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close up of Zucchini Spaghetti with sauce and parmesan on top
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5 from 6 votes

Zucchini Spaghetti

Nothing beats this tasty zoodles and meatsauce recipe for classic spaghetti flavor without the carbs.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 4
Author: Easy Low Carb

Equipment

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey or chicken
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 green pepper diced
  • 28 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 pinch chili flakes optional

Zucchini Noodles

  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper or to taste

Garnish

  • grated Parmesan cheese *optional, to taste, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef and onion, about 7-9 minutes, until the beef is browned and the onion is tender.
  • Add garlic and green pepper and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more until tender.
  • Use your hands to crush and break up the whole tomatoes as you add them to the beef mixture. Stir in the tomato juices, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes (if using).
  • Bring to a boil, reduce to low heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, wash zucchini and remove the ends. Use a spiralizer or a vegetable peeler to create "noodles".
  • Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add zucchini and cook for 2-4 minutes or until slightly softened (do not overcook). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • To serve, top zucchini with pasta sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • If you don't own a spiralizer, simply cut zucchini into thin ¼” slices, lay them flat, and slice into thin “noodles.”
  • Make sure the zoodles are dried thoroughly before adding them to the pan so that they don't steam and get watery.
  • Use up to a tablespoon of olive oil to cook them, ensuring they remain tender-crisp, like al dente pasta.
  • Serve zucchini spaghetti immediately after pan-frying for the best results.
Nutrition calculated without Parmesan garnish.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 758mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 339IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 4mg