keto diet plan. The following is the simple recipe for Ketogenic meatballs in marinara sauce that you can make easily and it will be healthy enough to provide the feel of homely cooking to your family.

 The tender and juicy meatballs combined with the hearty, savory tomato sauce are soon going to be your go-to meals for keto!