Ingredients:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef or ground turkey
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar of sugar-free marinara sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
- Zucchini noodles or other low-carb pasta alternative
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a skillet, cook the ground meat over medium heat until browned. Add diced onion and minced garlic and cook until the onion is translucent. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Pour the sugar-free marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked meat and onion. Simmer for a few minutes to combine flavors. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a separate bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and sour cream until well combined.
- Prepare your low-carb pasta alternative (zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, etc.) according to package instructions or your preferred method.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta alternative and the melted butter. Toss until the pasta is coated with butter.
- Spread half of the buttered pasta into a baking dish.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Top the cream cheese mixture with the remaining pasta.
- Pour the meat sauce over the top layer of pasta.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Optionally, broil for an additional 2-3 minutes for a golden brown cheese topping.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired before serving.
Please note that these are approximate values and can vary based on the specific ingredients you use:
- Calories: ~450
- Total Fat: ~34g
- Saturated Fat: ~19g
- Cholesterol: ~125mg
- Sodium: ~800mg
- Total Carbohydrates: ~9g
- Dietary Fiber: ~2g
- Sugars: ~4g
- Protein: ~27g
