Low Carb Penne with Meat Sauce
Indulge in a guilt-free twist on a classic Italian favorite with this Low Carb Penne with Meat Sauce, perfect for healthy weeknight dinners! Instead of traditional pasta, tender zucchini noodles mimic the shape of penne, offering a gluten-free and keto-friendly alternative. The robust meat sauce, featuring succulent ground beef, aromatic garlic, and onions, is simmered with rich tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and a medley of Italian herbs like basil and oregano for a burst of flavor in every bite. Served with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, this dish delivers all the hearty comfort of a pasta night without the carbs. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s a quick, wholesome, and satisfying meal the whole family will love.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 medium Zucchini
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1 medium Onion
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 14.5 ounces Canned diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese
- 0.25 teaspoon Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Start by preparing the zucchini penne. Using a spiralizer or a vegetable peeler, cut the zucchini into noodle-like strips, resembling the shape of penne pasta. Set these aside.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it's browned, breaking it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
While the beef is cooking, finely chop the onion and mince the garlic cloves.
Once the beef is browned and drained, add the onion and garlic to the skillet and continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent.
Stir in the canned diced tomatoes and the tomato paste, mixing well with the meat and onion mixture.
Season the sauce with dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Let the sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes on low heat to blend the flavors together.
While the sauce is simmering, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in another pan over medium heat. Add the zucchini noodles and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are just tender but still firm to the bite.
Serve the zucchini penne onto plates and top with the meat sauce.
Sprinkle each serving with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1916 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 130.8 g | 168% | |
| Saturated Fat | 44.5 g | 222% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 352 mg | 117% | |
| Sodium | 9659 mg | 420% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 97.7 g | 36% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 18.0 g | 64% | |
| Total Sugars | 77.6 g | ||
| Protein | 91.7 g | 183% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 616 mg | 47% | |
| Iron | 14.3 mg | 79% | |
| Potassium | 4220 mg | 90% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
