Name: Keto Meatball Parmesan Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef or a mix of beef and pork (Use beef for a leaner option.); 1 large egg (Acts as a binder.); 1/3 cup finely crushed pork rinds or almond flour (Pork rinds are preferred for lower carbs.); 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (For flavor and moisture.); 2 tablespoons heavy cream or unsweetened almond milk (Boosts moisture in meatballs.); 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (For flavor.); 1 teaspoon garlic powder (Adds flavor.); 1 teaspoon onion powder (Adds depth of flavor.); 1/2 teaspoon salt (To taste.); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (To taste.); 2 cups low-carb marinara (Choose a no-sugar-added option.); 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (For topping.); Fresh basil or parsley (For garnish.)

Description

A comforting and cheesy low-carb dish featuring tender meatballs and bubbly marinara, perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

1 pound ground beef or a mix of beef and pork (Use beef for a leaner option.)
1 large egg (Acts as a binder.)
1/3 cup finely crushed pork rinds or almond flour (Pork rinds are preferred for lower carbs.)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (For flavor and moisture.)
2 tablespoons heavy cream or unsweetened almond milk (Boosts moisture in meatballs.)
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (For flavor.)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (Adds flavor.)
1 teaspoon onion powder (Adds depth of flavor.)
1/2 teaspoon salt (To taste.)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (To taste.)

For the Casserole

2 cups low-carb marinara (Choose a no-sugar-added option.)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (For topping.)
Fresh basil or parsley (For garnish.)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the Meatballs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine ground meat, egg, pork rinds or almond flour, Parmesan, cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined.
Scoop the mixture into 1 to 1.5 inch balls and place them on the lined baking sheet. You should get around 20 meatballs.
Bake the meatballs for 12 to 14 minutes until browned and just cooked through.

Build and Bake

Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Nestle the baked meatballs in the sauce.
Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. For a golden top, broil for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.

Notes

This casserole can be meal prepped by baking the meatballs ahead of time and then assembling with sauce and cheese on the day of serving. Optionally, you can freeze baked meatballs for later use.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian