Meatball Casserole is a tasty low carb take on a meatball sub. Next time you find yourself tempted with a trip to the sub shop, whip up this delicious keto meatball sub sandwich bake instead!

Meatball Casserole in a pan resting on a green background

Why You'll Be Skipping The Sub Shop

Fast. Ready in under 30 minutes with the help of your air fryer.
Easy. Mix up the ricotta mixture, toss on some meatballs, cherry tomatoes, and cheese, then air fry. That's it.
Low Carb. Only 6 net carbs per serving.
Gluten Free. Skipping the bread in this keto meatball sub makes it naturally gluten-free.

Ingredients You'll Need

Meatballs- You can use frozen meatballs or refrigerated meatballs. If you use frozen, you will want to defrost them before getting started.
Low Carb Marinara Sauce- Grab a jar of your favorite low carb brand or give making your own homemade keto marinara sauce a shot!
Ricotta Cheese- Adds creaminess, protein, and a flavorful base to this meatball casserole.
Egg- Provides volume to the ricotta blend when baking.
Mozzarella Cheese- Becomes the melty, bubbly top to this low carb casserole.
Cherry Tomatoes- Gives an additional pop of texture and freshness.
Salt
Pepper
Italian Seasoning

How To Make Meatball Casserole

Making this recipe couldn't be much more simple. Mix together the ricotta filling, layer up the sauce and meatballs, then top with cheese and cherry tomatoes.

Follow the simple list of steps below for a dinner that is just as tasty as it is easy to make!

In a bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Drizzle half of the low carb marinara into the bottom of an oven-safe baking dish that will fit in your air fryer basket. Spread the ricotta mixture into the bottom of the dish on top of the sauce.
Place the meatballs on top of the ricotta blend and add the remaining marinara sauce.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and air fry the dish for 12 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through.
With 4 minutes remaining in the cooking time remove the aluminum foil, sprinkle on mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes and place the casserole back in the air fryer to finish.

Close up image of meatball casserole in a black skillet

Variations

Sometimes a dish can be even more enjoyable when you're able to put your own personal spin on it. This Meatball Casserole is no different! Try one of these tasty twists next time you're in the kitchen:

Skip the tomatoes. Depending on your daily carb goals, the cherry tomatoes in addition to the marinara sauce can be high in carbs. If you're looking to reduce the carbs per serving, this is an easy way to start.
Use turkey. For fewer calories per serving, swap out frozen beef meatballs for turkey.
Add veggies. Though they're not a traditional topping, still getting a balanced diet when you're eating low carb is important. You can add a layer of riced cauliflower below the meatballs, dice up some onions, or even serve the Meatball casserole as is over a bed of zoodles.

What To Serve With Meatball Casserole

This Meatball Casserole can be quite a heavy dish with a high protein and fat content, so something light and fresh compliments it quite well. Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve alongside it:

If you're really missing the experience of a great meatball sub, you can still enjoy this casserole on bread for the ultimate experience, just make sure you use a low carb variety to stay within your daily macros. For a keto-friendly slice that doesn't cost a fortune or taste eggy, try making my keto bread!

How Long Does It Last?

Due to the small size of the pan you need to use to cook this in your air fryer, Meatball Casserole only makes four servings. So, the odds of having much leftover are pretty slim.

If you're the only one eating low carb in your household or have a smaller family, you may have more casserole to enjoy another day. If that is the case, you can store any extras in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Try to enjoy them within 3-4 days of preparing the dish.

More Low Carb Beef Recipes

If you're living a low carb lifestyle and can't stand the thought of eating another meal of grilled chicken and steamed veggies, try out one of these delightfully keto-approved beef dishes:

Pin It!

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