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. 51
    Reply to comment #50 by Desiree
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    April 19 2019

    When you make a recipe for one person does 1 serving mean thatโ€™s what u have for dinner, and lunch ? Thank you

    If you are cooking from the 2 week challenge, make sure to make 2 servings, or 1+1 so you will have enough for lunch the next day.

  2. 52
    Cynthia
    April 26 2019
    Loved these meatballs! I used 80/20 organic grass-fed ground beef and canned diced tomatoes rather than whole. I also used more basil and onion powder than called for. The sauce seemed a bit runny at first, but after simmering for awhile and adding the spinach, the sauce got slightly more substantial. I think this dish would be good served on cauliflower rice to soak up the sauce. Canโ€™t wait to eat the leftovers!
  3. 53
    Jan
    May 2 2019
    OMG---My husband thought we were in Heaven when we ate this. NO need to go out for Italian food when this is over the top delicious! It is definitely a keeper and last time I made enough to freeze one batch, which we used the next week. I would never tire of this. Love Diet Doctor site!
  4. 54
    Debbie
    May 3 2019
    Iโ€™m not fond of tomatoes. I diced an onion and cooked it with the meatballs. It wasnโ€™t a sauce but it made a more interesting plate than just meatballs and cheese.
  5. 55
    Karen
    May 9 2019
    That was really good! I made a double batch to have for another dinner and lunch. I am on day 4 and my scale has not budged. My scale goes from 211 to 214 to 213 to 211 pounds. I have two more servings of the alfredo chicken in my fridge and three servings of the meatballs from tonight. I feel I have overload of ingredients and the produce is going to go bad and I dread going to the grocery for week 2 and buying more food. Can I just eat the same food from week one on week 2? Please advise.
    Replies: #57, #58
  6. 56
    Maya
    May 9 2019
    Amazing dinner tonight for all my family. I made hamburger out of this meatball mixture and my son who is a very picky eater was amazed by the taste. To mine, i added Fire Roasted diced tomatoes, touch of turmeric and saffron and they gave it a great color and taste. This will be our favorite recipe.
  7. 57
    Reply to comment #55 by Karen
    Maya
    May 9 2019
    I personally donโ€™t think eating the same food would be any problem. I am still eating my Alfredo chicken. As long as you are not eating carbs and sugar it must be fine. Likewise, my scale has not changed either, it fluctuates just like yours. I hope i will not gain weight due to all this deliciously fat recipes.
  8. 58
    Reply to comment #55 by Karen
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    May 9 2019

    That was really good! I made a double batch to have for another dinner and lunch. I am on day 4 and my scale has not budged. My scale goes from 211 to 214 to 213 to 211 pounds. I have two more servings of the alfredo chicken in my fridge and three servings of the meatballs from tonight. I feel I have overload of ingredients and the produce is going to go bad and I dread going to the grocery for week 2 and buying more food. Can I just eat the same food from week one on week 2? Please advise.

    Yes, that's totally fine! Also, if you notice that you aren't hungry at a specific meal time, it's OK to skip that meal.

  9. 59
    Karen
    May 9 2019
    Thank you Maya and Kristen for your feed back.
  10. 60
    Kat
    May 26 2019
    Pork and beef mince worked well for me. I was worried about garlic powder and onion powder, having never used them, thought the taste might be artificial, but it was not, it was very nice. Quantities a slight bit weird factoring up, nobody can use 1 and 3/4 of an egg for example, but, y'know, use your common sense. Definitely thought it was wise to season the sauce.
  11. 61
    Diana Elena
    May 30 2019
    is it ok to replace beef with pork?
    Reply: #62
  12. 62
    Reply to comment #61 by Diana Elena
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    May 31 2019

    is it ok to replace beef with pork?

    Pork tends to be leaner which means they may be drier.

    Reply: #63
  13. 63
    Reply to comment #62 by Kristin Parker
    Diana Elena
    May 31 2019
    it was very good with pork :D
  14. 64
    Gary
    June 5 2019
    I wish the pictures matched the serving sizes. This is an example where it seems to not. The instructions say to use 1 lb of ground beef and to make 1 oz meatballs, which would be 16 for two people, for both lunch and dinner. So, this would be 4 meatballs per person, per serving. I'm also thinking that the meatballs in the picture are bigger than one oz.
  15. 65
    Angel
    June 20 2019
    These were DENSE meatballs, probably the parmesan cheese in the meat. I think next time we will leave that out of the meat and just sprinkle it on the final dish.
  16. 66
    Mike McPhee
    June 26 2019
    I've made this a few times with great success. For the sauce I add couple of onions which I almost caramelise before I add the tomatoes and a teaspoon of oregano. All served on a bed of shredded spinach or silver chard from the garden.
  17. 67
    Robin
    July 2 2019
    What's everyone's truck to get th e meatballs to stick together? I have a batch going and 1/2 of them have fallen apart :-/
    Replies: #72, #85
  18. 68
    Marcin
    July 7 2019
    Another favourite. I used pork and it wasn't dry. I believe it depends on what part of pork your ground meat comes from. Mine was from pork shoulder. I suppose if you have fatty meat and you mix it well with the egg it shouldn't fall apart.
  19. 69
    Kate
    July 11 2019
    I seem to be hungry after meals. What should I do?
    Reply: #70
  20. 70
    Reply to comment #69 by Kate
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    July 11 2019

    I seem to be hungry after meals. What should I do?

    You can eat larger portions and also double check to make sure you're eating enough fat at each meal. If you are new to keto, you will notice soon that your hunger levels start naturally decreasing.

  21. 71
    Kimberly Cooper
    July 19 2019
    These meatballs taste fantastic! I'm doing the 2-week Keto Challenge and needed only 2 servings: 1 for supper, 1 for lunch. But, 2 servings called for 1/2 an egg. So, I had to make 4 servings, which put me behind 1 day. LOL. I'm thinking of how I might turn the dish into a casserole with a layer of meat, instead of meatballs, so that I can prepare and cook the meal faster.
  22. 72
    Reply to comment #67 by Robin
    Jackie
    July 25 2019

    What's everyone's truck to get th e meatballs to stick together? I have a batch going and 1/2 of them have fallen apart :-/

    The eggs bind it together. Also remember you arenโ€™t adding the tomato sauce until they are mostly cooked. If theyโ€™re falling apart, check the accuracy of your ingredients. Add more parmesan if needed.

  23. 73
    Jackie
    July 25 2019
    This sounds delicious!! Thank you for giving us so many easy and relatively inexpensive recipes. I am on my 5th day, surprisingly, I am not hungry much! Thatโ€™s HUGE since Iโ€™ve always been a big eater. I have found Iโ€™m skipping meals now. Pretty amazing!!
    I got really hungry last evening for something to snack on. I ate 1/2 a large bag of pork rinds. Hope that didnโ€™t hurt my progress, they have 0 carbs/sugar.
  24. 74
    Reply to comment #4 by Toni
    Jackie
    July 25 2019
    I also use spiced sea salt. Yummy! My fave is smoked sea salt. It took a min to grow on me, but now itโ€™s the one I reach for.
  25. 75
    Reply to comment #18 by lynette oliphant
    Jackie
    July 25 2019
    It says in the recipe this makes 4 servings
  26. 76
    Reply to comment #25 by Chris
    Jackie
    July 25 2019
    Itโ€™s not that difficult, just divide however many meatballs you make by 4. That will be your serving size.

    I did the same thing Maria...then made another trip to the store for the fresh. I'm still confusing on a serving....if my husband and I are doing it, a serving of 4 is how many meatballs then? I made 18 balls. (I ate 6, he ate 9) then realized later that was tooooo many and was so disappointed that I figured wrong & overate..these were soooooo delicious tho!!!! (I blended the whole tomatoes first.) I JUST CANT BELIEVE HOW AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS EVERY ONE OF THESE RECIPES ARE!!! I LOVE THIS CHALLENGE AND WILL STAY A LIFER! Looking foreword to a big loss!!!!

  27. 77
    Reply to comment #20 by Yvonne
    Jackie
    July 25 2019
    The recipe says it makes 4 servings not 3 though
  28. 78
    Jackie
    July 28 2019
    I finally made these. DELICIOUS!! Will make again and again.
  29. 79
    Emily
    July 31 2019
    I've made this many times, it's actually become a staple for me! It freezes great, so I cook a double batch and freeze in individual containers for work lunches.
  30. 80
    Margaret
    August 11 2019
    Just made these tonight; my husband and I love them. I made the meatballs a little large: three per serving. Was scared of all the fat in the sauce, but the spinach and meatballs soaked it right up! Yum!
  31. 81
    Antoinette Errante
    August 28 2019
    Wow, these are really good!
  32. 82
    CC
    September 12 2019
    I just made it and it was delicious! My son is becoming a believer! I am on week two and every meal has been delicious!

    I get confused with the actual serving size as well. I wish that was clear on each recipe as I don't want to over indulge.

    Reply: #83
  33. 83
    Reply to comment #82 by CC
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    September 13 2019

    I just made it and it was delicious! My son is becoming a believer! I am on week two and every meal has been delicious!
    I get confused with the actual serving size as well. I wish that was clear on each recipe as I don't want to over indulge.

    Serving SIZE may vary based on several factors, which is why all of our recipes list the number of servings they make.

  34. 84
    Rebecca Cooper
    September 25 2019
    The first meal from DD that was just meh. Flavor was good but meatballs are very dense. If I make it again Iโ€™d use fresh ricotta instead of the mozzarella. Tasty but not my favorite.
  35. 85
    Reply to comment #67 by Robin
    Patricia
    October 2 2019
    Try making the meatballs up and letting them sit in the fridge for a while to kind of meld together (kind of like when your cookie dough is too soft and you have to put it back in the fridge for a while...) I make the meatballs up in the morning or the night before when I am in the kitchen and leave them until dinner time the next day. Never a problem. Also, don't turn the constantly, let them cook on one side until the release easily from the pan and then turn them. I use tongs to turn the too.
  36. 86
    Laura Marshall
    October 30 2019
    This might sound a stupid question, but as this is a high-fat diet do I drain the olive oils /any oils and butter when frying things before I add sauces? My instincts say I do from years of habit but I'm not sure with this diet.
    Reply: #87
  37. 87
    Reply to comment #86 by Laura Marshall
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    October 31 2019

    This might sound a stupid question, but as this is a high-fat diet do I drain the olive oils /any oils and butter when frying things before I add sauces? My instincts say I do from years of habit but I'm not sure with this diet.

    That is up to personal preference! Some people don't care for the extra grease and do choose to drain it off.

  38. 88
    Bianca Southwick
    November 11 2019
    5 stars all the way โญ๏ธ Easy, delicious, filling. Perfect starter meal for the keto beginner. The next day I added a bit more cheese and heated the balls & wrapped lettuce around them. Perfect.
  39. 89
    anthony.richir
    January 6 2020
    5 stars, no doubt ! This is delicious, maybe a bit to salty to my taste but this is definitely going to be one of my top favorites.
  40. 90
    Amy Giddins
    January 30 2020
    I love this meal! I put the cheese on top of the spinach and then the meatballs on top and the cheese melts into the spinach and meatballs...its so delish! (instead of cheese on top). I thought the balls would not stick together but they do very well. I have learnt to not add salt to this meal
  41. 91
    Susan
    February 7 2020
    When adding the can of whole tomatoes am I supposed to drain them or add in the juice too? Also, can I add spaghetti squash or will that be too many carbs for my daily intake? Thanks and I'm loving this 2 week challenge so far!
    Reply: #93
  42. 92
    Tori
    February 7 2020
    These are lush and so good. We have people staying in a couple of weeks and have been wondering what to cook them and these will be perfect. I'll get a fresh sour dough loaf for them to have with it. Now looking for the perfect keto dessert.
  43. 93
    Reply to comment #91 by Susan
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    February 7 2020

    When adding the can of whole tomatoes am I supposed to drain them or add in the juice too? Also, can I add spaghetti squash or will that be too many carbs for my daily intake? Thanks and I'm loving this 2 week challenge so far!

    You can drain them first. If you are in the two week challenge, it may be best to follow the meal plans as written without adding in extra food.

  44. 94
    francisjj.92
    February 15 2020
    OMG!!! Currently I'm in the 2 weeks challenge and this is the best recipe so far. I was nearly crying while I ate my last piece
  45. 95
    Sherry
    March 14 2020
    This is the best recipe, the only change i made was i baked the meatball and while they were baking i simmered the sauce. well make many times i am sure.
  46. 96
    William J
    April 11 2020
    We made this today for the first time ( 2 of us cocooning from Covid -19) and it was really good.
    I passed it onto our daughter. Well done Anne and Emma.
  47. 97
    Yvonne
    June 3 2020
    Fabulous, I stuffed the meatballs with the mozzarella and had with broccoli
  48. 98
    hayley.j.meredith
    June 26 2020
    Made this for lunch today, tastes delicious. Portion looked small when I served it up, however it really was very filling. Enjoying day 3 so far on the 2 week challenge. One thing I have noticed so very early on is my joints are not aching as much as they used to. A coincidence perhaps ?
    Reply: #99
  49. 99
    Reply to comment #98 by hayley.j.meredith
    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    June 27 2020

    Made this for lunch today, tastes delicious. Portion looked small when I served it up, however it really was very filling. Enjoying day 3 so far on the 2 week challenge. One thing I have noticed so very early on is my joints are not aching as much as they used to. A coincidence perhaps ?

    Keto can alleviate inflammation and the pain that results from it. I hope that is the case for you and the joint pain stays away!

  50. 100
    Rondell
    August 29 2020
    Is it ok to eat with a lil pasta i am oj my 5th day and body feels a lil fatigue
    Reply: #101
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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