Low-Carb Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Hearty Meat Sauce with Low-Carb Pasta

Meat sauce, Sunday sauce, red sauce, gravy…whatever your family called it, you know it was the ultimate comfort food at family dinners. Slow-simmered, flavorful tomato sauce over a filling bed of carb-heavy pasta—and don't forget the cheese!

Well, if you’ve been craving Mom’s Spaghetti but don’t have the time or the calorie budget, we’ve got your back with a delicious low-carb spaghetti with meat sauce that’s ready in under half an hour. Prepare to be satisfied!

The Origins of Italian Meat Sauce

Italian-style meat sauce, "ragù" or "sugo," comes from Italy, of course. Many Italian cooks use a variety of meats in their sauce, including pork, beef, sausage, and even chicken. Tomatoes play a starring role alongside herbs and aromatics like onions and garlic.

Now, in Italy, red sauce or meat sauce also varies by region. In Bologna, they enjoy Ragu all Bolognese—a red sauce with fresh tomatoes, beef, pancetta, and milk or heavy cream to add body. Ragu Napoletano in Naples has big, meaty chunks of beef alongside sausage in the slow-simmered, flavorful sauce.

Italian-style sauce made its way to America with Italian immigrants in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Families brought their favorite cooking traditions, which included delicious sauces and many other delicacies.

Many Italian-American families still gather together on Sundays for supper. At the center of the gathering is a large pot of Sunday gravy—slow-cooked Italian meat sauce. Because the sauce takes a while to make, it's usually reserved for big family meals, weekends, and holiday celebrations.

All Italian restaurants have some form of red meat sauce, bolognese sauce, or Sunday sauce on their menu. It forms the base of all sorts of delicious dishes. The flavorful sauce is wonderful in lasagna, on pizza, slathered on a sandwich, and, of course, over a bed of delicious pasta.

With plenty of heavy meats, cheese, and carb-rich pasta, "spaghetti and meat sauce" isn't often considered a health food. But the truth is that most meat sauces have some health benefits. Thanks to the array of meats, they're protein-rich and high in a range of muscle-building amino acids.

Tomatoes are full of lycopene, vitamin C, potassium, and other excellent nutrients. Garlic and onions also offer health benefits, antioxidants, and more. Because most Italian meat sauces start with olive oil (a very healthy fat), they also provide benefits for heart health.

The two challenges of pasta with meat sauce are that it’s a time-consuming dish that’s very high in carbs. Fortunately, in this recipe, we’ve managed to tackle both challenges without giving up any of the flavor, nostalgia, or filling goodness of Sunday gravy.

Lightening Up with It’s Skinny

This Italian Meat Sauce recipe pairs best with It’s Skinny Spaghetti or Fettuccine shapes (although, truthfully, you could use any variety or our low-carb noodles you prefer here). All It's Skinny Pastas have only 9 calories per pack and ZERO net carbs per serving. These shirataki noodles are a guilt-free base for any yummy, saucy meal you're craving.

The great thing about It’s Skinny (besides the stats) is that it has the right mouthfeel to give real pasta vibes. It doesn’t feel like a diet noodle or a subpar swap like zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. You get all the satisfaction of having a big, filling, classic bowl of meaty spaghetti sauce and pasta (while still being able to button your pants).

It’s Skinny low carb pasta is perfect for any weeknight (or weekend) dish because it’s ready in just three minutes flat. Open the pack, drain, and add the It’s Skinny Pasta to your other ingredients at the end of cooking. Heat through, and they’re ready to enjoy. There’s no boiling water or fussing with getting the perfect al dente texture.

So, how did It’s Skinny do it? How did we make a magic low-carb pasta? We used a special ingredient called konjac. Konjac is an Asian plant that is very high in fiber. Texture-wise, it’s similar to a radish or potato, but we turned it into a great light pasta!

Like traditional pasta, It’s Skinny fills you up. Unlike traditional pasta, there’s no carb crash and burn later. You’ll feel pleasantly satisfied without being weighed down or sluggish. These keto noodles will satisfy all your cravings. 

It’s Skinny is the perfect keto diet pasta. It’s gluten-free, low-carb, plant-based, and even available in organic varieties. You can remake any and all of your favorite recipes with It’s Skinny.

• Spaghetti
• Fettuccine
• Angel Hair
• Rice Shape

Explore our recipe database for plenty of delicious ideas and takes on your favorite pasta recipes. With It's Skinny shirataki pasta, you have many options to choose from. We suggest starting with a variety pack to try each shape of pasta and pick your favorite.

It’s Skinny is the perfect keto or low-carb diet solution for any meal plan, lifestyle, or craving. Once you give it a try, you’ll be hooked!

What to Know About Making Sunday Sauce

While It’s Skinny always plays a starring role in our recipes, the sauce shares the spotlight in this one. You’ll enjoy all the richness and flavor of a sauce that simmered on the stove all day without the wait. We’ve managed to speed up the process while keeping all the delicious flavor.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of this delicious meat sauce.

Can I make this recipe with It’s Skinny Spaghetti instead of Fettuccine?

Absolutely! All the styles of It’s Skinny Pasta are interchangeable in our recipes. With a hearty meat sauce, you often want a thick noodle that can stand up to the sauce, which is why we opted for thicker Fettuccine noodles here.

However, Spaghetti noodles work perfectly well in this classic Spaghetti and keto meat sauce dish. The more delicate Angel Hair and Rice Shape style might be a little light for the meaty sauce, but they're certainly an option, too. With It's Skinny, you don't have to worry about overpowering flavors. The noodles take on the flavor of the sauce and protein, just like traditional spaghetti!

Could I use pork or chicken in this meat sauce recipe?

Sunday sauce is as unique as your family. If your grandma used to put chicken or pork in her Sunday gravy, by all means, go for it! Some people like to add chicken thighs or legs to the sauce. Generally, you’ll want to use smaller pieces of meat to accommodate the faster cooking time.

Italian sausage adds a mild spicy kick and makes this ultra-flavorful. You could experiment with other types of sausage if you prefer. Hot or sweet sausage works well, but there are so many varieties out there, so experiment to find your ideal taste. Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground pork if you like.

Can I add any other spices? Different cheese?

We encourage you to make every recipe your own! Traditional red pepper and oregano are a great spice blend for this sauce, but you could also add parsley or fresh basil. You could use your favorite Italian seasoning or increase the red pepper for a hotter kick. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Use garlic powder to add even more flavor to your homemade meat sauce.

The other big flavor component here is the cheese. We use an Italian blend that gets perfectly crispy and gooey in the oven—almost creating a keto spaghetti casserole. If you don’t have an Italian blend on hand, you could use Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese, Pecorino, Provolone, or any other cheese you like. Even cheddar would work (though it’s not quite as authentic, it’s still delicious).

How to Make Low-Carb Pasta & Meat Sauce

Are you ready to make this keto spaghetti meat sauce recipe? All the comfort of family gatherings and big get-togethers in one guilt-free meal. It's ready so fast and ultra delicious for all your pasta cravings. This may become your new keto-friendly dinner tradition!

Watch Chef Michele make this tasty Sunday Sauce on the It’s Skinny YouTube channel!