Prepare yourself for a culinary voyage like no other, where the flavors of Italy meet the principles of the ketogenic diet. The love affair between Italy and food has produced some of the most glorious dishes the world has ever seen. Now, embark on a palatable trip with Italian masterpieces that have been cleverly reimagined to embrace the keto lifestyle.
Italy isn’t just about pasta and pizza. Its food repertoire is profoundly diverse and immense. Nurture your body and soul with these low-carb recipes that never forget to sing an ode to the Italian amore for food. Ladies and gentlemen, your carbs are on vacation, but your taste buds are not. Welcome aboard Italy.
Keto Italian Casserole: A Crustless Pizza Delight
When winter rolls around, many turn to keto comfort food on cold days, and there’s nothing better than a flavorful keto casserole for dinner to really warm you up. There’s nothing more satisfying than a delicious slice of pizza, and this keto Italian casserole delivers that flavor by skipping the crust and keeping it low carb. While there are some really great keto-friendly pizza recipes for when you want to go the traditional route, this casserole is easy to throw together and pop into the oven - you won’t even miss the crust.
This keto Italian casserole has quickly become a go-to dinner during the week. It’s the perfect dish to make ahead of time and throw in the oven when trying to figure out what to make for dinner. The seasoning of the chicken cubes before sautéing and adding to the dish adds so much flavor.
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs. chicken, cubed
- 24 oz. marinara sauce
- Olive oil
- Oregano
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Sliced pepperoni
- Red onions, sliced
- Green peppers, sliced
- Mozzarella cheese, sliced
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, add cubed chicken, olive oil, oregano, black pepper, salt, and garlic powder.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the seasoned chicken and cook until all sides are no longer pink. This will take about 15 minutes.
- Add cooked chicken to a 9x13 casserole dish.
- Pour in marinara sauce and coat until chicken is covered.
- Add sliced pepperoni, red onions, and green peppers.
- Top with mozzarella cheese until covered.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Tips and Variations:
- Cooking the cubed chicken beforehand is recommended.
- In a hurry to throw dinner together? Use shredded chicken for this type of recipe; it works great! Rotisserie chickens are a great time-saver.
- Use a vegetable chopper to quickly prepare the vegetables.
Keto Italian Meatballs: Braised to Perfection in Tomato Sauce
Enjoy these Keto Italian Meatballs that are braised low and slow in a classic tomato sauce guilt-free! Italian food cooking in the kitchen smells divine! And who doesn't love a great meatball parmigiana!? Before Keto, the typical "Sunday Sauce" (or gravy depending on who you ask!) was often served over pasta. While pasta is no longer an option, you can still really enjoy a good meatball. These are the best gluten free meatballs ever, and you won't even miss the bread crumbs!
Read also: Learn Keto Italian Casserole Recipes
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup oat fiber (or finely ground almond flour)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup dry red wine
- 24 oz tomato sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
Instructions:
- Add eggs, heavy cream, 3 cloves of the garlic, parmesan cheese, tomato paste, oat fiber and half the basil to a mixing bowl and mix well.
- Add in the ground beef and pork and mix just until combined, do not over-mix.
- Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out mixture into your hand, form the meatballs and place them on a piece of parchment paper. Wet your hands periodically, to prevent them from sticking to your hands.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium. Add in the olive oil and once heated, add in the meatballs. Sear on all sides, and cook until they firm up.
- Remove the meatballs and put them aside. Drain off most of the fat, then add in the remaining clove of garlic. Sauté for about 20 seconds, careful not to brown it.
- Deglaze the pan with the wine, scraping up the brown bits. Continue cooking until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, remaining basil, salt and pepper.
- Add the meatballs back in and cook (covered) for 1 hour on low or until tender.
- You can either serve the meatballs as is with the sauce over the tops or you can bake them with some cheese.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Add the cheese over the top.
- Bake in a preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Tips and Variations:
- Mix everything that goes into the meatballs in the bowl first and add in the meat last, this ensures the meat does not get overworked, tough and dense.
- Using an ice cream scoop makes the meatballs more uniform in size and helps them all cook evenly.
- Use a nonstick pan!
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve the meatballs as is with the tomato sauce.
- Serve with Keto Buns or Keto Dinner Rolls, and for added flavor Keto Garlic Rolls are fantastic!
- Serve with homemade Keto Hot Dog Buns.
Substitutions:
- Finely ground almond flour can be used instead of the oat fiber, though it will change the texture a bit.
Embracing the Keto Italian Lifestyle
While traditional pasta is off the table, there are still numerous ways to enjoy classic Italian dishes on a ketogenic diet. With a few ingredient tweaks, you can indulge in the flavors you love without compromising your low-carb goals.
Why Choose Keto Italian?
- Flavor without the Guilt: Enjoy the rich, satisfying tastes of Italian cuisine without the carb overload.
- Versatile Options: From hearty casseroles to comforting meatballs, there's a keto Italian recipe for every craving.
- Easy to Customize: Adapt traditional recipes with keto-friendly ingredients to suit your dietary needs.
Common Questions:
- Can I eat Italian food on keto? Yes, you sure can! While we cannot enjoy traditional pasta, there are a number of classic Italian dishes that with a few ingredient tweaks, that we can indulge in.
- Can I make meatballs without breadcrumbs? Sure you can, but this meatball recipe is made without breadcrumbs. With this Keto meatballs recipe, there is no reason you can't enjoy the same great flavor and texture of traditional meatballs.
- Why is there heavy cream in the meatball recipe? There is also heavy cream in the mix, this is to keep them moist and tender.
- How many carbs are in each serving? Each serving in this Keto meatball recipe, has only 3 net carbs.
- Are store-bought frozen meatballs keto-friendly? Store bought frozen meatballs typically contain flour in them, as one of the binding agents used to hold them together. So they're not idea for a low carb or Keto diet.
- Can I use oat fiber instead of flour? Absolutely and it does a great job in holding the meatballs together, just as all purpose flour does with traditional meatballs.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips:
- Store leftover meatballs in the fridge for a few days, sitting in their sauce so they can continue to absorb the flavor and stay moist. This is one of those meals that actually tastes better the next day.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide