These keto Italian meatballs are perfect with keto pasta, keto sliders, or by themselves! With just 3 grams net carbs per serving, they are the perfect addition to your dinner.
What Are Keto Italian Meatballs
Think of your favorite childhood meal – spaghetti and meatballs. Italian meatballs are hand-rolled meatballs spiced with Italian herbs and smothered in a homemade marinara sauce.
Yup – this recipe is for both the meatballs and the marinara sauce! Save this recipe to Pinterest, because you can use the marinara sauce over and over again.
Use it on your favorite keto-friendly pasta, or on top of some chicken breasts. It’s a classic recipe that you can use in so many different ways.
Shopping List
Before you make the keto Italian meatballs, this is what you’ll need from the store. All of the exact ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Meatballs:
- Ground Italian Sausage
- Ground Beef
- Egg
- Crushed Pork Rind Crumbs
- Italian Seasoning
- Basil
- Parmesan Cheese
- Olive Oil
Marinara Sauce
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Broth
- Basil
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Swerve Confectioner’s Sugar Substitute
- Minced Garlic
- Onion
- Butter
Ingredient Swaps
There are a few ways that you can change things in this recipe to save yourself time or to make it taste differently the next time. If you make any changes, please let me know. I’d love to hear!
- Meat – you don’t have to use both types of meat. You can make them with just the ground beef or the Italian sausage.
- Egg – This is optional. It holds everything together, but the meatballs will stay packed without the egg.
- Sugar – You don’t have to sweeten the sauce if you don’t want to. That’s optional.
- Broth – Either chicken or vegetable broth will work perfectly in the marinara sauce.
Best Meat For Meatballs
I used both ground Italian sausage and ground beef. This combination prevents the meatballs from being too greasy. It also gives the meatballs incredible flavor.
As long as you use the sausage, you can replace the ground beef with ground turkey. Turkey is a very lean meat and so it doesn’t have a lot of flavor. If you do this, I would use 2 pounds of ground sausage and 1/2 a pound of ground turkey.
Keto Crockpot Meatballs
I love using the slow cooker! To speed up the cooking process, I suggest searing and cooking the meatballs ahead of time. Store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. Then, all you have to do is add everything to the slow cooker!
Use a slow cooker liner to make clean-up easier. This will prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
If you don’t like liners, then spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray and stir the meatballs halfway through the cooking time.
What To Eat With Meatballs
These meatballs are the perfect entree. They are ready to be served on top of palmini noodles or you can eat them right off the plate.
Start out with a salad, like either keto Panera copycat Greek salad or keto chicken Caesar remain lettuce salad. Both of those choices have similar spices and flavors.
You can also eat the meatballs with some kind of bread or rolls. Keto bacon and cheese biscuits are super popular or for something crispy, serve them with some keto shrimp croquettes.
Storing Them
Add the meatballs to your weekly keto meal prep. Store the meatballs with the marinara sauce in an airtight container.
They will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can freeze the meatballs, too.
Store them in an freezer-safe food storage bag and keep them in the freezer for up to six months.
Making Them
Here are the step-by-step pictures of the process that you’ll follow to make this filling and delicious keto crockpot Italian meatballs. All of the ingredients and instructions are located in the printable recipe card just a little bit further below.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Servings: 8
Net Carbs: 3 net carbs per serving
Directions
Add the meatball ingredients to a bowl, and knead until well combined. Form the meat mixture into evenly sized 2-3 inch round meatballs.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Sear the meatballs on all sides, and place into the bottom of the Crockpot.
Melt the butter in another skillet, and saute the onions until softened.
Add the onions and remaining sauce ingredients to a bowl, and spoon over the meatballs in the Crockpot.
Place the lid on the Crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours.
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Keto Italian Sausage Crockpot Meatballs
Equipment
- Skillet
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 1/2 pounds Natural Ground Sausage
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 large Egg
- 1/2 cup Crushed Pork Rind Crumbs
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Basil
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Keto Marinara Sauce
- 15 ounces Crushed Tomatoes - no sugar added
- 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
- 1/2 tsp Basil
- 1/2 tps Oregano
- 1/4 tsp Rosemary
- 2 tsp Swerve Confectioner's Sugar Substitute
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 Onion chopped
- 2 tbsp Butter
Instructions
- Add the meatball ingredients to a bowl, and knead until well combined.
- Form the meat mixture into evenly sized 2-3 inch round meatballs.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Sear the meatballs on all sides, and place into the bottom of the Crockpot.
- Melt the butter in another skillet, and saute the onions until softened.
- Add the onions and remaining sauce ingredients to a bowl, and spoon over the meatballs in the Crockpot.
- Place the lid on the Crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours.
Notes
Keto Slow Cooker Recipes
If you enjoyed making keto Italian meatballs in the slow cooker, here are some more keto Crockpot recipes you should make next. There are so many things you can make in them.
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