Beef Meatballs with Tomato Sauce and Cauliflower Rice

Transform your pasta cravings with this delicious and juicy keto dinner featuring tender beef meatballs cooked in a rich tomato sauce, served over fluffy cauliflower rice. This comforting dish delivers all the satisfaction of traditional Italian cuisine while keeping your carbs low and in check.

These meatballs combine ground beef well seasoned for maximum flavour, bound together with almond flour instead of breadcrumbs. Fresh herbs, minced garlic, and grated Parmesan cheese infuse each bite with classic Italian flavours. When browned in olive oil, they develop a perfectly crispy exterior while remaining juicy inside.

The homemade tomato sauce simmers with garlic, fresh basil, and oregano until it reaches the perfect consistency. A touch of heavy cream adds silky richness and balances the tomatoes’ acidity, creating a sauce that coats each meatball beautifully. The natural sweetness of slowly cooked tomatoes eliminates any need for added sugars.

Riced cauliflower provides the perfect low-carb base, quickly sautéed with olive oil and Italian seasonings until tender-crisp. It soaks up the flavourful sauce while adding extra nutrients and fiber to your meal. Each generous serving contains just 7g net carbs, making this dish an excellent choice for anyone following a ketogenic lifestyle without compromising on taste or satisfaction.

What is Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is a low-carb alternative to traditional rice made by processing fresh cauliflower florets into tiny, grain-sized pieces. This can be done using a food processor’s pulse function, a box grater, or even chopping by hand until the cauliflower reaches a rice-like consistency.

When cooked properly, cauliflower rice has a light, fluffy texture that mimics regular rice while containing significantly fewer carbohydrates – approximately 5g of net carbs per cup compared to 45g in white rice. It can be sautéed, steamed, or microwaved, and readily absorbs the flavours of whatever seasonings or sauces it’s paired with, making it versatile for various cuisines.

Why Make Cauliflower Rice with Meatballs and Tomato Sauce instead of Classic Rice Recipe

Cauliflower rice with beef meatballs and tomato sauce is a popular choice for those following ketogenic or low-carb diets because it drastically reduces carbohydrate intake. While traditional rice contains about 45g of carbs per cup, cauliflower rice has only 5g, making it an excellent option for blood sugar management and weight control.

Beyond the nutritional benefits, cauliflower rice adds extra vegetables to your meal and provides additional nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. It’s also versatile in absorbing flavours from sauces and seasonings, making it an effective substitute that maintains the satisfying experience of the original dish while supporting dietary goals.

Ingredients for the Beef Meatballs with Tomato Sauce and Cauliflower Rice

Beef Meatballs:

• Ground Beef
• Almond flour
• Egg
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Minced garlic
• Fresh chopped parsley
• Dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper

Tomato Sauce:

• Canned crushed tomatoes
• Minced garlic
• Olive oil
• Heavy cream
• Dried oregano and thyme
• Red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and black pepper

Cauliflower Rice:

• 2 Medium heads cauliflower
• Olive oil
• Salt and black pepper
• Fresh parsley for garnish

How to Make Beef Meatballs with Tomato Sauce served on Cauliflower Rice

• Begin the meatballs preparation by combining ground beef with one beaten egg and a tablespoon of almond flour. Add grated Parmesan, minced garlic, chopped parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, placing them on a baking sheet. Let them rest for 10 minutes to ensure they maintain their shape during cooking.

• While the meatballs rest, prepare the tomato sauce. Heat olive oil in a large deep sauté pan over medium heat, then add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Season with salt and pepper and add heavy cream. Allow the sauce to reduce for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• In a separate large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Turn them occasionally until golden on all sides, approximately 7-10 minutes. Transfer the browned meatballs to the simmering sauce and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until they’re fully cooked through.

• For the cauliflower rice, process the cauliflower head in a food processor using the pulse function until they reach a rice-like consistency. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, add minced garlic, and sauté briefly until fragrant. Add the cauliflower rice, season with salt and pepper, and the chopped parsley then cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender but still maintaining a slight firmness.

• To serve, spoon a generous portion of cauliflower rice into each bowl, top with several meatballs, and rich tomato sauce over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley and additional grated Parmesan if desired. The entire dish takes approximately 40 minutes to prepare and serves 4 people.