Easy Low-Carb Bolognese Sauce

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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Step-by-step

1. Peel and finely dice the onion and carrot. Mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large pot.

   

2. 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.

   

3. Add the ground beef and herbs. Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes to brown the meat.

   

4. Add the tomato passata, stock and reduce to low heat. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

   

5. 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.

   

Recipe

Easy Low-Carb Bolognese Sauce

★★★★★4.6 (452 ratings)

This homemade bolognese sauce is an easy meal prep recipe ideal for busy weekdays. Pair with healthy keto ...

Hands on

5m

Overall

45m

Servings

4

6.1 g

Net carbs

23.7 g

Protein

32.9 g

Fat

426

kcal

1 serving2 servings3 servings4 servings5 servings6 servings7 servings8 servings9 servings10 servings11 servings12 servings16 servings

US + metricMetricUS

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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

1. Peel and finely dice the onion and carrot. Mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large pot.

2. 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.

3. Add the ground beef and herbs. Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes to brown the meat.

4. Add the tomato passata, stock and reduce to low heat. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. 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 serving, about 1 cup/ 240 ml

Carbs 6%Protein 23%Fat 71% of calories

Net carbs

6.1 g

Total carbs

8.3 g

Fiber

2.2 g

Sugars

4.8 g

Protein

23.7 g

Fat

32.9 g

Saturated fat

10.9 g

Calories

426 kcal

Sodium

393 mg · 17.1% RDA

Magnesium

39 mg · 9.76% RDA

Potassium

685 mg · 34.2% EMR

Nutrition by ingredient

Per about 1 cup/ 240 ml	Net carbs	Protein	Fat	kcal
Onion, brown (yellow), raw	1.6 g	0.2 g	0 g	9
Carrot, fresh	1.4 g	0.2 g	0 g	8
Garlic, fresh	0.7 g	0.1 g	0 g	3
Olive oil, extra virgin	0 g	0 g	6.8 g	60
Beef, minced (ground), raw, grass-fed	0 g	21.5 g	25 g	318
Italian seasoning (mixed herbs)	0.2 g	0 g	0 g	1
Tomato sauce (passata), unsweetened	2.3 g	0.7 g	0.2 g	15
Chicken stock (broth), chicken only, homemade	0 g	0.9 g	0.9 g	12
Total	6.1 g	23.7 g	32.9 g	426

Serving size about 1 cup/ 240 ml

• Gluten free
• Dairy free
• Egg free
• Nut free
• Pork free
• Coconut free
• Fish free
• Shellfish free
• Beef free