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
Here 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.
This was a HIT, even the picky eater LOVED IT!
I used frozen french green beans, added pearl onions, and used Chipotle peppers, just a small amount to give it a kick.
Glad the casserole was hit and your picky eater loved it!
We don’t have canned beans in Australia. Roughly how many oz or grams of beans do you use? So I can use the equivalent of frozen beans.
Thanks
I use two 14.5 oz cans of beans.
It was great 🙂 I didn’t have 2 cans of green brands so I subbed one can of Italian diced tomatoes. Delicious! I’m going to make some of your keto biscuits next time to put it over since my husband missed rice or potatoes.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Have you ever tried using half and half instead of heavy cream?? Im trying to avoid having to run to the store! 😂
I’ve only fixed the recipe as is.
I really liked this! It did my southern heart good. It’s hard to find keto recipes I really like and this one did. I added some onion powder and I added the salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste, I didn’t measure. I didn’t have beef broth so I used chicken broth. I was worried it wouldn’t set up, but after 25 minutes it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe. I’ll be making it again and again!
Fantastic! Glad you liked it!
Holy crap this is so easy and a great keto-friendly “comfort food” meal!
It really is a great comfort food. I’m glad you liked it.
I tried this recipe tonight. I’m a novice at cooking so I wasn’t sure how long to cook on stove top to thicken the sauce. I doubled the recipe and my family liked it. However, it was incredibly soupy. Any more suggestions to keep this from happening again would be greatly appreciated.
You just keep cooking it on the stove with the lid off until it thickens. Doubling the recipe means you’ll need to cook it longer. If it is still soupy, it is not done cooking down. Simply continue cooking until the liquid evaporates and the sauce thickens.
Thank you for the great recipe! Everyone loved it. I’m sure it will be awesome with broccoli, cauliflower, etc for variety.
I’m really glad ya’ll loved it! It’s great how you can change it up with different veggies.
Can you make in a regular baking dish? I don’t have a cast iron skillet but this looks very yummy and I would like to try it
You would need to use any type of skillet first. You could then transfer it to a regular baking dish.
I’ve made this awesome dish several times and only use the skillet for browning meat. I mix everything up in a 9×13 baking dish (adding broccoli or cauliflower too turned out great). cover with shredded cheese, and bake it. Delicious every time
Glad you enjoyed it!
I really loved this recipe and want to try it for a potluck. Do you think it could be assembled the night before and then just popped in the oven the day I need it?
Sure. I think it would be fine although I haven’t personally tried making it beforehand like you mentioned.
Great, easy recipe. I even did it all in the skillet and finished it in the skillet without baking it…just to make it a bit faster.
That’s great! Glad you liked it.
This was soooooooo delicious! Hubby and I gobbled it up! I doubled the recipe as I had extra ground beef and a big bag of fresh green beans. Turned out perfect! Thanks for the great recipe! We’ve got tons of leftovers and I know I will be making this again very soon!
You’re so welcome. My family loves this recipe and I’m glad you and your hubby love it, too.
Oh wow! This was really good! Just made it tonight and my 2 year old just gobbled it up, especially the green beans! I was just curious if anyone has tried using this recipe with ground turkey and if it yielded similar results? Hubby can only have limited red meat.
Very good recipe, we really enjoyed this for dinner tonight. Will definitely be making this again.
I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
Just made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious. I added the French fried onions since they are low in carb just didn’t add the whole can like you normally would. I loved not having the cream of mushroom and milk. My husband said he needs this dish once a week!
Glad your hubby loved it!
This is my first time to make it and I quadrupled it. How long will it take to thicken in the pan?
I’ve never quadrupled the recipe so I’m really not sure.