Keto Ground Beef Casserole Recipe – Easy Low Carb Comfort Food
Indulge in this easy, low-carb Keto Ground Beef Casserole Recipe! It’s the ultimate budget-friendly comfort food casserole made with tender ground beef, creamy cream cheese, and a yummy blend of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
As I have mentioned many times, I am a total Southern girl. I love casseroles, veggies, and easy homemade recipes. When I was a little girl, my best friend lived next door, and her mom made the best ground beef casserole with potatoes and green beans. I always wanted to eat dinner with them when she was making it.
When I was trying to brainstorm a new recipe idea, this came to mind. It’s funny how our minds work. I hadn’t thought of it in years, but suddenly, I started craving it.
I could easily make a low-carb version by omitting the potatoes and adjusting a few other ingredients in place of the cream of mushroom soup that she used in the sauce. Instead of canned soup, I used a mixture of heavy whipping cream and cream cheese to make a thick creamy sauce for the ground beef; then I topped it with green beans and cheese.
My little girls absolutely devoured it! Before I knew it, they had each put down two servings. I knew then it would be a hit!!
Ingredients
Ground beef – the protein for this casserole adds sso much yummy flavor
Cream cheese – makes the casserole creamy and smooth
Beef broth – deepens flavor
Heavy whipping cream – rich, creamy base
Bragg’s Aminos – adds a bit of umami flavor
Garlic powder & Onion Powder – adds a wonderful flavor
Green beans – bring a fresh and healthy touch to the casserole.
Mozzarella & Cheddar cheese -cheesy, gooey goodness
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step-By-Step InstructionsHere is a step-by-step pictorial to help you make the recipe. For the complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of the post to the printable recipe card.
Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef
Preheat your oven to your oven to 350°F.
In a large skillet, cook your ground beef over medium heat until browned. Next, you’ll want to drain it unless you prefer to keep the extra fat.
Tip: One of my favorite time-saving meal prep tips is to brown ground beef in advance and keep it in the freezer. I usually buy several pounds at brown it all at once. It makes recipes like this so quick and easy!
Step 2: Make the Yummy Creamy Base
Add the cream cheese to the browned ground beef and melt over low heat. Next, add the beef broth, heavy cream, Bragg’s Aminos (or soy sauce), and seasonings. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, letting the mixture thicken slightly. Keep the lid off for it to thicken properly.
Tip: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature. Otherwise, it doesn’t blend as smoothly.
Step 3: Add Green Beans, Cheese, and Bake
Drain the green beans and dump them in the skillet. I used canned because that’s what I had on hand, but feel free to use frozen if you prefer. Top with generous amounts of cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Pop in the oven and bake for 25 minutes until melted, hot, and bubbly.
Step 4: Serve
As hard as it will be to wait, allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or bacon crumbles. Bacon makes everything better, right?
FAQ’s
Do I Need a Cast Iron Skillet for This Casserole?
You can prepare this in any oven-safe baking dish or skillet, but I love using cast iron skillets for even heating from stovetop to oven. For this recipe, I used a 10.25″ cast iron skillet. Cast iron skillets last forever. I have several that were my grandmothers that are over 50 years old!
What’s the difference between 80/20 and lean ground beef?
The 80/20 refers to the meat’s fat-to-protein ratio. 80% lean ground beef contains 20% fat, creating juicier, more tender, and flavorful casserole recipes. Lean or 95% beef is lower in fat at 5%, making it healthier but drier! I always use 80/20 for the best flavor.
Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Sure! It’s a great way to save time! Simply assemble the casserole, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Then, when ready to enjoy it, pop it in the oven.
Is this Easy Low-Carb Ground Beef Casserole Gluten-Free?
Yes, it is naturally gluten-free. The main ingredients – ground beef, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green beans, and seasonings – do not contain gluten. Make sure, though, to check the ingredients you use in your kitchen. Sometimes, gluten can be sneaky.
Can I make this casserole keto-friendly?
It already is at less than 4g net carbs per serving.
What Can I Serve With It?
I keep it simple and serve it with a leafy garden salad. It would also be yummy with Keto Cheddar Bay Biscuits or Creamy Keto Cauliflower Mash.
Variations to this Healthy Ground Beef Casserole Recipe:
Meat Variations:
- Ground Turkey
- Ground Chicken
- Italian Sausage
- Ground Pork
- Shredded Chicken
(Consider swapping chicken broth for beef broth if using poultry)
Vegetable Variations:
There are so many options! Zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, squash, or mushrooms are all great low-carb options. You might also like my Cheesy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Casserole.
Seasoning/ Toppings Variations:
- Taco Seasoning: Add a fun Tex-Mex twist.
- Cajun Spice: Use Cajun seasoning for a bold and spicy flavor profile.
- Lemon Pepper: Sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning for a zesty twist.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a spicier version when seasoning the ground beef mixture.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to enhance the umami taste and depth of the casserole.
Storing and Freezing This Low Carb Casserole
It stays fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freezer:
For longer-term freezing, up to 3 months, wrap the cooled casserole tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. This prevents freezer burn. Dairy may cause a slight texture change upon thawing, but it won’t affect taste.
Thawing & Reheating:
Thaw overnight in the fridge before gently reheating in 325°F oven until heated through, about 30 minutes. You can also reheat it in the microwave.
While this low-carb version may be a bit different than my childhood friend’s mom’s original recipe with potatoes, it still has all the comforting flavors I remember. I hope your family enjoys this hearty, cheesy casserole as much as mine does!
Other Keto Casserole Recipes:
More Easy Keto Ground Beef Recipes:
- Low-Carb Ground Beef Recipe: Italian Keto Beef Skillet
- Keto Ground Beef Stir-Fry
- 20 Delicious Keto Beef Recipes
Whip up this easy, quick, low-carb ground beef casserole on hectic weeknights or meal prep ahead on the weekends to always have a delicious low-carb dinner ready to enjoy!
Easy Keto Ground Beef Casserole with Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tsp Bragg's Aminos
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cans green beans, drained
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) degrees.
- Grab a skillet and cook the ground beef. When it's done, use a strainer to remove any extra grease.
- Add the room temperature cream cheese to the cooked beef in the skillet. Stir it until the cheese melts and mixes with the beef. Yum!
- Pour in the beef broth, heavy whipping cream, Bragg's Aminos, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir everything together well.
- Bring the mixture to a boil by turning up the heat a bit. Keep an eye on it and let it cook on medium heat until it starts to thicken up a little. This will make the casserole nice and creamy.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer. That means keeping it gently bubbling but not boiling too hard.
- Drain the green beans and add them to the beef mixture.
- Sprinkle some cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese on top of the green beans.
- Finally, pop the skillet into the preheated oven and bake it all together for 25 minutes. It will come out golden and bubbly.
Video
Notes
Meat Variations: Ground Turkey, Ground Chicken, Italian Sausage, Ground Pork, and Shredded Chicken
* (I swap the beef broth for chicken broth when using poultry) Vegetable Variations: zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, bell peppers, and mushrooms Seasoning/ Toppings Variations:
- Taco Seasoning: Add a fun Tex-Mex twist.
- Cajun Spice: Use Cajun seasoning for a bold and spicy flavor profile.
- Lemon Pepper: Sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning for a zesty twist.
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes when seasoning the ground beef mixture.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to enhance the umami taste and depth of the casserole.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: Top the soup with this trendy seasoning for a flavorful crunch.
- Get creative with toppings like crispy bacon bits, chopped fresh herbs, sour cream, sliced avocado, or crushed pork rinds for added texture and taste.
- To store keto ground beef casserole, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
- It can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- If you want to freeze it, label the container with the date, and it can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- It contains dairy products, which sometimes break down when frozen. It shouldn't change the taste, but the sauce's texture might vary.
Nutrition
An easy to make casserole that is loved by everyone in the family!
Fantastic! So glad you all enjoy it! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
This is one of my fave low carb dishes to make. I make it as written and then top mine off with hot sauce – YUM!
So glad you love it, Dee! I’m not a fan of hot sauce but most of my family sure is! Thank you for your review.
Yum so easy and delicious. I did not have beef bullion so I made this with chicken and bullion. I forgot to bake it and it was still perfectly amazing.
Glad you enjoyed it, Kim! This is one of our favorites!
We loved it! Even my super picky grandson liked it! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
YES! I love it when our picky kids (or spouses) love an unexpected dish! Thanks for the review and comment!
Oh my goodness-this was good! I was a little hesitant because I wasn’t sure it would seem “hearty” enough, but somehow it worked without any pasta or additional ingredients.
The only things I changed were adding fresh chopped onion in lieu of onion powder, minced garlic instead of garlic powder and I omitted the aminos because I had no idea what that even was :).
This with a couple of no carb tortillas to dip in the creamy sauce and it was a wonderful meal. Would have been good with a side salad too-maybe next time!
Sounds so good! This is a go-to in our house. Glad you loved it!
Make exactly like the recipe with the added suggestion of mushrooms and it was delicious! I’m always looking for good low carb recipes. Thank you!!
This is one of our faves!! Minus the mushrooms! lol. Check out the rest of my site if your looking for more low-carb recipes.
This will be the 3rd time I made this, except this time I used turkey burger in place of beef. This time it tasted amazing. It had more flavor this time verse the past 2 times. Excellent, and easy dinner.
I make this all the time for my 4 per. family, now our older kids moved in.. I need to make a bigger helping. Do I just double everything? I appreciate your help.
Yep! I do this as we have a large family too.
I promise that this is a great review, even though it may not seem like it at first! lol I made this tonight on a whim. I came across it a few months ago and saved it because it seemed simple enough and I almost always have all of the ingredients on-hand. I won’t bore you with the details, but today was a crappy day…everything that could go wrong, DID and my husband…don’t get me started. lol Anyways, it’s dinner time and I had laid out a pound of ground beef earlier without having a clue to what I was going to make. Sooo, I’m flipping through all of my saved recipes thinking that I needed some stupid recipe to make stupid supper for my stupid…well, ya see where I’m going with this. So I made this and omg, it was GOOD and not stupid at all! lol I used frozen green beans because that’s what I had and used fiesta blend cheese and a dash of cayenne pepper. It was fast, simple and delicious…the hubs even said so, which got us talking again! lol So, you not only saved our dinner, but possibly our marriage! Joking! It’s def a keeper, thank you!!
So glad the casserole was good and a bridge back to connection with your hubby. lol! Thanks for your review!
I love how easy this meal is. I just made it with canned Asparagus tonight because I didn’t have canned green beans and it was so good!
Yum! That sound delish!!
Made this last nite for dinner! OMG not only it is so delicious but oh so easy, well for me it was cause I’m not a person who cooks! Will be trying more of your recipes, this dinner was oh so yummy!
So glad you found my site. This is one of my faves too!!
Great recipe. Easy!
I enjoyed the recipe as is and then substituted chicken for beef, chicken broth for beef broth and broccoli for the green beans. Delish!
So glad you loved it! Oh, this sounds so good!!
This was soooo yummy. It was great the first day, but the second day it was even better…. So good!
So glad you loved it!! This recipe is one of my favorites. It is all things comfort food!!
I have made this recipe many times. I often use 1/2 lb very lean ground beef and a 1/2 lb hot italian sausage; or your choice. adding in some red yellow or green bell peppers and even mushrooms are delicious as well.,
Great ideas!! Thanks for sharing.
This is my favorite. I make this nearly every week and I almost have the recipe memorized. I prefer steamed broccoli but the original green beans are just as good.
This is one of our faves too. So easy and delicious.