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My toddler loves bolognese sauce, so I cook up a big batch of this low-carb bolognese sauce every few weeks and then divide it into smaller containers to freeze and pull out for a quick midweek meal.
This homemade bolognese sauce is an easy meal prep recipe ideal for busy weekdays. Pair it with healthy keto sides like zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or steamed veggies!
Why Make Your Own Bolognese Sauce?
Making your own bolognese sauce at home means you get to control what goes into it. No more worrying about hidden sugars or preservatives. This low-carb recipe is perfect for sticking to your keto diet while still enjoying a classic, comforting meal. Plus, you can adjust the flavors to suit your family's tastes and preferences.
How to Make Bolognese Sauce
To create a delicious low-carb bolognese sauce, you need just a few key ingredients:
- Onion and Carrot: These vegetables form the base of the sauce, providing a natural sweetness and depth of flavor when sautéed.
- Garlic: Adds a robust, aromatic element that enhances the overall taste.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the vegetables, it's great for any Mediterranean inspired meals and provides healthy fats.
- Ground Beef: The primary protein source, giving the sauce its hearty and satisfying texture.
- Dried Italian Herbs: A blend of herbs like oregano and basil that infuses the sauce with traditional Italian flavors.
- Tomato Passata: Pureed canned tomatoes that form the bulk of the sauce, offering a rich tomato flavor and smooth consistency.
- Chicken Stock or Bone Broth: Adds moisture and enhances the sauce's depth with a savory note.
These ingredients come together to create a bolognese sauce that is both flavorful and low in carbs, perfect for a keto-friendly meal.
Recipe Tips & Swaps
Add-ons: Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms for extra flavor and nutrients. For extra flavor boost once it's cooked, try sprinkling in some freshly chopped basil!
Swaps: If you don't have tomato passata, you can use canned crushed tomatoes. For a different protein, ground turkey or chicken works well too.
Storage: This Bolognese sauce is perfect for freezing, meal prep and batch cooking! Store the bolognese sauce in the fridge for up to five days or freeze in an airtight container for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
What to Serve with Bolognese Sauce
While this sauce pairs well with traditional pasta for those not following a low-carb diet, there are plenty of keto-friendly options to enjoy:
- Zucchini Noodles: Light and fresh, perfect for soaking up the rich bolognese sauce. Here's how to make the perfect zucchini noodles!
- Spaghetti Squash Noodles: A slightly sweet and nutty alternative.
- Kelp Noodles: Crunchy and easy to prepare, adding an interesting texture.
- Shirataki Noodles: Low in calories and carbs, these noodles are a great option. Here's how to prepare them so they always have the best texture and flavor.
- Palmini Noodles: Palmini is a pasta substitute that is made out of a natural plant known as hearts of palm. When sliced and cooked in the right way, it resembles pasta and can be used to replace noodles, linguine and lasagne.
- Homemade Protein Noodles: Boost your protein intake while enjoying your meal with these easy low-carb fettuccine.
- Homemade Keto Spaghetti: Missing traditional spaghetti? This keto pasta recipe will blow your mind!
- Store-bought Low-Carb Pasta: Many options are available for convenience without compromising your diet.
- For even more delicious options to pair this bolognese sauce with, check out The Ultimate Guide to Low-Carb Pasta Alternatives, all gluten-free and grain-free!
- Simply Vegetables: Any steamed or roasted veggies will go well with this delicious Italian meat sauce.
Enjoy this versatile and delicious low-carb bolognese sauce with your favorite keto-friendly sides!
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Hands-on Overall
Serving size about 1 cup/ 240 ml
Nutritional values (per about 1 cup/ 240 ml)
Net carbs6.1 grams
Protein23.7 grams
Fat32.9 grams
Calories426 kcal
Calories from carbs 6%, protein 23%, fat 71%
Total carbs8.3 gramsFiber2.2 gramsSugars4.8 gramsSaturated fat10.9 gramsSodium393 mg(17% RDA)Magnesium39 mg(10% RDA)Potassium685 mg(34% EMR)
Ingredients (makes 4 servings)
- 1 medium brown onion, diced (100 g/ 3.5 oz)
- 1 medium carrot, finely diced (80 g/ 2.8 oz)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (30 ml)
- 500 g ground beef (1.1 lb)
- 2 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 1 cup tomato passata (pureed canned tomatoes) (240 ml/ 8 fl oz)
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or bone broth (360 ml/ 12 fl oz)
Instructions
- Peel and finely dice the onion and carrot. Mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
- Add the diced onion and carrot and cook for 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat, until the vegetables have softened and lightly caramelized. Then add the minced garlic.
- Add the ground beef and herbs. Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes to brown the meat.
- Add the tomato passata, stock and reduce to low heat. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with low-carb pasta alternatives such as zucchini noodles, shirataki noodles or palmini noodles. Store in the fridge up to five days. Freeze in an airtight container up to two months.
Easy Bolognese Sauce
Ingredients (makes 4 servings)
- 1 medium brown onion, diced (100 g/ 3.5 oz)
- 1 medium carrot, finely diced (80 g/ 2.8 oz)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (30 ml)
- 500 g ground beef (1.1 lb)
- 2 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 1 cup tomato passata (pureed canned tomatoes) (240 ml/ 8 fl oz)
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or bone broth (360 ml/ 12 fl oz)
Instructions
- Peel and finely dice the onion and carrot. Mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
- Add the diced onion and carrot and cook for 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat, until the vegetables have softened and lightly caramelized. Then add the minced garlic.
- Add the ground beef and herbs. Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes to brown the meat.
- Add the tomato passata, stock and reduce to low heat. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with low-carb pasta alternatives such as zucchini noodles, shirataki noodles or palmini noodles. Store in the fridge up to five days. Freeze in an airtight container up to two months.
Nutrition (per about 1 cup/ 240 ml)
Calories426kcal
Net Carbs6.1g
Carbohydrates8.3g
Protein23.7g
Fat32.9g
Saturated Fat10.9g
Fiber2.2g
Sugar4.8g
Sodium393mg
Magnesium39mg
Potassium685mg
Detailed nutritional breakdown (per about 1 cup/ 240 ml)
| Total per about 1 cup/ 240 ml |
| 6.1 g | 23.7 g | 32.9 g | 426 kcal |
| Olive oil, extra virgin |
| 0 g | 0 g | 6.8 g | 60 kcal |
| Onion, brown (yellow), raw |
| 1.6 g | 0.2 g | 0 g | 9 kcal |
| Carrot, fresh |
| 1.4 g | 0.2 g | 0 g | 8 kcal |
| Garlic, fresh |
| 0.7 g | 0.1 g | 0 g | 3 kcal |
| Beef, minced (ground), raw, grass-fed |
| 0 g | 21.5 g | 25 g | 318 kcal |
| Italian seasoning (mixed herbs) |
| 0.2 g | 0 g | 0 g | 1 kcal |
| Tomato sauce (passata), unsweetened |
| 2.3 g | 0.7 g | 0.2 g | 15 kcal |
| Chicken stock (broth), chicken only, homemade |
| 0 g | 0.9 g | 0.9 g | 12 kcal |
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