You will not miss the pasta in this easy and delicious Low-Carb Million Dollar Zoodle Spaghetti. Eating low carb has never been this easy!

Does anyone know where the ‘million dollar’ term came from? I’m imagining a big state fair where there was a million-dollar prize at stake and the winning dish was a creamy baked spaghetti. That being said, I’d put my money on this Low-Carb Million Dollar Zoodle Spaghetti any day. 

My favorite mac & cheese recipe is the Million Dollar Mac & Cheese from Carlsbad Cravings and I would legit pay a million dollars for that too.

Any type of baked marinara-based pasta dish is always a winner in our house. I’ve mentioned a dozen times that lasagna is Matt’s favorite food and the same could be said for baked spaghetti.

Since we’ve been going to the gym more regularly and refining our eating a little more, I decided to take one of my favorite recipes and give it a lower carb twist.

Even though there are no noodles, this baked spaghetti has no shortage of richness.

I still use full-fat ricotta and shredded mozzarella because if you make me choose, I’ll pick cheese over pasta any day. Honestly, you WILL NOT miss the carbs in this recipe.

Everything else is so reminiscent of your favorite lasagna or baked spaghetti, you don’t even notice the zucchini noodles. I also have a zucchini boat recipe hitting the blog very soon!

Ingredients & Subs

• Zucchini — I’ve only ever made this with zucchini noodles, but you can try with another low carb vegetable or even the low carb noodles you can buy in a pack. Let me know if you do try it and how it works out!
• Whole milk ricotta — I prefer whole milk ricotta, but you’re welcome to use low-fat or even cottage cheese if you like! The result just won’t be quite as rich.
• Spicy Italian sausage — I like it spicy, but you could do mild or sweet Italian if that works better for you. You could also use ground beef, turkey, or chicken, but if you do that I would add some additional spices in the way of Italian seasoning, garlic, and fennel seed.
• Marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought — If you’re going store-bought, I HIGHLY recommend Rao’s. Yes, it’s expensive but you can get two meals out of a jar and it’s still much cheaper than eating out. Costco has them the cheapest I’ve found and I always stock up. Just make sure you’re using a tried and true favorite because it truly does make a difference to the flavor.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese — I prefer to buy a log of whole milk mozzarella and shred myself for optimal melting. You can def use mozzarella in a bag, though! Just be sure not to use fresh mozzarella as it has too much moisture for this dish. 

** If you’re hardcore doing keto, be sure to check the nutrition facts on the products that you buy to make sure there’s no added sugar or that it fits into your macros. A lot of sausages and marinara sauces can have hidden sugars in them, so beware!

Also, I literally ordered all of these groceries from Instacart from Kroger If you’ve not done grocery delivery before, you may just be amazed at how awesome and seamless it is! You can click below to get started on your first order delivered free! 

How to Store your Zoodle Spaghetti

Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. I love these containers that I found on amazon-durable and plenty of room! I like to reheat in the oven at 300ºF until warmed through. 

Hot Tip for Zoodles

One thing I want to emphasize is not to skip letting your zoodles drain. You’ll be so amazed at how much liquid you get rid of that would otherwise make your spaghetti super soggy.

Once they’ve sat in a colander for about 20 minutes, bunch them up and give them a good squeeze or five. The amount of water that comes off is insane, and in some recipes, you want that moisture but not in this dish.

If you don’t have a spiralizer, I HIGHLY recommend getting one, but there are also frozen spiralized zucchini options or fresh options with the produce. You can get a decent one here.

Still be sure to go through the draining process with those as well, especially the frozen versions which will likely be holding even more moisture.

More Healthy Zucchini Recipes You’ll Love!

Simple Zucchini Salad

Savory Italian Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Breakfast Cookies

Grilled Ratatoille Foil Packets

Spring Lemon Vegetable Pasta

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Take a browse around the site and please let me know if you make anything by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or requests!

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Low-Carb Million Dollar Zoodle Spaghetti

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

You will not miss the pasta in this rich and delicious Low-Carb Million Dollar Zoodle Spaghetti. Eating low carb has never been this easy!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds zucchini
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 pound spicy Italian sausage
• 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
   
2. Using a spiralizer, make zucchini noodles following the manufacturer's directions.
   
3. Place the zoodles in a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl. If there are a lot of long pieces, trim with clean scissors or a knife.
   
4. Toss the zoodles with kosher salt and the zoodles release excess moisture for about 20 minutes.
   
5. While the zucchini drains, whisk together the eggs, parsley, and Parmesan in a medium bowl.
   
6. Give the zoodles one last squeeze to get rid of any excess liquid.
   
7. In a medium skillet, melt the butter and add the zucchini noodles. Immediately turn off the heat and add the egg mixture. Quickly toss until evenly coated and creamy. Add the ricotta and cream cheese and toss until combined and there are no chunks. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish.
   
8. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and brown all over, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the marinara sauce. Spread mixture over the spaghetti. Add the mozzarella cheese in an even layer over top.
   
9. Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake 30 to 40 minutes, until the cheese has melted and is lightly browned on top. Cool 5 minutes before serving. Serve with additional parmesan, if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 390Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 1434mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 19g

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Adapted from Half Baked Harvest Million Dollar Spaghetti