If you love cheeseburgers but need to stick to your keto diet, this recipe is going to solve that problem for you.
I’m making a keto skillet cheeseburger casserole that brings all the flavors you want from a cheeseburger without the bun and extra carbs.
It’s made in one pan, which means less dishes to clean up later. The combination of ground beef, bacon, and melted cheddar cheese makes this dish really satisfying.
This casserole is simple to put together and doesn’t require any special cooking skills or hard to find ingredients. You probably have most of these items in your kitchen already.
One of the main reasons I like this recipe is because it cooks everything in the same skillet. The whole process takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Le’ts get started!
👍 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
One Skillet Wonder: This recipe uses just one skillet from start to finish, which means you don’t have to deal with a bunch of dirty pots and pans after dinner. You cook the bacon in it, then the beef, then add everything else right in the same pan.
Budget Friendly Meal: This casserole can feed several people or give you multiple meals for just a few dollars per serving.
When you’re trying to stick to a keto diet without spending too much money, recipes like this one are really important to have in your rotation.
Packed with Protein: Each serving of this casserole gives you a serious amount of protein from the ground beef and bacon. Protein is what keeps you full and satisfied for hours after eating, so you won’t be hungry again an hour later.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
- 5 slices Bacon (chopped)
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded) – I recommend this one (amazon)
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 2 oz Cream Cheese
- 1/2 cup Chicken or Beef broth
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
👨🍳 How To Make
Follow this easy recipe:
Step 1
Place and heat a large skillet over medium heat. I recommend greasing it with tallow.
Step 2
Cook the chopped bacon until it’s crispy, then remove it from the skillet and set it aside for now.
Step 3
Drain all the bacon grease, except for about 1 tablespoon (up to 2). Add the ground beef to the skillet and brown the meat. Drain off any excess grease.
Step 4
Add the cream cheese, broth, and spices to the browned ground beef. Stir until the cream cheese melts and the sauce forms.
Step 5
Reduce the heat to low and top the ground beef mixture with the cooked bacon and cheddar cheese.
Step 6
Cover the skillet. Cook on low for 6-7 more minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the dish is heated through.
💡Tips
1. Save Some of That Bacon Grease
When you cook the bacon and it’s time to drain the grease, don’t pour all of it out. Keep about one tablespoon in the skillet before you add the ground beef. This might seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference in the flavor.
The bacon grease has all that smoky, salty flavor from the bacon, and when you cook the ground beef in it, the meat absorbs those flavors.
If you drain everything and start with a clean pan, your beef will taste more plain. The bacon grease also helps prevent the beef from sticking to the pan. Just eyeball it – you don’t need to measure exactly.
2. Break Up the Beef While It Cooks
When you add the ground beef to the skillet, don’t just drop it in and let it sit there. You need to break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Use your spatula or a wooden spoon to chop and stir the meat while it’s browning.
If you leave the beef in big chunks, some parts will be overcooked and dry while other parts are still raw in the middle. Breaking it into smaller pieces also means more surface area gets browned, which creates better flavor.
3. Soften Your Cream Cheese First
Cream cheese straight from the fridge is really hard and takes forever to melt into the beef. If you try to stir in cold cream cheese, you’ll end up with lumps that won’t fully blend into the sauce, and you’ll be standing there stirring for way longer than you need to.
Take the cream cheese out of the fridge about 20-30 minutes before you start cooking, or at least while you’re cooking the bacon and beef.
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FAQ
What can I serve with this casserole?
This casserole is pretty filling on its own because it’s packed with protein and fat, but if you want to add a side dish, go with vegetables to balance out the meal.
A simple green salad with ranch dressing or Caesar dressing works really well and keeps everything keto-friendly.
Keto Skillet Cheeseburger Casserole
Print RecipeIngredients
- 5 slices Bacon chopped
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded – I recommend this one (amazon)
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 2 oz Cream Cheese
- 1/2 cup Chicken or Beef broth
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Place and heat a large skillet over medium heat. I recommend greasing it with tallow.
- Cook the chopped bacon until it’s crispy, then remove it from the skillet and set it aside for now.
- Drain all the bacon grease, except for about 1 tablespoon (up to 2). Add the ground beef to the skillet and brown the meat. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add the cream cheese, broth, and spices to the browned ground beef. Stir until the cream cheese melts and the sauce forms.
- Reduce the heat to low and top the ground beef mixture with the cooked bacon and cheddar cheese.
- Cover the skillet. Cook on low for 6-7 more minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the dish is heated through.
My family LOVED it.
Wow, this was absolutely delicious! Super easy to make and my whole family loved it. I served it with some steamed broccoli on the side and it felt like a full meal.