This perfect, simple keto meat sauce is gluten-free, full of flavor, and a cinch to make. Serve over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash to keep it Keto, Paleo, and Whole30!

Even though I have a Bolognese Sauce I love, I've been trying to perfect a keto meat sauce with for what seems like years now. I've tried everything... cooking it in a crockpot, letting it simmer for hours, adding pork chops for flavor, and all kinds of crazy spice combinations.

In the end, though, I always come back to a basic homemade meat sauce with classic seasonings using an onion, bell pepper, bay leaf, garlic, and Italian spices. It's a classic meat sauce recipe that's full of flavor and a cinch to make.

Tomatoes are naturally high in carbs, so many people don't consider spaghetti sauce to be Keto-friendly.

But by making the sauce by scratch with no added sugars and eating it in moderation, spaghetti meat sauce can be incorporated into a Keto diet. As long as you don't go crazy and eat the whole pot, lol!

🔪 Easy Steps

Start by browning the beef over medium heat. Remove fat if desired and set aside.

Chop a bell pepper and onion. Then, add it to the heated skillet that the meat was in and cook for 3 -5 minutes or until tender.

Add 3 cloves garlic and cook until fragrant, around 30 seconds. Add ⅓ cup beef broth and allow it to bubble for about a minute and a half.

Then, add 28 oz of diced tomatoes, 2 tablespoon of tomato paste, and some oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf.

Stir the beef into the sauce. Cover and simmer 20 minutes. For a thicker sauce, cover and simmer an additional 20 minutes.

Just before serving, stir in 2 tsp. of balsamic vinegar, dried parsley, basil, and remove the bay leaf.

How to serve it

This meat sauce can be served over gluten-free pasta or over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for Keto, Whole30, and Paleo.

Then, to make the meal complete, serve with a side salad and keto dinner rolls.

💭 Top tips

• Tomatoes are naturally high in carbs, so many people don't consider spaghetti sauce to be keto-friendly. But by making the sauce by scratch with no added sugars and eating it in moderation, spaghetti meat sauce can be incorporated into a Keto diet.
• If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can simmer it an additional 20 minutes or until it's the thickness you prefer.
• The balsamic vinegar is my secret ingredient that adds a depth of flavor and a tart-sweetness you don't want to miss - so don't skip it!

Looking for more Keto recipes? Check out this ultimate roundup of Easy Keto Family Family Dinner Recipes! Or these Keto Swedish Meatballs from That's Low Carb?! look pretty amazing also!!!

If you’ve tried this Keto Meat Sauce or any other recipe on the blog please let me know in the comments below!

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📖 Recipe

Keto Meat Sauce

This perfect, simple keto meat sauce is gluten free, dairy free, and a cinch to make. Serve over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash to make it Paleo and Keto!

4.80 from 10 votes

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Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 8

CALORIES :166kcal

CARBS :9g

FIBER :2g

Author: Cassidy Stauffer

Ingredients

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• ▢ 1 Lb. Ground Beef
• ▢ ½ Onion - Chopped
• ▢ 1 Green Bell Pepper - Chopped
• ▢ 2 - 3 Tbsp. Avocado or Olive Oil
• ▢ 3 Cloves Garlic - Minced
• ▢ ⅓ C Beef Broth
• ▢ 28 oz. Crushed Tomatoes
• ▢ 2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
• ▢ ¼ tsp. Oregano
• ▢ ¼ tsp. Ground Thyme
• ▢ 1 ½ tsp. Salt - or to taste
• ▢ 1 Bay Leaf
• ▢ ¼ tsp. Ground Pepper
• ▢ 2 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar
• ▢ ¼ C Dried Parsley - about ½ C is using fresh
• ▢ 2 Tbsp. Fresh Basil - finely chopped (or 1 Tbsp. dried)

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Instructions

• Heat 2 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the beef. Brown beef and set aside.
• Add additional oil if needed, then add onion and bell pepper and cook 3 - 5 minutes or until tender.
• Add garlic and cook about 1 minute or until fragrant.
• Stir in beef broth and allow to reduce for about 1 ½ minutes.
• Then, stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, salt, bay leaf, and pepper.
• Add in the browned beef, cover and simmer 20 minutes. For a thicker sauce, stir and simmer another 20 minutes, covered.
• Remove the bay leaf, then stir in the parsley, balsamic vinegar, and basil.
• Serve over gluten free noodles, spaghetti squash, or zucchini noodles.

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Notes

• Tomatoes are naturally high in carbs, so many people don't consider spaghetti sauce to be Keto-friendly. But by making the sauce by scratch with no added sugars and eating it in moderation, spaghetti meat sauce can be incorporated into a Keto diet.
• If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can simmer it an additional 20 minutes or until it's the thickness you prefer.
• The balsamic vinegar is my secret ingredient that adds a depth of flavor and a tart-sweetness you don't want to miss - so don't skip it!
• Leftovers can be stored, tightly covered, 3 to 4 days in the fridge or 3 -4 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 597mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 535IU | Vitamin C: 23.9mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3.2mg

NET CARBS = Total Carbs - Fiber - Allulose - Xylitol

Nutritional information is approximate and may vary. Sugar alcohols, xylitol, and allulose are included in the total carbs and fiber.

Looking for more information on the keto diet? Check out my

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