Meatball Casserole is a tasty low carb take on a meatball sub. Next time you find yourself tempted with a trip to the sub shop, whip up this delicious keto meatball sub sandwich bake instead!
Why You’ll Be Skipping The Sub Shop
- Fast. Ready in under 30 minutes with the help of your air fryer .
- Easy. Mix up the ricotta mixture, toss on some meatballs, cherry tomatoes, and cheese, then air fry. That’s it.
- Low Carb . Only 6 net carbs per serving.
- Gluten Free . Skipping the bread in this keto meatball sub makes it naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Meatballs- You can use frozen meatballs or refrigerated meatballs. If you use frozen, you will want to defrost them before getting started.
- Low Carb Marinara Sauce - Grab a jar of your favorite low carb brand or give making your own homemade keto marinara sauce a shot!
- Ricotta Cheese - Adds creaminess, protein, and a flavorful base to this meatball casserole.
- Egg - Provides volume to the ricotta blend when baking.
- Mozzarella Cheese - Becomes the melty, bubbly top to this low carb casserole.
- Cherry Tomatoes - Gives an additional pop of texture and freshness.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Italian Seasoning
How To Make Meatball Casserole
Making this recipe couldn’t be much more simple. Mix together the ricotta filling, layer up the sauce and meatballs, then top with cheese and cherry tomatoes.
Follow the simple list of steps below for a dinner that is just as tasty as it is easy to make!
- In a bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Drizzle half of the low carb marinara into the bottom of an oven-safe baking dish that will fit in your air fryer basket. Spread the ricotta mixture into the bottom of the dish on top of the sauce.
- Place the meatballs on top of the ricotta blend and add the remaining marinara sauce.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and air fry the dish for 12 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through.
- With 4 minutes remaining in the cooking time remove the aluminum foil, sprinkle on mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes and place the casserole back in the air fryer to finish.
Variations
Sometimes a dish can be even more enjoyable when you’re able to put your own personal spin on it. This Meatball Casserole is no different! Try one of these tasty twists next time you’re in the kitchen:
- Skip the tomatoes. Depending on your daily carb goals, the cherry tomatoes in addition to the marinara sauce can be high in carbs. If you’re looking to reduce the carbs per serving, this is an easy way to start.
- Use turkey. For fewer calories per serving, swap out frozen beef meatballs for turkey.
- Add veggies. Though they’re not a traditional topping, still getting a balanced diet when you’re eating low carb is important. You can add a layer of riced cauliflower below the meatballs, dice up some onions, or even serve the Meatball casserole as is over a bed of zoodles.
What To Serve With Meatball Casserole
This Meatball Casserole can be quite a heavy dish with a high protein and fat content, so something light and fresh compliments it quite well. Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve alongside it:
- Keto Creamed Spinach
- Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon
- Air Fryer Asparagus
If you’re really missing the experience of a great meatball sub, you can still enjoy this casserole on bread for the ultimate experience, just make sure you use a low carb variety to stay within your daily macros. For a keto-friendly slice that doesn’t cost a fortune or taste eggy, try making my keto bread !
How Long Does It Last?
Due to the small size of the pan you need to use to cook this in your air fryer, Meatball Casserole only makes four servings. So, the odds of having much leftover are pretty slim.
If you’re the only one eating low carb in your household or have a smaller family, you may have more casserole to enjoy another day. If that is the case, you can store any extras in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Try to enjoy them within 3-4 days of preparing the dish.
More Low Carb Beef Recipes
If you’re living a low carb lifestyle and can’t stand the thought of eating another meal of grilled chicken and steamed veggies, try out one of these delightfully keto-approved beef dishes:
- Big Mac Salad
- Stuffed Poblano Peppers
- Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa
- Skillet Lasagna
Meatball Casserole | Keto Meatball Sub Bake
Ingredients
- ▢ 12 meatballs
- ▢ 2 cups ricotta cheese
- ▢ 1 egg
- ▢ 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ▢ 1 cup Low Sugar Marinara Sauce
- ▢ 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ▢ 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- ▢ 1/2 cup Cherry Tomatoes
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Drizzle half of the low carb marinara into the bottom of an oven-safe baking dish that will fit in your air fryer basket. Spread the ricotta mixture into the bottom of the dish on top of the sauce.
- Place the thawed meatballs on top of the ricotta blend and add the remaining marinara sauce.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and air fry the dish for 12 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through.
- With 4 minutes remaining in the cooking time remove the aluminum foil, sprinkle on mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes and place the casserole back in the air fryer to finish.
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Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats , and Easy keto in 30 minutes.
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Meatball Casserole | Keto Meatball Sub Bake
Ingredients
- 12 meatballs
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Low Sugar Marinara Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 cup Cherry Tomatoes
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Drizzle half of the low carb marinara into the bottom of an oven-safe baking dish that will fit in your air fryer basket. Spread the ricotta mixture into the bottom of the dish on top of the sauce.
- Place the thawed meatballs on top of the ricotta blend and add the remaining marinara sauce.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and air fry the dish for 12 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through.
- With 4 minutes remaining in the cooking time remove the aluminum foil, sprinkle on mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes and place the casserole back in the air fryer to finish.
Meatball Casserole | Keto Meatball Sub Bake https://twosleevers.com/meatball-casserole/
This Keto Green Bean Casserole is an absolute must for your family get-togethers this holiday season! Enjoy this holiday favorite guilt-free!
Why You Need This Keto Green Bean Casserole On Your Table
- Fast. A twist on a classic side dish made in under 30 minutes .
- Easy. A simple pour and cook recipe made with the help of your Instant Pot.
- Low Carb . Only 8 net carbs per serving.
- Vegetarian . Unlike some versions of this recipe, it is completely vegetarian-friendly.
- Delicious . Has all of the traditional flavors you grew up eating, without all of the carbs and processed ingredients.
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely LOVE green bean casserole . It’s an absolute must-have side dish in my home for the holiday season, with no exceptions.
The only thing is, it’s not known for being particularly low carb. And knowing that I just couldn’t possibly live without it, I decided I needed to whip up a delicious Keto Green Bean Casserole Recipe , quick and in a hurry.
And let me tell you, this Low Carb Green Bean Casserole is an absolute hit! There’s just something so deliciously comforting about this dish.
From the creaminess of the mushrooms to the tender bite of the green beans, to the crispiness of the topping, I love every bit of it. And this Keto Green Bean Casserole is so good that it could make a convert out of even the most anti-green bean friend or family member you have.
The big secret to making this recipe so good? Not using tons and tons of canned, processed ingredients. Instead of cream of mushroom soup, I opt to use fresh mushrooms, cream cheese, and half and half in its place.
I also use fresh green beans instead of canned. The result is a much more flavorful and fresh-tasting casserole. But don’t just take my word for it, this Keto Green Bean Casserole really must be experienced to be truly appreciated!
And did I mention that it’s just as easy to make as any other green bean casserole recipe? That’s thanks to one of my favorite kitchen appliances, the ever-dependable Instant Pot .
Seriously, you can make this dish in a fraction of the time in the Instant Pot and all you really have to do is dump the ingredients in the pot and mix it once. It really is that easy!
Are Green Beans Acceptable On A Keto Diet?
One cup of green beans has about 10 grams of carbs. However, 4 of those are from dietary fiber, meaning that there are only 6 net carbs per cup of green beans.
That fact, along with proper portion control (as with any food), makes green beans a perfectly keto-friendly veggie.
Can I Eat Fried Onions On Keto?
Traditionally a green bean casserole is covered in crunchy, french fried onions. These onions are breaded and are regrettably high in carbs.
I’ve found the best low carb alternative for this Keto Green Bean Casserole to be toasted almonds. The almonds give that crunch that you’d expect from a good green bean casserole and they lend a flavor to them as well!
How Many Carbs Does Green Bean Casserole Have?
Traditional Green Bean Casserole is extremely high in carbs from the variety of canned soups and the mountain of french fried onions on top.
This low carb green bean casserole only has 8 net carbs per serving. This is achieved by replacing the canned soups with cream cheese and substituting (at least in part) the fried onions with crunchy slivered almonds.
Is Cream Of Mushroom Keto Friendly?
If you use my homemade mushroom soup recipe , it absolutely is!
Skip the premade cans of mushroom soup to cut the carbs even more for this tasty side dish.
Ingredients Needed
For The Casserole
- Onion - Adds depth of flavor to a classic recipe.
- Minced Garlic - What great recipe doesn’t have garlic?
- Mushrooms - Are deliciously filling and compliment the flavor of the onions and green beans
- Green beans- Works as the body of the casserole.
- Kosher Salt
- pepper
- Cream Cheese - Helps to create the traditional sauce-like consistency of the green bean casserole.
For Finishing
- Half and Half- Makes it deliciously creamy
- Toasted Sliced Almonds - Give a nice crunchy bite to this casserole
- French fried onions - Not keto, but can work for certain low carb diets
How To Make Keto Green Bean Casserole
- Add the aromatics to the Instant Pot insert. Place the butter, onions, garlic, mushrooms, water, salt, and pepper into the Instant Pot .
- Add green beans on top. Place cream cheese cubes on top of the beans. Do not stir.
- Close the lid and press pressure cook. Cook and then release all pressure immediately.
- Turn the pot on Sauté. Add in half and half and stir. Allow it to cook until the sauce has thickened.
- Add any toppings. Sprinkle them on in moderation and serve.
What Goes With Keto Green Bean Casserole?
This casserole is typically thought of as a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner staple. So, when you think of it, you generally think of other holiday foods such as:
- Turkey
- Rolls
- Stuffing
- Cranberry Sauce
- Cheesy Potatoes
- Pumpkin Pie
Who says this is only for holiday gatherings? Here are some other recipes that this green bean casserole would pair nicely with:
- Air fried pork chops
- Cornish hens
- Instant Pot Brisket
How Long Does It Last?
If you’re using this for a holiday side, chances are you won’t have any leftovers. However, if you’re making it for a weeknight side dish or for meal prep, you will want to eat this within 3 days of preparing it.
The mushroom soup can make the green beans too soggy to enjoy after sitting in your fridge for too long.
Try These Other Keto Holiday Dishes
- This Instant Pot Keto Cauliflower and Cheese is a creamy, delicious side dish that you can make in your pressure cooker for the ultimate low carb comfort food!
- Once you’ve tried this Keto Eggnog Custard it’s sure to become a holiday classic in your home! It’s low carb, only 5 ingredients and made in your microwave!
- This perfect, crustless Pumpkin Pie Pudding makes a lovely low carb pumpkin dessert in your Instant Pot!
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Looking for more low carb holiday recipes? Check out my post on theBest Keto Holiday Recipes!
Keto Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 cup Onion , chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- ▢ 2 cups Mushrooms , finely chopped
- ▢ 1 pound green beans , fresh or frozen
- ▢ 1/4 cup Water
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- ▢ 2 tablespoons Cream Cheese , diced and at room temperature
For Finishing
- ▢ 1/4 cup Half and Half
- ▢ 1/2 cup Toasted Sliced Almonds , for topping OR
- ▢ 1/2 cup fried onions , (not keto but may work for IFFYM)
Instructions
- Place butter, onions, garlic, mushrooms, water, salt and pepper into the Instant Pot .
- Add green beans on top. Place cream cheese cubes on top of the beans. Do not stir.
- Close the lid and press PRESSURE COOK. Cook on HIGH for 3 minutes and then release all pressure immediately.
- Turn the pot on Sauté. Add in half and half and stir. Allow it to cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Add any toppings if using, and serve.
Optional Toppings:
- Toasted Almonds
- French Fried Onions (not keto-friendly)
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Originally Published October 16, 2019
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
Don’t forget to check out my other Ketocookbooks.
Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats , and Easy keto in 30 minutes.
