Easy & Delicious Keto Italian Sausage Casserole Recipes

This article explores a variety of keto-friendly Italian sausage casserole recipes, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal. These recipes are designed to be low-carb, gluten-free, and packed with flavor, making them ideal for anyone following a ketogenic diet or simply looking for a healthy and delicious dinner option.

Keto Baked Italian Sausage Casserole

This Keto Baked Italian Sausage dinner is a quick and delicious recipe you'll want to keep. Reminiscent of Chicken Parmesan but without the carbs, this oven-baked Italian sausage casserole is simple to prepare.

Ingredients

• Italian Sausage (mild or sweet, flavored with fennel and garlic)
• Low Carb Marinara Sauce (look for no added sugars and the lowest carb count)
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Italian Seasoning
• Garlic Powder
• Basil

Instructions

1. Sear sliced sausages in a cast-iron skillet until golden brown.
2. Add 1/2 cup water and simmer on low with the lid on for 12 minutes.
3. Pour 24 oz. marinara sauce over sausages.
4. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce, then add seasonings.
5. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 18 minutes, then move to the top rack of the oven for the last 2 minutes.

Searing the sausages in a cast-iron skillet before baking adds a lot of flavor. This step is optional but recommended. The internal temperature to aim for is 160 degrees F.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This recipe can easily be made in advance. Brown the sausages in a skillet, add them to a baking dish, and cover with marinara sauce and cheeses. Store in the refrigerator until ready to bake.

Variations

• Substitute pork sausages with turkey, beef, or chicken sausages.
• Use different kinds of cheese, such as Gruyere, Monterey, Cheddar, Fontina, or Gouda. A prepackaged mix bag of cheeses can also be used.
• Add fresh basil and/or thyme to the sauce or as a garnish.

Spicy Italian Sausage Casserole with Riced Cauliflower

This Italian Sausage Casserole is a spicy, cheesy combination of slices of hot Italian sausage, riced cauliflower, and a blend of cheeses. This recipe is similar to Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Casserole in that it is spicy and uses cauliflower rice with a combination of cheddar and cream cheese. It’s a high fat, moderate protein, low carb meal.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients

• Hot Italian sausage
• Riced cauliflower
• Cheddar cheese
• Cream cheese
• Red pepper
• Olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add the diced red pepper and cook until it begins to soften and blister, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the Italian sausage to the pan and cook until it's no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes.
5. Drain off excess grease.
6. Place the cubes of cream cheese in a large bowl and pour the hot sausage mixture over them. Allow to sit a minute or so to soften the cheese, then stir.
7. Gradually stir in the cauliflower rice and half of the cheddar cheese until everything is well blended.
8. Spread into a large casserole dish and top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
9. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.

You can use ground Italian sausage, if preferred. Shred the cheddar cheese from a block for the best melting and texture.

Freezing Instructions

Prepare the casserole up to the point of needing to bake it in the oven. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

Sweet Italian Sausage Bake

This sweet Italian sausage bake is the perfect one-pan weeknight dinner. It's a 30-minute skillet casserole that combines Italian sausage, bell peppers, onions, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella. This low carb, keto, and high protein recipe is made with no pasta! This easy baked Italian sausage dinner is a spin on crockpot sausage peppers and onions recipe.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage links (sweet or hot)
• Bell peppers (sliced)
• Onion (sliced)
• Marinara sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Olive oil
• Garlic salt
• Black pepper
• Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil to the pan.
3. Sear the Italian sausage on each side until browned, which will be about 2-3 minutes on each side. The sausage will NOT be cooked through at this point.
4. Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside.
5. Add more oil to the pan if needed and then add the bell peppers, onion, garlic salt, and pepper to the pan.
6. Sauté until mostly soft, which took about 5-6 minutes.
7. Add the sausage back to the pan and nestle it around the onion and peppers mix.
8. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the top.
9. Spread the marinara sauce over the Italian sausage casserole and then sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
10. Bake for 15+ minutes until the sausage is cooked through and the cheese is melted.

Serving Suggestions

Serve over zoodles or cauliflower rice if you need to keep the meal low-carb and gluten-friendly.

Freezing Instructions

Leave off the cheese and store it in your freezer for up to 3-months. When you are ready to enjoy your sausage casserole, simply defrost, add the cheese, and bake at 350F until cooked through.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Italian Sausage and Kale Casserole

Italian Sausage and Kale Casserole is a Whole30-friendly, comforting supper that will please the whole family! This comforting casserole is a cinch to throw together, and the flavors remind them of pizza.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage
• Kale
• Onions
• Carrots
• Mushrooms
• Marinara sauce
• Eggs
• Garlic
• Oregano
• Cooking fat
• Magic Mushroom Powder (or salt)
• Pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F with the rack in the middle.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons cooking fat to the pan when it’s hot.
3. Grease a 9 x 13 casserole pan with the remaining ½ tablespoon of fat.
4. Toss the onions, carrots, and mushrooms into the skillet.
5. Cook until the moisture has evaporated from the mushrooms and the vegetables have softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
6. Season the veggies with about 1 teaspoon of Magic Mushroom Powder (or salt) and a sprinkle of pepper. Stir to incorporate and then transfer to the greased baking pan.
7. Decrease the heat to medium, and add the sausage to the now-empty skillet. Break up the meat with a spatula.
8. Cook, over medium heat, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes or until it’s no longer pink.
9. Add the kale and stir to combine. Sauté until the greens are wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
10. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
11. Pour in the marinara sauce and add the oregano. Season to taste with another ½ teaspoon of Magic Mushroom Powder or with salt and pepper. Stir well to incorporate.
12. Transfer the sausage mixture to the ingredients in the casserole pan.
13. Pour in the whisked eggs to the casserole pan and stir to combine. Smooth the top of the casserole with a spatula.
14. Put the casserole in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the eggs are set and browned on the edges.
15. Rest the casserole for 5-10 minutes, and then slice and serve.

Baked Keto Sausage with Creamy Basil Sauce

If you are looking for an easy dinner idea, this Baked Keto Sausage with Creamy Basil Sauce should be on the menu. With only five ingredients and a five-minute prep, it is perfect when you are crunched for time.

Ingredients

• Sausage links
• Cream cheese
• Basil pesto
• Heavy cream
• Mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400. Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. Put the sausage in the baking dish (cut into bite-sized pieces, if desired).
3. Bake for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, stir together the cream cheese, pesto, and heavy cream.
5. Spread the sauce on top of the sausage.
6. Top with mozzarella.
7. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the sausage is 160 degrees when checked with a meat thermometer.
8. Optional: Broil for 2-3 minutes to toast the cheese on top. Watch it constantly.

Make sure you are using room temperature cream cheese. If you forgot, toss it in the microwave and heat for 10-second intervals and then try to stir it in between each session.

Variations

Feel free to toss in some cauliflower, broccoli, or even asparagus or diced tomatoes. Whether you enjoy a sweet Italian, spicy Italian, or maybe want a turkey sausage. Reach for what fits your taste buds in terms of sausage. You could even use a chicken sausage if you would like. This creamy sauce pairs with all the types of sausage, and you use the brand you and your family prefer. If you don’t have any sausage links, you can always use ground sausage that has been cooked in a skillet.

Reheating Instructions

You have many options for reheating baked sausage. Whether you want to warm up a sausage or two in the microwave, or even stove top. If you cook on the stove top make sure to cook low and slow so you don’t burn the sauce. Another option is warming up your sausage in the oven. If you go this route, place in a greased baking dish, and cover with aluminum foil. Then warm up at 350 degrees until the dish is warmed through.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

Cheesy Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

This casserole is packed with Italian sausage, tender bell peppers and onions, and, of course, lots of melty mozzarella cheese! It’s super quick to throw together, and the recipe is super low carb and keto, too. All the goodness of cheesy stuffed peppers baked right into an “unstuffed” pepper casserole! With tangy Italian sausage, melty mozzarella, and crisp peppers and onions, this flavorful entrée will make your whole family happy.

Ingredients

• Italian link sausage or rope sausage (mild or hot)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Tomato paste
• Water
• Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
2. Spray 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
3. Cut sausage into 1-inch pieces.
4. Heat large skillet over medium heat, then add sausage.
5. Cook 10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally, until sausage is browned but not fully cooked through.
6. Drain any liquid from skillet.
7. In small bowl, whisk together tomato paste, water, and Italian seasoning, stirring until well combined. Set aside.
8. In large bowl (or skillet if large enough), mix together browned sausage, bell peppers, and onions.
9. Pour tomato sauce over sausage and vegetables, then stir well to coat thoroughly.
10. Transfer half of sausage mixture to greased baking dish. Top with 1 cup mozzarella.
11. Spread remaining sausage mixture on top of cheese and cover baking dish with foil.
12. Place covered baking dish in preheated oven and bake 30 minutes.
13. After 30 minutes, remove foil and stir casserole well. Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and return baking dish to oven, uncovered.
14. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and peppers are tender.

The sausage shouldn’t be fully cooked in the skillet! You just want to brown it so it gets that delicious crispness. The covered + uncovered baking combo is important, so don’t skip the foil. Covering the dish helps insulate it, so all of the layers get good and hot.

Additional Tips

• Mozzarella: Shred your own mozzarella from a block of fresh cheese.
• Make it Keto: Be sure your tomato paste doesn’t contain any added sugars or any sugar substitutes that aren’t keto-friendly. You also want to make sure the sausage doesn’t contain any sugar and has the fewest carbs possible.

Zucchini Pasta Keto Hack

Slicing zucchini or yellow squash into penne pasta shapes is one of my favorite keto cooking hacks! Cut the ends off each zucchini then slice into quarters, lengthwise. Carefully slice away the soft core of each quarter (save for blended soups) then cut on a bias to form penne pasta shapes. Reduce heat to medium and add onion, garlic, dried basil, salt and black pepper. Mix in zucchini, cover and cook-stirring every few minutes-for 5 minutes. Serve with more Parmesan cheese (and chopped parsley if you’re feeling fancy). Keep the carbs down: Use a sugar-free marinara like Rao's. This is a saucy dish!

tags: #keto #italian #sausage #casserole