Italian keto meatballs with mozzarella cheese

Italian keto meatballs with mozzarella cheese

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5
4.8
520 Ratings
Not enough ratings
Tomato sauce, rich and comforting. Mozzarella, fresh and creamy. Meatballs, with just the right touch of onion and basil. It's like spaghetti night, without the carbs. Enjoy every ketolicious bite!
August 20 2017 recipe by , photo by , nutritional review by in Recipes, Dinner, Meal

Italian keto meatballs with mozzarella cheese

1
2
3
4
5
4.8
520 Ratings
Not enough ratings
Tomato sauce, rich and comforting. Mozzarella, fresh and creamy. Meatballs, with just the right touch of onion and basil. It's like spaghetti night, without the carbs. Enjoy every ketolicious bite!
USMetric
4 servingservings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 450 g ground beef or ground turkey
  • ยพ cup (2 oz.) 180 ml (60 g) shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1 eggeggs
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp salt
  • ยฝ tbsp ยฝ tbsp dried basil
  • ยฝ tsp ยฝ tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ยฝ tsp ยฝ tsp ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1ยพ cups (1 lb) 425 ml (425 g) canned whole tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 7 oz. (6ยฝ cups) 200 g (1.6 liters) fresh spinach
  • 2 oz. 55 g butter
  • 5 oz. (1ยผ cups) 140 g (300 ml) fresh mozzarella cheese
  • salt and pepper
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Instructions

  1. Place ground beef, parmesan cheese, egg, salt and spices in a bowl and blend thoroughly. Form the mixture into meatballs, about 1 oz (30 grams) each. It helps to keep your hands wet while forming the balls.
  2. Heat up the olive oil in a large skillet and sautรฉ the meatballs until they're golden brown on all sides.
  3. Lower the heat and add the canned tomatoes. Let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add parsley and stir. You can prepare the dish up to this point for freezing.
  4. Melt the butter in a separate frying pan and fry the spinach for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the spinach to the meatballs, and stir to combine.
  5. Serve with mozzarella cheese on top, torn into bite-sized pieces.

Tip!

Like it hot-hot-hot? Swap out half the ground beef with spicy Italian sausage. Add red pepper flakes, as needed.

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144 comments

  1. 101
    Reply to comment #100 by Rondell
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    August 29 2020

    Is it ok to eat with a lil pasta i am oj my 5th day and body feels a lil fatigue

    No, we would not recommend adding carbohydrates. If you're feeling fatigued, you may be experiencing a bit of the "keto flu." Here's more info and tips on how to feel to better! https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/flu-side-effects

  2. 102
    jan
    September 1 2020
    So delicious !!! I added two small red chillies which gave a great kick!!! With 30g per meatball, there was 4 1/2 meatballs per serving, needs nothing else - damn delcious !!!
  3. 103
    Julie
    September 2 2020
    Hi, in the UK we get ground beef (mince) in different fat percentages - 5%, 10%, 15% and sometimes even 20% fat. Surely the fat percentage of the beef will hugely affect the "ketoness" of the meal. I used 10% fat pasture-fed beef mince. Is that about right Diet Doctor? Thanks
    I thought the recipe was delicious - i had never made meatballs before.
    Reply: #104
  4. 104
    Reply to comment #103 by Julie
    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
    September 3 2020

    Hi, in the UK we get ground beef (mince) in different fat percentages - 5%, 10%, 15% and sometimes even 20% fat. Surely the fat percentage of the beef will hugely affect the "ketoness" of the meal. I used 10% fat pasture-fed beef mince. Is that about right Diet Doctor? Thanks
    I thought the recipe was delicious - i had never made meatballs before.

    The basic recommendation is to use what you prefer and what is on sale. 85/15 is a good bet for most recipes, but 90/10 will work as well.

  5. 105
    Robin
    October 20 2020
    Just made these tonight. I think next time I'll use Italian diced tomatoes. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to use whole tomatoes, I ended up cutting them up with kitchen shears. I also added two packs of Miracle Noodle fettuccine to the sauce to let them absorb the flavors.
  6. 106
    Robin
    October 20 2020
    I also wanted to say, when making the meatballs, I pulled out my kitchen scale and weighed each as I made them most were between 30 and 32 grams. Made 25 meatballs (I used 1.5 lbs ground beef).
    Reply: #107
  7. 107
    Reply to comment #106 by Robin
    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
    October 20 2020

    I also wanted to say, when making the meatballs, I pulled out my kitchen scale and weighed each as I made them most were between 30 and 32 grams. Made 25 meatballs (I used 1.5 lbs ground beef).

    Thanks for sharing!!

  8. 108
    michaela.allard
    November 9 2020
    Hello , I made this yesterday and used chopped tomatoes and fresh Garlic . Also I replaced the Parsly with fresh Basil and to make it more spicy a little smoked chilli flakes. Very tasty and I love it ;)
    Reply: #109
  9. 109
    Reply to comment #108 by michaela.allard
    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
    November 9 2020

    Hello , I made this yesterday and used chopped tomatoes and fresh Garlic . Also I replaced the Parsly with fresh Basil and to make it more spicy a little smoked chilli flakes. Very tasty and I love it ;)

    Nice variation! I am glad you enjoyed it.

  10. 110
    donnasaunders575
    March 22 2021
    Hi, I want to make this recipe today but don't have any parmesan cheese. could I grate in cheddar?
    Thank you
    Reply: #111
  11. 111
    Reply to comment #110 by donnasaunders575
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    March 22 2021

    Hi, I want to make this recipe today but don't have any parmesan cheese. could I grate in cheddar?
    Thank you

    Cheddar has a higher fat percentage than parmesan does and may result in greasy meatballs.

  12. 112
    Genevieve
    May 1 2021
    Can you add more spinach to this recipe and stay keto?
    Reply: #113
  13. 113
    Reply to comment #112 by Genevieve
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    May 1 2021

    Can you add more spinach to this recipe and stay keto?

    Yes, you could add a bit more spinach if you'd like. A cup of raw spinach adds less than a net carb.

  14. 114
    Michele
    May 8 2021
    Diced tomatoes have an ingredient that makes them keep the dice shape. I think whole tomatoes break down better and make a more appealing textured sauce so I agree this is the best choice. You can just squeeze them to pieces with your hands.
  15. 1 comment removed
  16. 116
    4aip48
    June 17 2021
    Company quality dish! So delicious. I used diced tomatoes, had on hand. Turned out perfectly. Easy to make and looks beautiful and tastes even better.
  17. 117
    Bori88
    June 28 2021
    Could you help me? Why does some meal say it's 10g and it's in a green circle while the other meal is 7g and it's in an orange? This is so confusing! And how many grams one serving should be? So, for example, this meal has 5g. Is this for one serving? So if I make 2 servings and I eat 2x1 serving in a day I will end up with 10g in total? I swear I tried to search for the answer in the sight but I haven't found it.
    Reply: #118
  18. 118
    Reply to comment #117 by Bori88
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    June 28 2021

    Could you help me? Why does some meal say it's 10g and it's in a green circle while the other meal is 7g and it's in an orange? This is so confusing! And how many grams one serving should be? So, for example, this meal has 5g. Is this for one serving? So if I make 2 servings and I eat 2x1 serving in a day I will end up with 10g in total? I swear I tried to search for the answer in the sight but I haven't found it.

    The nutrition information is per serving. This meal is 5g net carbs per serving so yes, 5g for dinner and 5g for lunch. For the green and orange circles, that also has to do with protein and fat percentages. Generally, as long as the meal you're choosing will keep you at 7-10g net carbs for the meal, you're on the right track!
    https://www.dietdoctor.com/how-low-carb-is-low-carb

  19. 119
    Mrs N
    July 16 2021
    OMG!! The flavour is fantastic. You must try. I've done number a of serves and frozen them. Too convenient.
    Reply: #120
  20. 120
    Reply to comment #119 by Mrs N
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    July 16 2021

    OMG!! The flavour is fantastic. You must try. I've done number a of serves and frozen them. Too convenient.

    Great idea to make a big batch and freeze for another day.

  21. 121
    Turks
    July 20 2021
    Is the nutrition correct? 49g of fat in one serving?
    Reply: #122
  22. 122
    Reply to comment #121 by Turks
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    July 21 2021

    Is the nutrition correct? 49g of fat in one serving?

    Yes, that is correct.

  23. 123
    Squeaky
    August 22 2021
    Delicious! I used a pork beef blend and fresh basil, crushed tomatoes (kids prefer that) and added fresh basil, oregano and a pinch of thyme to the sauce. The rest of the family had with Bucatini and they enjoyed it also.
  24. 124
    Maria
    August 31 2021
    This is a restaurant quality recipe! Absolutely amazing. I used a parmesan-pecorino blend, which gave it a tiny bit more bite than just parmesan, and it didn't affect the carb count. I make this recipe at least once a week and it always disappears quickly.
  25. 125
    Barbara
    September 5 2021
    We love this. Easy to make, adaptable to what you've got in the fridge or the garden. Fresh tomatoes? Jalapeรฑo picked today? Parsley, too! Too bad--no fresh mozzarella, but shredded tastes good, too. Boring ground beef turns into a super taste treat.
    Reply: #126
  26. 126
    Reply to comment #125 by Barbara
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    September 5 2021
    Yes! Glad this is such a hit!
  27. 1 comment removed
  28. 128
    Dani
    October 7 2021
    Dani- These were very good. Could you please explain the serving size. I got 25 meatballs. How many per serving and how many calories am I eating? Thanks!
    Reply: #129
  29. 129
    Reply to comment #128 by Dani
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    October 7 2021

    Dani- These were very good. Could you please explain the serving size. I got 25 meatballs. How many per serving and how many calories am I eating? Thanks!

    That is going to depend on how many Servings you had selected when you prepared the dish.

  30. 130
    dgriffin1
    October 27 2021
    Made this tonight. Added a little fresh chopped Basil to the meat balls. Then a touch of Italian seasoning to the tomatoes, which were petite diced. Served with a small salad. Tasted like a nice little Italian meal. This will be made again, as it is very good.
  31. 131
    Barbara
    November 18 2021
    We love this! I've added chopped jalapeรฑo to the meatballs, and used cilantro instead of parsley. Basically you can do anything you like with this. My shortcut: don't bother to sautรฉ the spinach separately. Just pile the fresh spinach on top of the simmering meatballs, cover, and let it cook down. If it doesn't all fit in at first, just wait a moment and add more. Spinach cooks down fast! I forgot to count the meatballs. I weigh them at about 30g on my kitchen scale. Four to six make a hearty portion, with plenty for four servings.
    Reply: #132
  32. 132
    Reply to comment #131 by Barbara
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    November 18 2021

    We love this! I've added chopped jalapeรฑo to the meatballs, and used cilantro instead of parsley. Basically you can do anything you like with this. My shortcut: don't bother to sautรฉ the spinach separately. Just pile the fresh spinach on top of the simmering meatballs, cover, and let it cook down. If it doesn't all fit in at first, just wait a moment and add more. Spinach cooks down fast! I forgot to count the meatballs. I weigh them at about 30g on my kitchen scale. Four to six make a hearty portion, with plenty for four servings.

    Love the idea of adding jalapeno! Thanks for sharing!

  33. 133
    Robert C.
    December 21 2021
    Just made it, came out pretty dang good for someone who is a very novice chef, it was so easy and you can really go to town with the ingredients and use organic (or not) . All ingredients are very easy to find and it replaces one of my main concerns with going Keto which was giving up so many staples I have eaten my entire life and I am 60 . I was okay giving up Potatoes, pasta and fries but I was struggling with giving up the burgers or having a burger with no bun or some unsatisfactory replacement such as butter lettuce.

    This is absolutely a perfect cheeseburger replacement but in a restaurant quality dish although I usually am a pretty simple eater! So thank you for this easy dish . The best dishes are simple dishes that are delicious and also you really don't have to be exact with the ingredients, I just tried to get in close to the measurements you provide (which are a must for me as a guideline) but pretty much just added what looked right.

    I may need to tweak it but it came out pretty good the first time. A little too much liquid but I just kinda returned the excess liquid to the pan so it worked out. Not sure if going with diced tomatoes made it too liquid or it was the olive oil. You really helped me to start out with my keto "journey" . I think I can do this now. This I will eat weekly or biweekly for sure.

    Reply: #135
  34. 134
    Robert C.
    December 21 2021
    Oh I also used Kobe beef which was really good for this dish. Granted it can be pricey but I look for it on sale or on BOGO.
  35. 135
    Reply to comment #133 by Robert C.
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    December 22 2021

    Just made it, came out pretty dang good for someone who is a very novice chef, it was so easy and you can really go to town with the ingredients and use organic (or not) . All ingredients are very easy to find and it replaces one of my main concerns with going Keto which was giving up so many staples I have eaten my entire life and I am 60 . I was okay giving up Potatoes, pasta and fries but I was struggling with giving up the burgers or having a burger with no bun or some unsatisfactory replacement such as butter lettuce.
    This is absolutely a perfect cheeseburger replacement but in a restaurant quality dish although I usually am a pretty simple eater! So thank you for this easy dish . The best dishes are simple dishes that are delicious and also you really don't have to be exact with the ingredients, I just tried to get in close to the measurements you provide (which are a must for me as a guideline) but pretty much just added what looked right.
    I may need to tweak it but it came out pretty good the first time. A little too much liquid but I just kinda returned the excess liquid to the pan so it worked out. Not sure if going with diced tomatoes made it too liquid or it was the olive oil. You really helped me to start out with my keto "journey" . I think I can do this now. This I will eat weekly or biweekly for sure.

    Great, Robert! So glad you love it and this can be a staple for you!

  36. 136
    Denise
    January 3 2022
    This is a really good recipe. Thank you for providing such delicious recipes that the whole family can enjoy. ๐Ÿ˜Š
  37. 137
    Kelli
    January 4 2022
    I made this recipe tonight on my our first day back to Keto. It was so delicious and filling. I made the recipe exactly like it was written except I used a can of crushed tomatoes vs. whole tomatoes and it came out perfect. I will definitely put this on my list of go to recipes. By the way, can I also say it was soooo easy to make:)
  38. 138
    Rose
    March 1 2022
    This didnโ€™t work for me. I made 2 servings and used a full egg. The meat mixture was very wet and didnโ€™t stick together. The meatballs ended up falling apart. Not a pretty sight, but it tasted good in the end.
    Reply: #139
  39. 139
    Reply to comment #138 by Rose
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    March 1 2022

    This didnโ€™t work for me. I made 2 servings and used a full egg. The meat mixture was very wet and didnโ€™t stick together. The meatballs ended up falling apart. Not a pretty sight, but it tasted good in the end.

    So sorry it didn't work for you! It sounds like there may have been too much egg. I would recommend making 4 servings next time in order to utilize a whole egg. And leftovers are always great!

  40. 140
    Janice Quirke
    April 3 2022
    These are by far the best meatballs I have ever had and I am known for making great meatballs, these are delish! So easy to make and I doubled the receipt. Great to have in the house when you are hungry. No faults found.
    Reply: #141
  41. 141
    Reply to comment #140 by Janice Quirke
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    April 4 2022

    These are by far the best meatballs I have ever had and I am known for making great meatballs, these are delish! So easy to make and I doubled the receipt. Great to have in the house when you are hungry. No faults found.

    Wonderful! Thanks so much for the compliment!

  42. 142
    Rick M
    May 10 2022
    I made this using 1 pound each of ground pork and ground beef (90%). For that one egg would have worked better than do as it was sort of wet when mixing, even when I added the cheese and let it site a bit. I browned them a bit then covered the pan to let them cook a bit more, then drained most of the fat, added a bunch of onions (I didn't have spinach) and let that cook down. Then added crushed tomatoes then the meatballs back.

    I wasn't sure what to expect but this was really good and filling. My daughter had some and said she'd eat it again. Vegan wife was like "smells good".

  43. 143
    Michael Woods
    July 5 2022
    Fantastic recipe, so delicious, easy to follow with simple instructions. No need for takeaways when you can make delicious food like this, thank you
    Reply: #144
  44. 144
    Reply to comment #143 by Michael Woods
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    July 6 2022

    Fantastic recipe, so delicious, easy to follow with simple instructions. No need for takeaways when you can make delicious food like this, thank you

    You're so right! So glad you love it!

  45. 145
    Leeza R
    September 24 2022
    Great recipe, and tastes even better the next day.
    Reply: #146
  46. 146
    Reply to comment #145 by Leeza R
    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
    September 26 2022

    Great recipe, and tastes even better the next day.

    Awesome! Leftovers for the win!

  47. 147
    Amanda
    December 20 2022
    Loved this. I added mushrooms because I had them and didn't want them going bad. I also added more spice to the recipe and it turned out well. I was able to cook the spinach in the same pan by adding it at the end instead of getting another pan dirty.
    Reply: #148
  48. 148
    Reply to comment #147 by Amanda
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    December 21 2022

    Loved this. I added mushrooms because I had them and didn't want them going bad. I also added more spice to the recipe and it turned out well. I was able to cook the spinach in the same pan by adding it at the end instead of getting another pan dirty.

    Great tips! Thank you for sharing.

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Ratings

5
87%
4
10%
3
2%
2
0%
1
0%
4.8
1
2
3
4
5
520 Ratings

Ratings

5
87%
4
10%
3
2%
2
0%
1
0%
4.8
1
2
3
4
5
520 Ratings