Make this rich and hearty low carb meat sauce in just 30 minutes! A healthy, low carb spaghetti sauce recipe that’s full of classic Italian flavor — perfect over zoodles, palmini, or your favorite low carb noodles.
This Keto Meat Sauce Recipe is the Best!
This low carb meat sauce has been our family favorite for decades — you just can’t go wrong with classic Italian flavors like garlic, basil, and oregano, all simmered with savory ground beef into a bubbling, savory sauce.
My teenage son even ate two huge bowls and seriously had no idea we'd given him low carb pasta and sauce!
Serve the keto friendly pasta sauce over zoodles, palmini pasta, shirataki noodles, or spaghetti squash. Or why not pour it over cottage cheese as a fun and unique take?
Quick Facts
- Diet: Keto, low carb, high protein
- Nutrition: 3 net carbs per serving, 16g protein.
- Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Pairs well with: Zoodles, palmini pasta, shirataki noodles, spaghetti squash. or cottage cheese
Why You’ll Love This
- Ready in 30 minutes — perfect for busy weeknights or great for batch cooking and freezing for later.
- Super hearty and tasty, with rich Italian flavors.
- Keto, low carb, and high in protein.
- Made with simple pantry staples.
- Picky-eater approved — my family devours it!
Homemade sauces like this are my go-to way to make simple dinners feel extra special. If you love this you'll also want to try our cheddar cheese sauce, pesto sauce, and alfredo sauce too -- all keto friendly and low carb.
✨ Grab your free printable list of high protein foods to help plan more protein packed meals like this!
👉 Click here to get the list
Key ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy keto spaghetti meat sauce:
- Ground beef (80/20): Adds rich flavor and heartiness. Any ground meat works — we like 80/20 for extra taste.
- Onion: Red, yellow, sweet, or white — all add sweetness and depth.
- Green bell pepper: Use any color, but green gives nice color contrast.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic, jarred, or frozen garlic cubes all work well.
- Tomato sauce: Choose a plain sauce with no added sugar for true keto.
- Balsamic vinegar: A splash of acid brightens and balances the flavors.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential for seasoning.
- Dried basil and dried oregano: Classic Italian herbs for authentic taste.
- Optional sweetener (½ tsp): Many pasta sauces include a touch for balance. Skip or use a keto-friendly sweetener to keep it low carb.
Keto "noodles" - shirataki miracle noodles, (cooking instructions included below), palmini pasta, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash noodles all work well with this sauce.
Variations
- Sneak in extra low carb veggies by sauting vegetables like more bell peppers, zucchini, quartered mushrooms, or cauliflower rice.
- Change the protein. Ground turkey, ground Italian sausage, ground pork, or ground chicken are great ideas.
How to make low carb spaghetti sauce with meat
Here’s a quick overview of the steps — the full instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1 — Brown the beef:
In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef. There’s no need to drain — the fat adds flavor.
Step 2 — Sauté the veggies:
Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook until they start to soften, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
Step 3 — Add tomato sauce and simmer:
Pour in the tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Cooking Low Carb Noodles
I love serving this sauce over shirataki noodles for a true zero-carb pasta night. To prepare:
- Drain and rinse well — use a fork to separate the noodles.
- Boil for 2–3 minutes.
- Optional: For best texture, sauté in a hot, dry skillet for 2–3 minutes to remove excess moisture.
Helpful Tips
- Don’t drain the beef: The extra fat adds flavor and helps soften the veggies while sautéing.
- Make ahead: Double the recipe — leftovers keep in the fridge for 3–4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
- Boost the protein: Add extra ground meat for a higher protein sauce.
- Plan portions: One 8 oz package of shirataki noodles serves one person — buy one per serving.
Leftovers and storing
- Any leftover sauce will store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- You can freeze extra sauce for up to 3 months in the freezer.
- This is the perfect recipe to batch cook and store some for later!
FAQs
What is the lowest carb pasta sauce?
The lowest carb pasta sauce is usually a homemade tomato-based sauce with no added sugar, like our low carb meat sauce recipe. Store-bought options can vary widely — look for brands labeled “no sugar added” or “keto-friendly” and always check the nutrition label. Rao's makes a great brand. Many homemade keto spaghetti sauces have about 3–5 net carbs per serving, while jarred sauces can have 8–12 grams if they contain added sugar.
Can you have spaghetti sauce on keto?
Yes — you can have spaghetti sauce on a keto diet as long as it doesn’t contain added sugar. Many store-bought pasta sauces have hidden sugars that increase the carb count, so always check the label. Making your own homemade keto spaghetti sauce is the best way to keep it low in carbs and full of flavor.
What low carb noodles go well with this sauce?
Zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, palmini pasta, and shirataki noodles are all great low carb choices. You can also pour it over cottage cheese for a high-protein twist!
More low carb pasta recipes
This easy low carb meat sauce (or keto spaghetti sauce — whatever you like to call it!) is one of my favorite weeknight dinners when I want big Italian flavor without the carbs.
I hope you love it as much as we do! If you try it, leave a comment below or upload your photos on Pinterest — and don’t forget to grab my free printable no carb food list for more easy low carb meal ideas. Enjoy!
On keto?
Grab our FREE 150 no carb foods list here OR Snag our Keto Binder HERE!
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Recipe
Keto Meat Sauce for Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¾ cup chopped onion
- ½ chopped green pepper
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 (15 oz) cans of tomato sauce
- ½ cup water
- 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon monk fruit or erythritol sweetener
- Serve with low carb hearts of palm pasta shirataki noodles, zoodles, or spaghetti squash
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or large stockpot, begin by browning the beef over medium-high for 6-7 minutes. When the beef is fully cooked there is no need to drain it. The extra fat adds tons of extra flavor!
- Add the chopped onions and green pepper to the beef and cook an additional 5-6 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add the garlic and cook one minute until it gets fragrant. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 1 hour.
Cooking Hearts of Palm Pasta (Palmini Noodles)
- Each 9 oz package of hearts of palm pasta serves 1-2 people.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil to a medium size saucepan and preheat the pan over medium heat. Empty the package contents into the pan, and saute the pasta for 5 minutes or until it's heated through. Serve with the sauce.
Cooking Shirataki Noodles
- Allow 1 (8 oz) package of shirataki noodles per person.
- Drain the shirataki and rinse thoroughly. Separate with a fork into "noodles" before cooking.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and boil the shirataki for 2-3 minutes.
- Drain well and serve.
Notes
- If you love garlic, feel free to add more!
- For a heartier, veggie-rich sauce, include mushrooms, tomatoes, and even zucchini!
- Additionally, feel free to include sausage (Italian or spicy) in your sauce.
- Do not drain your beef after you brown it. The grease adds flavor to your sauce and helps to tenderize your vegetables while sauteing.
- We recommend using an organic tomato sauce that is made without added sugar.
- This recipe can easily be doubled. Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days covered or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Double the meat if you want to turn the sauce into a higher protein dish.
Tracy Tesseneer says
Hi! I was wondering what would be a serving size for this sauce? 1/4 cup? 1/2 cup?