Craving a hearty, comforting meal that won’t break your keto diet? This Keto Ground Beef Casserole is your new weeknight hero. It’s a rich, savory, and incredibly cheesy dish that the whole family will love, whether they’re low-carb or not. We’re talking perfectly seasoned ground beef and tender cauliflower baked in a creamy, savory sauce, all topped with a generous layer of melted cheese. It’s pure comfort in a dish, ready in under an hour!
This recipe is designed for busy people who want delicious, healthy food without the fuss. It’s simple to assemble, uses common ingredients, and satisfies those deep cravings for classic comfort food. Forget complicated recipes; this is the one you’ll return to again and again.
Why This Keto Ground Beef Casserole is a Must-Try
You’re going to absolutely love this cheesy keto hamburger casserole for so many reasons. It’s not just a meal; it’s a solution for hectic weeknights and a perfect example of how delicious low-carb eating can be.
Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of seasoned beef, a rich cream cheese sauce, and melted cheddar is simply irresistible.
Quick and Easy: With simple steps and about 20 minutes of prep time, this is a perfect quick weeknight dinner.
Family-Approved: It’s a crowd-pleaser! Even kids and picky eaters who aren’t on a keto diet will be asking for seconds.
Perfect for Meal Prep: This casserole holds up beautifully, making it an excellent choice for lunches throughout the week.
The Key Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this casserole comes from simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to bring this dish to life.
A perfect, hearty serving of our easy keto casserole.
Ground Beef: The star of the show, providing a rich, savory base.
Cauliflower: Our low-carb substitute for potatoes or pasta, it becomes perfectly tender when baked.
Cream Cheese & Heavy Cream: These create the ultra-creamy, decadent sauce that binds everything together.
Cheddar Cheese: For that essential cheesy, golden-brown topping. Feel free to use your favorite cheese!
Onion & Garlic: The aromatic foundation that builds a deep flavor profile.
Seasonings: A simple blend of paprika, salt, and pepper is all you need.
Choosing Your Ground Beef
For the best flavor and texture, I recommend using 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef. The slightly higher fat content adds a ton of flavor to the dish and keeps the meat moist. Be sure to drain any excess grease after browning to prevent the casserole from becoming oily.
The Best Veggies for a Keto Casserole
While this recipe features cauliflower, it’s incredibly versatile. You could easily substitute or add other low-carb vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, or green beans. This is a great way to use up whatever you have in the fridge, much like in this tasty ground beef and cauliflower bowl.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making this keto ground beef casserole is as simple as it gets. Just follow these steps for a perfect result every time.
Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Cook the Beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with the diced onion over medium-high heat until the beef is browned. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Steam the Cauliflower: While the beef cooks, steam your cauliflower florets until they are tender-crisp. You can do this in the microwave or on the stovetop. Be careful not to overcook them, as they will continue to cook in the oven.
Make the Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and add the cream cheese, heavy cream, paprika, salt, and pepper to the skillet with the beef. Stir continuously until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Combine and Assemble: Gently fold the steamed cauliflower and half of the shredded cheddar cheese into the ground beef mixture. Spread this mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish.
Bake to Perfection: Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and golden brown. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Pro-Tips for the Perfect Casserole
Want to elevate your keto casserole? Here are a few tips from my kitchen to yours.
Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains starches to prevent caking, which can add hidden carbs. Shredding a block of cheese yourself results in a smoother, meltier topping.
Don’t Overcook the Cauliflower: Steam the cauliflower only until it’s tender-crisp. It will finish cooking in the oven, and this prevents it from becoming mushy.
Let It Rest: Allowing the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after it comes out of the oven lets it set. This makes it much easier to serve and improves the texture.
The golden-brown cheese topping is pure keto comfort.
Keto Ground Beef Casserole Variations
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Think of it as a template for your own delicious creations.
Spice It Up
Add a kick by incorporating a diced jalapeño with the onion, or mix in 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a full teaspoon of chili powder with the other seasonings.
Add Some Bacon
For an extra layer of savory flavor, add 4-6 slices of cooked, crumbled bacon. You can mix it into the casserole or sprinkle it on top with the cheese before baking. It creates a flavor reminiscent of a bacon cheeseburger soup.
Different Cheese Blends
Swap the cheddar for Monterey Jack, a Mexican cheese blend, or even some mozzarella for a different flavor profile. A combination of cheeses often works best!
What to Serve with Your Casserole
This casserole is a complete meal on its own, but if you want to round it out, a simple side dish is a great addition. A fresh green salad with a vinaigrette, steamed green beans, or roasted asparagus are all excellent keto-friendly options that complement the richness of the casserole.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
This is one of my favorite dishes for meal prep because the leftovers are just as delicious.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating
You can reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. To reheat a larger portion, place it in an oven-safe dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Can You Freeze This Casserole?
Yes, you can! For the best results, assemble the casserole but do not bake it. Cover it tightly with both plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed, adding 10-15 minutes to the cooking time.
Absolutely! You can assemble the entire casserole, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking. You may need to add 10-15 minutes to the bake time if it’s going into the oven straight from the fridge.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or larger amounts in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warmed through.
Yes, this casserole freezes well. Assemble it but don’t bake it. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
If you want to switch it up, other low-carb vegetables work great in this recipe. Try steamed broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, or green beans for a delicious variation.
Yes, as written, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. All the ingredients used are free of gluten, making it a safe and delicious option for those with gluten sensitivities.
This Keto Ground Beef Casserole is a rich, savory, and cheesy dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Made with seasoned ground beef, cauliflower, and a creamy cheese sauce, it's a family-friendly meal that's both delicious and low-carb.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with the diced onion over medium-high heat until browned. Drain excess fat. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
While the beef is cooking, steam the cauliflower florets until tender-crisp. Do not overcook.
Reduce heat to low. Add the cream cheese, heavy cream, paprika, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
Fold the steamed cauliflower and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the ground beef mixture. Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown.
Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Nutrition
Calories: 450kcalProtein: 28gFat: 35gFiber: 3g
Notes
Shred Your Own Cheese: For the best melt, shred a block of cheese yourself. Pre-shredded varieties contain anti-caking agents that can affect the texture. Don't Overcook Cauliflower: Steam it just until tender-crisp. It will finish cooking in the oven, and this prevents it from becoming mushy. Meal Prep Tip: Assemble the casserole ahead of time (without baking) and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking as directed.
I hope you and your family love this easy Keto Ground Beef Casserole as much as we do! It’s a true staple in our home for a reason. If you make it, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. And don’t forget to save it to your favorite board on Pinterest!
You won't believe how easy and delicious this keto ground beef casserole is!
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
