A delicious Italian meal is perfect for any time of the year. A bowl of spaghetti with low-carb spaghetti meat sauce is just what you need!
LOW-CARB MEAT SAUCE INGREDIENTS
Before you try to make this recipe, you’ll want to make sure you have the following ingredients on hand first.
Note, this does include the ingredients you will need to make the tomato sauce as well. You can find that recipe here.
- 2 lbs ground beef, fat content of choice
- 46 oz canned San Marzano tomatoes, whole
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp onions, minced
- 4 leaves fresh basil, chopped
- 1/8 tsp fresh oregano, finely chopped
- kosher salt, to taste
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
HOW TO MAKE LOW-CARB SPAGHETTI MEAT SAUCE
- Begin by making the tomato sauce (same as our Low-Carb Copycat Rao’s Marinara Sauce)
- Remove the tomatoes from the cans, reserving the juice
- Using your hands, gently crush the tomatoes, removing cores, stems, and any tomato skin pieces you may find
- In a pot or saucepan, place the olive oil over medium heat
- Gently saute the minced garlic and onion until fragrant (about 30 seconds)
- Add the crushed tomatoes, juice included, and bring to a boil over high heat
- As soon as the mixture boils, reduce the heat and simmer for two hours, stirring every little bit
- Around the hour and a half mark, add the oregano and basil
- If you prefer a smoother sauce (like we do) you can use an immersion blender to blend the sauce quickly and easily
- Add salt and pepper to taste, regardless of blending or leaving chunky
- In a non-stick skillet, brown ground beef and drain fat that cooks out
- Add browned beef to the tomato sauce
- Serve and enjoy!
WHAT KIND OF GROUND BEEF SHOULD I USE?
Ideally, for a low-carb or keto diet, you want to aim for using higher-fat meats. Generally, a 70/30 ground beef would be the best for a recipe such as this.
Fatty meats, however, do cook down a lot more since there is more fat to cook out. While this isn’t a huge deal, that simply means however much you’re using doesn’t go as. far.
For instance, one pound of 70/30 ground beef might cook down to 3/4 of a pound or less.
Ground beef that is lower in fat will end up being more meat and less fat after browned but is more expensive.
Really, the choice is yours.
WHAT NOODLES CAN BE USED WITH THIS MEAT SAUCE?
Of course, you’ll want to eat this delicious spaghetti sauce overtop some kind of noodle. Below are several different types of noodles you might want to choose from.
SHIRATAKI NOODLES
We recommend using shirataki noodles. If you aren’t familiar with them, these noodles are made from the root of konjac yam. The word shirataki itself means white waterfall, which is a very accurate description of the appearance of the noodles.
In the United States, these noodles are normally found packaged in water. They are great for those on keto/low-carb diets because they are made up of water and glucomannan, which is a soluble fiber. They are very, very low in digestible carbohydrates.
As a note of caution, be wary of shirataki noodles that contain all kinds of added ingredients. Some of the newer brands contain several non-keto ingredients as fillers instead of just the main shirataki ingredients.
ZUCCHINI NOODLES (ZOODLES)
If you prefer to not use shirataki noodles, using zucchini noodles (also known as zoodles) is the next best option. These noodles can easily be made using a spiralizer with a zucchini.
There are, however, some other harder methods to make zoodles.
One piece of advice is to salt the zoodles lightly. Let sit for about three minutes, then pat dry. Depending on how much water content the zucchini has, this can help draw out some of the moisture and make the noodles hold up better, especially when cooked.
You can find lots of information over at Living Well Mom on some different methods of making zoodles.
“LOW-CARB” OR “KETO” PASTAS
This is the worst type of noodle you should consider using and should be used as a “last ditch” alternative. There is an increasing number of pasta brands that tout themselves as “keto” or “low-carb.”
While some can deliver on some of their promises, most use sketchy science to lower their carbohydrate content.
As a general rule, you should steer clear of these types of products as they are full of false promises. If nothing else, they are also full of questionable fillers and other ingredients.
Having said that, if there is a brand of this pasta that you use and it works for you on your keto/low-carb journey, then, by all means, use it. We are all different and our bodies can tolerate different things and still lose weight.
However, if you have never tried these kinds of pasta before, it is best to not start.
STORING LEFTOVER LOW-CARB SPAGHETTI SAUCE
Storing your leftover low carb spaghetti meat sauce is super easy and simple!
As we always suggest, use glass storage containers for containers that are not only versatile but can be used in the oven and microwave as well.
Obviously, you can use whatever storage containers you may have on hand.
Place the leftovers into the refrigerator where they can stay for 3 – 4 days. If you don’t eat them within that timeframe, it’s probably best to discard them.
REHEATING LOW-CARB SPAGHETTI MEAT SAUCE
Reheating this sauce couldn’t be easier! There are a couple of quick ways you can reheat your leftover sauce.
REHEATING IN THE MICROWAVE
The quickest and easiest way to reheat your leftover sauce is in the microwave. To do this, simply spoon out the amount you are wanting to reheat onto a plate or into a bowl and place it in the microwave.
Microwave on high for 1 minute, stirring at the 30-second mark. Remove from the microwave, check to ensure it is heated through, and eat.
If the sauce needs more time, heat in 15-second increments until it reaches your desired temperature.
REHEATING ON THE STOVE
The second method to reheat your spaghetti sauce is on the stovetop. This way the sauce is heated more slowly and gives you the ability to stir as you go.
To reheat on the stove, put the leftover sauce into a skillet or saucepan and place it over medium heat.
Every few minutes, stir the sauce. Continue to stir and heat until it’s heated through and to your personal temperature preference.
Remove from the heat and serve!
USING THE OVEN
If you’d like to heat your sauce more slowly, you can use your oven. It will give you a deliciously warm sauce that’s been heated through.
Preheat your oven to 350˚F and place your meat sauce into an oven-safe baking sheet. Heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then check for the desired temperature.
If the sauce isn’t heated through yet, continue to heat in the oven in four-minute increments until the desired level of temperature is reached.
WHAT TO EAT WITH LOW-CARB SPAGHETTI MEAT SAUCE
A delicious Italian meal is perfect for any night, any time of the year. A nice warm bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce is just what the doctor ordered!
Here are a few things you might consider having with this dish.
- Keto-Friendly Bourbon Old Fashioned
- Keto Apple Cider Vinaigrette, over a salad
- Keto Butter Pie
- Keto Vanilla Ice Cream
- Low-Carb Cauliflower Toast, add garlic and parmesan on top
For more ideas, you can check out our recipe index.
TOOLS USED TO MAKE THIS LOW-CARB SPAGHETTI SAUCE
Click on the links to see the items used in making this recipe. You can also find these products linked in the recipe below.
- Meat Chopper – A meat chopper is an odd-looking tool that can make breaking apart ground meat or sausage a breeze. The tool isn’t very big and will easily fit in your kitchen utensil drawer. If you don’t have a meat chopper and are constantly aggravated by breaking meat apart, it’s time to get one!
- Immersion Blender – Immersion blenders (often referred to as stick blenders) are fantastic tools to have in any kitchen. Unlike regular blenders, these are small and usually used to blend liquids. A few seconds of blending can save lots of work and create a delicious recipe! If you don’t have one, they take up little room in your cabinets. No time like the present to get one for your kitchen!
- Non-Stick Skillet – A good non-stick skillet is a must for any kitchen. For this particular recipe, it makes cooking and cleanup a breeze. If you don’t have a non-stick skillet or if yours is getting some age on it and isn’t working well, there’s no time like the present to get one!
Low-Carb Spaghetti Meat Sauce
A delicious Italian meal is perfect for any time of the year. A bowl of spaghetti with low-carb spaghetti meat sauce is just what you need!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef, fat content of choice
- 46 oz canned San Marzano tomatoes, whole
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp onions, minced
- 4 leaves fresh basil, chopped
- 1/8 tsp fresh oregano, finely chopped
- kosher salt, to taste
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Begin by making the tomato sauce (same as our Low-Carb Copycat Rao's Marinara Sauce)
- Remove the tomatoes from the cans, reserving the juice
- Using your hands, gently crush the tomatoes, removing cores, stems, and any tomato skin pieces you may find
- In a pot or saucepan, place the olive oil over medium heat
- Gently saute the minced garlic and onion until fragrant (about 30 seconds)
- Add the crushed tomatoes, juice included, and bring to a boil over high heat
- As soon as the mixture boils, reduce the heat and simmer for two hours, stirring every little bit
- Around the hour and a half mark, add the oregano and basil
- If you prefer a smoother sauce (like we do) you can use an immersion blender to blend the sauce quickly and easily
- Add salt and pepper to taste, regardless of blending or leaving chunky
- In a non-stick skillet, brown ground beef and drain fat that cooks out
- Add browned beef to the tomato sauce
- Serve and enjoy!
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Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 405Total Fat 27gCarbohydrates 4gProtein 32g
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from an online food databse. All carbohydrate counts are calculated as net carbs instead of total. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.