Today I will share with you an amazing keto bacon cheeseburger casserole that brings all the flavors of a juicy burger without the carbs.
This dish combines ground beef, melted cheese, and crispy bacon into a filling meal that your whole family will love, whether they follow keto or not.
When you’re on a keto diet, sometimes you really miss the comfort of a good cheeseburger. This casserole solves that problem perfectly.
It has all the tastes you want – the seasoned meat, melted cheese, tangy pickles, and of course, bacon – but in an easy to make casserole form.
The best thing about this recipe is how simple it is to put together. You don’t need any special ingredients or cooking skills.
Just basic items like ground beef, cheese, cream, and everyday seasonings that you probably already have in your kitchen.
This casserole is perfect for meal prep too. You can make it ahead and reheat portions throughout the week for lunch or dinner.
It actually tastes even better the next day, as the flavors have more time to blend together.
👍 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfect Macros: This recipe hits all the right keto numbers – lots of healthy fats from the cream cheese and heavy cream, plenty of protein from the ground beef, and almost no carbs.
Budget Friendly: Ground beef is one of the more affordable meat options, and the other ingredients are basic kitchen staples. You don’t need any expensive specialty keto ingredients to make this dish taste amazing.
Real Burger Taste: The combination of Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and diced pickles creates that authentic burger flavor you’re craving. Plus, the smoked paprika adds a hint of grilled taste that makes it even more burger like.
Great for Beginners: If you’re new to keto cooking, this recipe is a perfect start. The steps are straightforward, and it’s pretty hard to mess up.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef (80/20 or 85/15)
- 2 oz Cream Cheese
- 2 cups Cheddar Cheese (grated , divided) – I recommend this one (amazon)
- 2 Eggs (large)
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 Dill Pickle (diced)
- 3 1/2 tablespoons Crumbled Bacon Bits
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce – this one is excellent (amazon)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
👨🍳 How To Make
Follow this easy recipe:
Step 1
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F and greasing a casserole pan or dish (2 quart dish or 8×11″ pan) with melted butter or cooking spray.
Step 2
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and brown it. Then, drain any excess fat.
Step 3
Lower the heat to medium-low, and add the garlic, pepper, smoked paprika, and salt. Saute until fragrant – about one minute.
Then, add the cream cheese and Worcestershire sauce, stirring until everything is melted and combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan or dish.
Step 4
Add the eggs, heavy cream, mustard, and half of the grated cheese to a medium bowl. Whisk together, and then pour over the ground beef mixture.
Add diced pickles on top, and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Then, add the bacon bits on top.
Step 5
Bake for 40 minutes if you used the casserole dish, or 25 minutes if you prepared everything in the pan. Remove from the oven, let it cool for 15 minutes, and then serve. Enjoy!
💡Tips
1. Drain The Beef Well
Make sure to drain the ground beef really well after browning it. Too much leftover fat can make your casserole greasy and prevent it from setting properly.
After draining, you can even pat the meat with paper towels. But don’t get rid of all the fat – leaving just a little will help carry all those good burger flavors through the dish.
2. Don’t Skip The Resting Time
Those 15 minutes of resting time after baking are super important. The casserole might look ready to eat right out of the oven, but letting it rest helps everything set properly.
If you cut into it too soon, it might be too loose and runny. During the rest time, the eggs continue to set, the cheese firms up just right, and all the flavors settle together.
3. Keep an Eye on the Top
During the last 10 minutes of baking, keep an eye on the cheese topping. You want it golden brown, not burned.
If it’s browning too quickly but the casserole isn’t done yet, loosely cover the top with foil. This will protect the cheese while allowing the rest of the casserole to finish cooking.
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FAQ
1. Can I use turkey instead of beef?
Yes, you can definitely use ground turkey instead of beef! Just keep in mind that turkey is leaner, so the casserole might not be as rich.
To make up for this, you might want to add an extra tablespoon of cream cheese or even mix in a few tablespoons of butter when cooking the meat. This will help keep the casserole moist and flavorful.
2. What if I don’t have cream cheese?
You can replace the cream cheese with ricotta cheese or mascarpone cheese. If you don’t have either of those, you can use extra heavy cream and shredded cheese, but the texture won’t be quite the same.
Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef 80/20 or 85/15
- 2 oz Cream Cheese
- 2 cups cheddar cheese grated , divided - I recommend this one (amazon)
- 2 Eggs large
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 Dill Pickle diced
- 3 1/2 tablespoons Crumbled Bacon Bits
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce this one is excellent (amazon)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 350°F and greasing a casserole pan or dish (2 quart dish or 8×11″ pan) with melted butter or cooking spray.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and brown it. Then, drain any excess fat.
- Lower the heat to medium-low, and add the garlic, pepper, smoked paprika, and salt. Saute until fragrant – about one minute.Then, add the cream cheese and Worcestershire sauce, stirring until everything is melted and combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan or dish.
- Add the eggs, heavy cream, mustard, and half of the grated cheese to a medium bowl. Whisk together, and then pour over the ground beef mixture.Add diced pickles on top, and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Then, add the bacon bits on top.
- Bake for 40 minutes if you used the casserole dish, or 25 minutes if you prepared everything in the pan. Remove from the oven, let it cool for 15 minutes, and then serve. Enjoy!