Keto Italian Beef with Cabbage Noodles
A gut-filling crowd pleaser — savory Italian-seasoned ground beef over thinly sliced cabbage that acts like low-carb noodles. Just 6.3g net carbs per serving and ready in 30 minutes.
Head of Nutrition · June 17, 2026
Nutrition per serving
Per serving · makes 6. Values are estimates; brands vary.
This one-skillet dinner turns humble cabbage into satisfying "noodles" that soak up a rich, garlicky Italian beef sauce. It's hearty, family-friendly, and comes together in half an hour — proof that keto comfort food doesn't have to be complicated.
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground beef (85% lean)
- 24 oz marinara sauce (no sugar added, such as Rao's)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried basil
- 6 cups chopped cabbage
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- 2
Add the ground beef, salt, Italian seasoning, and dried basil. Cook, breaking the meat apart, until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- 3
Stir in the marinara sauce and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the chopped cabbage, toss to coat, cover, and cook for 8–10 minutes until the cabbage is tender but still has a slight bite — like al dente noodles.
- 4
Taste and adjust seasoning, then top with fresh basil and serve hot.
Tips & notes
- Use a no-sugar-added marinara to keep net carbs at 6.3g — many jarred sauces hide 6–10g of added sugar per serving.
- Slice the cabbage thin so it softens into a noodle-like texture; a mandoline makes quick work of it.
- Leftovers keep 4 days in the fridge and reheat well, making this a great keto meal-prep dinner.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many carbs are in keto Italian beef with cabbage noodles?
- Each serving has 6.3g of net carbs (8.6g total carbs minus 2.3g fiber), 376 calories, 31.8g protein, and 23.8g fat. The recipe makes 6 servings.
- Is cabbage a good keto noodle substitute?
- Yes. Cabbage has only about 3g of net carbs per cup and softens to a tender, noodle-like texture when simmered, making it one of the best low-carb pasta swaps alongside zucchini and shirataki noodles.
- Can I make this ahead for meal prep?
- Absolutely. It keeps for up to 4 days refrigerated and reheats well, so it's an easy keto meal-prep dinner. Portion it into containers with the macros above to stay on track.
