Meatball Parm is a delightful dish featuring juicy meatballs smothered in a savory tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. It’s more than just a meal—it’s the essence of comfort food, perfect for bringing loved ones together.
The idea for Meatball Parm came to me after a lively party left me with leftover meatballs I couldn’t let go to waste. Transforming these meatballs into a mouthwatering dish seemed like the perfect solution. The Italian-inspired recipe is easy to pull off with a handful of basic ingredients. Best of all, it is super low-carb and keto, yet highly delicious. Let’s get into the details of how to make this Italian meatball dish.
This recipe is: Low Carb, Gluten Free, Keto, Paleo
Table of Contents
5 Reasons to Love This Recipe
Besides being a food that truly delights the senses, I love making this keto meatball recipe for these reasons:
- Simple steps for a delicious, no-fuss meal.
- Perfect for pleasing everyone at the dinner table.
- Low carb ingredients for those following a keto diet.
- Easy meal prep.
- Can easily be transformed into so many dishes.
Is Keto Meatball Parm Low Carb?
Yes, keto meatball parm is low-carb. Unlike the traditional meatball parm which contains high-carb ingredients like breadcrumbs, it uses low-carb alternatives like almond flour cracker crumbs and crumbled pork rinds.
This keto meatball parm is remarkably low-carb, yielding 2.2 g net carbs per meatball with sauce and cheese. It has ground beef and pork that are zero carb ingredients. For further information, you can check my article “Is Ground Beef Low Carb“.
I crafted the recipe carefully to ensure you enjoy a rich, delicious meal without worrying about a carb spike.
Keto Meatball Parm Ingredient List
You’ll need these ingredients to make a tasty and satisfying meatball parmigiana recipe:
For the Meatball Parm
- 20 pre-cooked meatballs
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1.5 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
For Meatballs
Use these meatball ingredients to make delicious, low-carb meatballs from scratch if you don’t have leftover meatballs.
- ½ pound ground beef (80/20)
- ½ pound ground pork
- 1 egg
- ½ cup onion, finely diced
- ½ cup red pepper, finely diced
- ½ cup almond breadcrumbs
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pinch fresh black pepper
Ingredient Substitutions
Although there is not much to substitute, here is a great alternative ingredient:
- Marinara sauce: Use any other basic homemade tomato sauce for similar, awesome flavors. If you are using a store-bought version, ensure that it aligns with the keto diet.
Additional Ingredients
Try any of these additional ingredients to enhance the meatball Parm’s flavors:
- Heat: Bring on the flames with some red pepper flakes for a spicy Italian meatball recipe.
- Bell peppers: Chop up some red, yellow, or green peppers and add to the sauce for extra sweetness.
- Artichoke hearts: Add chopped marinated artichoke hearts to the sauce to make it more flavorful.
- Black olives: I like to add sliced black olives under the top cheese layer for a good depth of flavor, and the result is a delicious meatball parm every single time!
Note: The additional ingredients are optional and are not a part of the original recipe.
Cooking Tools
You’ll need just a few tools to make meatball Parm, especially if you are using leftover meatballs:
How to Make Keto Meatball Parm: Step-by-step Guide
Cooking Method
- Baking
Preparation Steps
- Prepare Meatballs. If you don’t have pre-cooked meatballs, use my low-carb meatball recipe to prepare the meatballs. You will need 20 meatballs for this recipe, but you can make more if you want a larger yield.
- Cook marinara sauce. Use my easy and quick recipe to make the flavored sauce.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Arrange the meatballs in the baking dish.
- Pour the homemade sauce over the meatballs.
- Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Cooking Instructions
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Allow the Meatball Parm to sit for 5-7 minutes before serving to allow the meatballs to absorb more of the sauce.
Note: This recipe assumes the use of pre-cooked meatballs; therefore, the cooking time specified does not include the time required to cook the meatballs. I have provided the meatball recipe for your convenience if you need to prepare them from scratch.
Step 1: Add some sauce to the bottom of your ovenproof baking dish.
Step 2: Layer in the meatballs. Cut some to ensure a solid layer. Add the herbs.
Step 3: Layer on the remaining tomato sauce. Make sure they meatballs are covered.
Step 4: Time for the cheese. Add the mozzarella and parmesan.
Step 5: Place the meatball parm into the oven and bake until golden brown.
Step 6: Allow the meatball parm to cool a bit before serving. It’s so good.
💡 My Pro Tip
Resting the dish for a couple of minutes before serving is crucial to the success of this recipe. It allows the meatballs to re-absorb the sauce and the cheese to cool, making serving much easier. Don’t be afraid of cutting through the meatballs when serving; the dish remains delicious.
⏲️ Time-Saving Tips
- Using leftover meatballs can cut a huge chunk off your cooking time.
- Prep everything a day or two before and refrigerate. Quickly toss in the oven when you’re ready to eat.
What to Serve with Keto Meatball Parm?
Keto meatball parm pairs well with several tasty low-carb sides like:
- Balsamic Honey Roasted Brussels sprouts: Pair this with my easy Italian keto meatballs parm and watch them disappear from your guests’ plates in record time.
- Easy Sauteed Mushrooms: The flavorful, earthy flavors in the buttery, golden brown sautéed mushrooms complement the classic meatball parm very well.
- Arugula Mushroom Salad: This is a fine flavorful side dish. You will get a great taste sensation and quite an impressive, elegant dinner when you combine it with the flavorful keto meatball Parm.
Storage and Reheating
Storage
- If you want to enjoy your leftover meatball parm in a few days, cool it to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container, and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. It will remain fresh and maintain its quality and taste.
Freezing
- Freezing is great if you need to keep the Meatball Parm for longer. Transfer the cooled leftovers to a freezer container or wrap them securely in resealable freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. You can freeze it for 2 to 3 months, and its flavors and textures will remain uncompromised. When you are ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and warm according to the instructions below.
Reheating
- Warm the leftover meatball parm on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven at a moderate temperature until thoroughly heated. The oven ensures the meatballs heat evenly and the cheese melts perfectly, restoring the dish’s fresh-baked taste and texture.
Recipe Conclusion
Keto Meatball Parmesan is one of the best low-carb dinner ideas for cheese lovers. This recipe is perfect for impressing a gathering of friends and family or meal prepping for weeknight dinners. It yields delicious keto meatballs covered with luscious molten cheese, stretching and oozing with every bite. Pair the cheesy meatballs with your guests’ favorite side dishes and watch them disappear in no time.
Did you try the meatball parmesan recipe? How did you like it? Share your thoughts on the recipe on my socials. You can also find me on Facebook or Instagram.
Other Italian Recipes to Try
FAQs
Both cooking methods yield delicious results. However, baking is a more hands-off approach that produces dry meatballs. In contrast, cooking on the stovetop is very hands-on but results in moist, tender meatballs.
When choosing a binder for meatballs, consider factors like personal preference and dietary restrictions. For instance, if you are on a strict keto diet, your best options are almond flour crumbs, minced vegetables, eggs, heavy cream, and grated cheese.
Meatball Parm
Ingredients
Keto Meatball Parm Ingredient List
For the Meatball Parm
- 20 pre-cooked meatballs
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1.5 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
For Meatballs
- Use these meatball ingredients to make delicious low-carb meatballs from scratch if you don’t have leftover meatballs.
- ½ pound ground beef 80/20
- ½ pound ground pork
- 1 egg
- ½ cup onion finely diced
- ½ cup red pepper finely diced
- ½ cup almond breadcrumbs
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pinch fresh black pepper
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Prepare Meatballs. If you don't have pre-cooked meatballs, use my low-carb meatball recipe to prepare the meatballs. You will need 20 meatballs for this recipe, but you can make more if you want a larger yield.
- Cook marinara sauce. Use my easy and quick recipe to make the flavored sauce.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Arrange the meatballs in the baking dish.
- Pour the homemade sauce over the meatballs.
- Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Cooking Instructions
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Allow the Meatball Parm to sit for 5-7 minutes before serving to allow the meatballs to absorb more of the sauce.
- Note: This recipe assumes the use of pre-cooked meatballs; therefore, the cooking time specified does not include the time required to cook the meatballs. I have provided the meatball recipe for your convenience if you need to prepare them from scratch.
Notes
If you're a fan of this Meatball Parm recipe, I'd appreciate your feedback! Do you have tips for cutting down the carbs? Please share them in the comments below!
Enjoy your day in the kitchen!
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
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