Keto Style Italian Meat Sauce

Recipe

This has been one of my favorite keto meals lately.  I even made it while visiting my parents and they enjoyed it as well.  This recipe is easy to adjust based on what you have on hand, so feel free to get creative!

The recipe makes 6 servings, so I typically serve up one helping for dinner, then divide the rest into meal-prep containers and freeze them for later.  Printable Recipe

Instructions

The main ingredient is ground turkey... or you can use ground beef, or pork!  Use what you have on hand, or whatever is on sale this week.  Today I'm using a frozen roll of ground turkey, but the previous times I've made this recipe I used ground beef.  If your meat is frozen, be sure to thaw completely and then dump it into a medium size mixing bowl.

Next you'll add about 1/2 cup of ground up pork rinds (optional).  I threw some into a bag and smashed them by hand.  This batch had a few extra-hard pieces so I used the back of a spoon to crush those bits.  This step is totally optional, so if you don't have any on hand just skip it.

Mix the next few ingredients in with the ground turkey mixture and combine thoroughly: 

• 3/4 C. parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic (or garlic powder)
• 1/2 tsp. pepper

Heat 3 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and drop in the meat mixture.  Saute to brown the meat.  

Lower the heat, and add a can of diced tomatoes.  Season with salt and pepper, add dried parsley.  Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring often.  

Stir in the frozen spinach and stir to combine.  Then drop in the mozzarella balls.  Simmer for another 5 minutes.  The spinach should be heated through, and the mozzarella is melty.  

Serving Suggestions

1. Add fresh spinach or salad greens on the side.  
2. Serve over roasted veggies (cauliflower, zucchini).
3. With keto-friendly pasta or pasta alternatives

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey 
• 1/2 cup ground pork rinds (optional)
• 3/4 C. parmesan 
• 1 egg
• 1 t. salt
• 1/2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning blend
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic (or substitute for garlic powder)
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (I used one with green peppers, celery, and onion)
• 1 T. dried parsley 
• 16 oz frozen spinach
• 6 oz fresh mozzarella (I used marinated mozzarella in oil)

Variations: 

If I have an onion on hand, I'll dice a little and add that to the ground turkey mixture.  

I might also throw a handful of pepperoni in the pan while the meatballs are cooking to add a little kick.  The small snacking pepperonis work especially well! 

Nutritional Facts

Yield: 6 servings

Calories: 426
Total Fat: 28.9g
    Saturated Fat: 9.1g
Cholesterol: 137mg
Sodium: 1028mg
Total Carbs: 7.6g
    Dietary Fiber: 2.3g
    Total Sugars: 2.3g

Protein: 39.7

And here's a little secret... In the past when I've made this recipe using ground beef, I was making meatballs.  I was also trying to make meatballs today, but once they got in the pan, they all stuck badly to the pan and started falling apart.  So... I adapted and made it a meat sauce instead!  Not sure if the problem was the turkey or the pan, but it was not cooperating with me today... 

Printable Recipe