Keto Cheeseburger Casserole

By
Laurel Randolph
Photo of Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
A fervid lover of the culinary arts and all things Instant Pot, Laurel has been writing about food for 10 years. One of her cookbooks was the #2 cookbook of 2017.
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Updated on 08/1/21
Keto cheeseburger casserole

The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 1 casserole

Cheeseburger casseroles like Hamburger Helper are always family favorites, but they're not exactly keto-friendly. Like many casseroles, they're loaded with pasta, making them the opposite of low-carb. For a flavorful, satisfying take on the classic that will fit right into your diet, make this keto cheeseburger casserole.

The main ingredient is high-protein and economical ground beef, which is quickly browned on the stovetop before being mixed with a little cream cheese, eggs, onion, and garlic. Worcestershire sauce and mustard add lots of flavor, and a topping of melty cheese makes it extra tempting. To really make this casserole taste like a burger, top it with ketchup, mustard, and pickles. Make sure your ketchup is low-sugar or keto ketchup to keep the carb count low.

Serve keto cheeseburger casserole with a green salad, roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, or coleslaw. Or make jicama fries for a classic burger and fries pairing.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 3 ounces cream cheese

  • 2 tablespoons pickle relish, drained

  • 2 teaspoons yellow mustard

  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt , or to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream, or half-and-half

  • 6 ounces cheese, shredded

  • Low-sugar ketchup, mustard, pickles, for optional toppings

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease a 2 or 2 1/2-quart casserole dish.

  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Sauté, breaking up the meat, until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain the fat.

  3. Return the skillet to the stovetop and reduce the heat to low. Add the cream cheese, relish, mustard, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Stir until the cream cheese is melted. Remove from the heat.

  4. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream. Add to the warm (not hot) beef mixture and mix.

  5. Add the mixture to the prepared casserole dish and top with the cheddar cheese. Bake until bubbly and the eggs are cooked through in the center, about 30 minutes.

  6. Serve warm and top with ketchup, mustard, and pickles.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Store leftover keto cheeseburger casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
  • Cooled casserole can be frozen for up to two months. Reheat in the oven from frozen. Note that there will be some loss of texture after freezing.

Recipe Variations

  • Make it a bacon cheeseburger casserole by topping with cooked, crumbled bacon.
  • Give the casserole a kick by adding up to a tablespoon of hot sauce to the egg mixture or topping with pickled jalapeños.
  • Swap the salt and pepper for burger seasoning.
  • Top with other keto-friendly burger toppings like diced raw onion, caramelized onions, shredded lettuce, and diced tomato.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
556 Calories
40g Fat
6g Carbs
42g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 556
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 40g 51%
Saturated Fat 19g 94%
Cholesterol 248mg 83%
Sodium 607mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 275mg 21%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 553mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)