Introduction to Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
I’m a huge fan of casseroles. They’re so hearty, comforting, and filling. This keto cheeseburger casserole skillet is one of my favorite casserole recipes. It’s rich, full of melted cheese, and loaded with meat. It has all your favorite cheeseburger elements: ground beef, bacon, cheese, mustard, and onions. But because it’s a casserole rather than served on a bun, it’s keto-friendly.
Why You’ll Love this Cheesy Keto Dinner
I make this casserole skillet all the time. Here’s why I know you’ll love it as much as I do.
- Quick and easy. The flavors in this cheeseburger casserole are complex. But making it is not. This recipe only uses ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge or pantry. And best of all, prep time is 5 minutes and cooking time is only 15 minutes!
- Super rich. Sometimes a decadent and hearty meal is exactly what I’m craving. When that’s what I want, this recipe hits the spot. It has ground beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. It’s packed full of rich ingredients.
- Storable. I’m a big fan of having convenient meals. Not only is this recipe quick and easy to make, but it’s great for storing in the fridge or freezer. You can make a large batch of this keto cheeseburger casserole and have easy leftovers for a long time.
- No mess. This is a one-pot meal. So you won’t be left with a messy kitchen after making this delicious dinner.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s everything you need to make this meaty and cheesy casserole recipe.
- Bacon: use your favorite variety.
- Lean ground beef: you can also use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
- Onion: I use a yellow onion for this recipe, but a white one will work too.
- Tomato paste: A hint of tomato paste adds an authentic cheeseburger flavor.
- Mustard: just like the tomato paste, the mustard helps add a true cheeseburger flavor. Don’t worry, it is not an overwhelming flavor.
- Cream cheese: this lends to the richness of the dish and makes the texture ultra creamy.
- Broth: Chicken or beef broth will work in this recipe.
- Spices: Onion powder, Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Cheddar cheese: For best results, grate your own cheese. However, pre-shredded will work fine, too.
How to Make Keto Cheeseburger Casserole Skillet
Here are the instructions to make this 20-minute cheeseburger casserole recipe.
- Cook the bacon. Heat a skillet over medium heat, and spray it lightly with cooking spray. Add the chopped bacon and cook until it’s crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain all but 1 tablespoon of the grease.
- Sauté the meat and onions. Add the ground beef and onion to the skillet and cook until the meat is browned. Drain any remaining grease from the pan.
- Make the sauce. Put the spices, broth, mustard, tomato paste, and cream cheese in the skillet. Stir until the cream cheese melts and turns into a sauce.
- Add the bacon and cheddar. Turn the heat to low and place the cooked bacon and shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Finish cooking. Put a lid on the skillet and cook until the cheese is completely melted. This should take 5-7 minutes.
Tips for Success
Here are some of my favorite tricks and tips for making this cheesy casserole.
- Really brown the meat. The secret to getting the best hamburger flavor is to brown the ground beef. Make sure your pan is sufficiently hot before adding the beef, and don’t stir it too often. Let the beef get a good color on it before you add the next ingredients. That ensures that the keto casserole skillet will have a super meaty flavor.
- Use a large skillet. This recipe is pretty big. Make sure to use a skillet that is big enough to handle the job. The larger your skillet, the more surface area there will be to brown the meat and keep the casserole hot.
- Get the cheese super melty. Because this casserole is cooked in its own sauce, you don’t have to worry about overcooking it. So make sure that you cook it for a sufficient time so that the cheddar cheese on top becomes runny and gooey.
What to Serve it With
You can eat this one-pot keto cheeseburger casserole skillet all by itself. But I like to serve it with a nice side dish or two to really make a complete meal.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Cheeseburger Casserole
This dinner will last for up to 4 days in the fridge. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container. Reheat over medium heat for 5 minutes, or in a microwave on 80% power in 30-second increments.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
Yes! I love to freeze this casserole for easy meals. Store it in an airtight container and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight or defrost in the microwave before reheating.
Nutrition
- Calories: 423 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 5.3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12.7 g
- Sodium: 608.9 mg
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Sugar: 3 g
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 6 slices of bacon
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 onion
- 2 tsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp mustard
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup broth
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Cook the chopped bacon until crisp, then remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Drain off all of the bacon grease except 1 tablespoon. Add the ground beef and onion. Brown the meat and drain off any grease.
- Add the tomato paste, mustard, cream cheese, broth, and spices. Stir until the cream cheese has melted and a sauce has formed.
- Reduce the heat to low and top with the cooked bacon and cheddar cheese.
- Cover the skillet and cook on low for 5-7 minutes until cheese is completely melted.
Notes:
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 months.
- Reheat on the stove over medium heat for 5 minutes, or in a microwave on 80% power in 30-second increments.
- Net carbs are 4.8 g per serving
