Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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This tasty and cheesy ground beef casserole is keto and low-carb. One of my easiest ground beef recipes and ready in just 30 minutes, it's perfect for a weeknight dinner.

This casserole makes excellent leftovers that taste even better the next day and can be quickly reheated in the microwave.

Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

Whenever I'm not sure what to make for dinner, I make this tasty casserole. Making it couldn't be easier! Brown some ground beef, add cream cheese and spices, sprinkle with shredded cheddar, and bake.

This ground beef casserole is keto and low-carb, low calorie too if that's a concern to you. But most importantly, it's delicious! Leftovers are great too, so you can double the recipe if you wish.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Expert tip
  • Variations
  • Serving suggestions
  • Storing leftovers
  • Related recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients when making this tasty casserole. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Ground beef: I use extra-lean ground beef in this recipe. Normally I prefer lean, not extra lean. But here, I drain the fat anyway, plus I add other creamy ingredients.

Salt and pepper: I use fine sea salt. If you use coarse kosher salt, you can increase the amount you use.

Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Make sure they are fresh! A stale spice can easily ruin a dish.

Cream cheese: I use reduced-fat, but full-fat is fine if that's what you prefer.

Shredded cheddar: I love using extra-sharp cheddar. It's so flavorful!

Parsley: Used mostly for garnish, but it also adds a nice layer of flavor.

Instructions

Making this ground beef casserole is truly easy. I included detailed instructions in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:

Your first step is to quickly brown the ground beef with a few spices.

Now, mix in some cream cheese and shredded cheddar.

Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle it with a little more cheese, then bake until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Easy!

Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2)

Frequently asked questions

Why are you using low-fat ingredients?

I used to always buy lean ground beef (85% lean). But recently I've started experimenting with using extra lean ground beef (93% lean).

In many ground beef recipes, including this casserole, I end up draining the fat anyway. So it actually makes sense to use leaner ground beef.

I also find that reduced-fat cream cheese gives me excellent results in recipes, so I sometimes opt for using it.

So you'll see that in this recipe, I use extra lean ground beef, reduced-fat cream cheese, and a relatively small amount of shredded cheddar, with excellent, tasty, and creamy results. However, if you wish, by all means, use full-fat ingredients!

Doesn't a casserole usually include a starchy component?

Yes. Traditional casserole recipes include a starchy component. However, I've been making low-carb casseroles for many years now.

I have found that they are excellent without any starch and with just a protein ingredient, a creamy ingredient (sour cream, mayonnaise, heavy cream), spices, and sometimes a vegetable.

How can I make ground beef taste better?

Fatty ground beef is tastier than lean ground beef. But you can greatly improve the flavor of even extra-lean ground beef by salting and seasoning it liberally and by adding creamy and/or dairy ingredients such as sour cream or cheese.

Expert tip

When initially browning the ground beef, it's OK if it remains a bit pink. After all, it will finish cooking in the oven. And leaving it a bit pink in the first stage of cooking will help it remain nice and juicy.

Variations

I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you'd like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:

  • I intentionally don't include chopped onions in this recipe, because it's very tasty with the onion powder and it's so much easier not to deal with chopping an onion. But you can add a medium chopped onion when browning the beef! Maybe you're not as lazy as I am. 😉
  • Another nice variation is to mix some hot sauce into the beef mixture.
  • You can also add more spices, including smoked paprika and chili powder.
  • Provolone works well as a substitute for the cheddar in this recipe.

Serving suggestions

Any side dish goes with this casserole. It's so very versatile. I most often serve it with an easy salad of tossed greens (this arugula salad is very good), or with a simple vegetable dish such as steamed broccoli or roasted asparagus.

Storing leftovers

This casserole makes excellent leftovers that taste even better the next day and can keep in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.

I reheat the leftovers in the microwave, covered, on 50% power. Sometimes I freeze individual servings. They can be frozen for up to three months and reheated in the microwave.

Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (3)
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Recipe Card

Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (8)

4.98 from 3638 votes

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Keto Ground Beef Casserole

This very tasty ground beef casserole is keto and low carb. A very easy recipe, it's absolutely perfect for a weeknight dinner. Leftovers are great too!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 265kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • Olive oil spray for pan
  • 2 lb. extra lean ground beef (93% lean)
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese cubed
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar divided
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a 2-quart casserole dish with olive oil and set it aside.

  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly spray it with olive oil.

  • Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat into small pieces, until the meat is no longer raw, about 5 minutes. Drain the beef and return it to the skillet.

  • Reduce the heat to medium. Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne into the beef, then slowly and patiently mix in the cream cheese until fully melted and incorporated.

  • Turn the heat off, and mix ½ cup of the shredded cheddar into the beef mixture.

  • Transfer the mixture to the prepared 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar on top.

  • Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Video

Notes

When initially browning the ground beef, it's OK if it remains a bit pink. After all, it will finish cooking in the oven. And leaving it a bit pink in the first stage of cooking will help it remain nice and juicy.

I use extra lean ground beef, reduced-fat cream cheese, and a relatively small amount of shredded cheddar, with excellent, tasty, and creamy results. However, if you wish, by all means, use full-fat ingredients! The casserole will be even better with those.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 4oz | Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 372mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.1g

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Most of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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About the Author

Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (19) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Sharon

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (20)
    Awesome quick recipe! I am doing keto and my husband is not, so I served mine over salad and his over mashed potatoes. We both loved it! I added onions and fresh garlic. I actually just prepared it in a skillet and skipped the baking. I just put the lid on the skillet to let the cheese melt. A new favorite!

    Reply

  2. Suzannah

    This a a good base recipe. Can add almost anything to change it up. I baked it 10 minutes then added sliced pickles, sliced grape tomatoes, and chopped purple onions to cover the top. Then baked a few more minutes to soften the onions and tomatoes a bit. I called it a hamburger casserole. Really added texture and a mix of flavors.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Your additions sound yummy, Suzannah! Thanks for the detailed comment.

      Reply

  3. Erin

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (21)
    This is a weekly staple in our house. We make the recipe exactly as it's listed and then add one can of green beans and canned mushrooms-drain liquid from both. Still keeps it low-carb and quick, and it's an all-inclusive meal.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I love the idea of adding canned, drained veggies! Thanks for this comment, Erin!

      Reply

  4. Debra Oliver

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (22)
    Super easy and delicious! I chopped onion and added chopped green pepper.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Debra! I love the idea of adding onions and peppers. Yum.

      Reply

  5. Sherry McCoy

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (23)
    My husband and I love this recipe.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad to hear that, Sherry! Thank you for leaving a comment.

      Reply

  6. Sharon Stafford

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (24)
    I mixed it up with spaghetti squash . We loved it.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I love the idea of adding spaghetti squash! Glad you enjoyed it, Sharon.

      Reply

  7. Lori

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (25)
    What a satisfying meal! I made it according to the recipe but threw in a handful of pepper jack that I needed to use up and a bag of fixed cauliflower. Very good and already bookmarked. Served with a small side of peas. We've been trying to reduce our carb intake and raise our fiber so this was a perfect meal, TYSM!!!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this casserole, Lori. I love your additions!

      Reply

  8. Gma

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (26)
    Easy, more flavor than I thought it would have.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this casserole! Thank you for leaving a comment.

      Reply

  9. Margaret Kohlstaedt Kohlstaedt

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (27)
    This was delicious! I added as suggested the cauliflower rice. I used Aldi's garlic and herb. Hubby had NO clue it was cauliflower and asked for more! That NEVER happens! Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      You're very welcome, Margaret!

      Reply

  10. Jamie Mayden

    Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (28)
    I really love this! I added a bag of cauliflower rice to make it go farther because I have a large family and it tasted just like tater tots casserole.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you like this casserole, Jamie!

      Reply

    • Michelle

      Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (29)
      Delicious!!! I added a whole sweet onion and some slices of red, yellow, and orange peppers. Turned out fantastic!

      Reply

      • Vered DeLeeuw

        Glad you enjoyed this casserole, Michelle!

Ground Beef Casserole: Easy Keto Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

Is ground beef okay for keto? ›

Is ground beef keto friendly? Ground beef contains plenty of protein, some fat, and has no carbs, making it an ideal ingredient for keto recipes. It's also a nutritional powerhouse, and has a wide array of vital nutrients such as iron, B vitamins, magnesium and potassium.

Is cheeseburger keto? ›

Are cheeseburgers Keto-friendly? Yes, cheeseburgers are Keto-friendly since they have almost zero carbs (without the bun). Cheeseburgers are high in fat and protein which make them perfect for Keto, Low Carb, and LCHF diets.

Can you have cabbage on keto? ›

Cabbage is delicious when stuffed into keto fajitas, used in soups, or made into coleslaw with a rich, creamy high-fat dressing that's keto-friendly. It has 2 grams of net carbs per cup shredded, so you can eat a lot in one sitting without falling out of ketosis, says Dixon.

Can I eat chili on keto? ›

Is chili keto-friendly? Classic bean-based chili is not keto-friendly, as beans are high in carbohydrates. Luckily you can still make a keto-friendly chili without the beans. All of the traditional chili spices, such as chili powder, ground cumin and smoked paprika, are great flavor-boosters for keto foods.

Can you eat unlimited meat on keto? ›

Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.

What meat is not keto friendly? ›

Examples of meat products to avoid:
  • Breaded meats.
  • Bacon with added sugar.
  • Processed meat that could have hidden carbs.
  • Processed meats high in nitrates.
  • Plant-based proteins.

Is KFC dirty keto? ›

Sure. Indeed, you can eat anything, so long as you track your net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) and stay within your limits. As this site reports, KFC Original Recipe Chicken Breast Nutrition Facts show that one serving has 9gm carbs and 2g dietary fiber, so only 7g net carbs. Not bad.

Can you have Chinese food on keto? ›

You can ask for steamed versions of some dishes and then add soy sauce, which fits within the guidelines of a well-formulated ketogenic diet. Particularly the steamed Asian broccoli or mustard are good choices. For protein, the roast pork, roast duck, and crispy-skin pork belly are good choices.

Which vegetables are not allowed in keto? ›

- Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.

Can I eat cucumbers on keto? ›

Cucumber is another popular salad vegetable. It contains many essential nutrients, including vitamin K. Cucumber is also suitable for the keto diet, as its carb content is just 3.63 g per 100 g. To make the carb content lower, a person can peel the cucumber before eating it.

Can you eat unlimited vegetables on keto? ›

You do not have to limit vegetables if you are on the keto diet or are considering it. Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.

Which beans are keto? ›

On a strict keto diet, your best bet for beans is to choose either green beans or black soybeans. While green beans are typically prepared more like a vegetable than a bean, black soybeans are a great alternative to other, starchier beans in soups, bean dips, refried beans, or other recipes.

Which Bean is the lowest carb? ›

Highest and Lowest Carb Beans

Among these, black soybeans and green beans have the lowest carbs, potentially making them better for a keto diet. On the other hand, chickpeas, pinto beans, and navy beans have high carbs. You might want to avoid these if you're strictly following a keto diet.

Can you eat tomatoes on keto? ›

Can you eat tomatoes on the keto diet? "Tomatoes are keto," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. "They're low in carbs, so they fit perfectly into keto." One whole medium tomato contains roughly 5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 1.5 grams are fiber and 3 grams are sugar.

How much beef can I eat on keto? ›

This will depend on the type of keto diet you're on. Generally, you can consume one to two pieces of steak a week, but your protein and fat intake should be supplemented with other meats like fish and chicken.

Is ground beef high in carbs? ›

Ground beef is high in protein, so it's a particularly filling meat option. It's also low in net carbs, meaning it fits right into a keto or paleo diet. To be fair, though, there is some saturated fat and monounsaturated fat in even lean ground beef, whether you're cooking with 80/20, 85/15, or even a lean 90/10.

What beef is keto friendly? ›

Steaks are also a great source of protein for keto, and the fattier the cut the better, so ribeye and sirloin steaks are ideal. Beef – ribs, ground beef, steaks and more!

What is a hamburger without a bun called? ›

Hamburg steaks (served without buns) are similar to what are known as Salisbury steaks in the US. They are made from minced beef, pork, or a blend of the two mixed with minced onions, eggs, breadcrumbs, and spices.

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