Keto Cheeseburger Casserole

My keto cheeseburger casserole features juicy ground beef, low-carb macaroni, and layer after layer of gooey melted cheese. It’s a keto-friendly casserole the whole family will love! 3 grams of net carbs. 

On my busy days, I often don’t realize it’s dinnertime until the last minute. Luckily, casseroles are an easy fallback dish. 

My keto burger casserole combines the best elements of juicy cheeseburgers but with one notable difference. Instead of hamburger buns, I use al dente macaroni noodles. Let me tell you, people rave over it. It’s so good, my family who are the opposite of keto dieters request it at least once a week!Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients needed
3. How to make low carb cheeseburger casserole
4. Arman’s recipe tips
5. Storage instructions
6. Frequently asked questions
7. More easy keto dinner recipes
8. Keto Cheeseburger Casserole (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

• It’s easy to make. If you can boil water and cook ground beef in a skillet, you’ll have no trouble making this recipe. And even if you’ve never done either, I’ve got you covered!
• Kid approved. What kid doesn’t love a good hamburger? Trust me, everyone will be coming back for seconds. 
• Customizable. Like any good cheeseburger, you can customize this casserole with your favorite toppings or swap any of the ingredients to suit your preferences. 
• Freezer-friendly. Do yourself a favor and make a double batch of this casserole. Freeze the second, and you’ll have it the next time you need an easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients needed

• Low carb macaroni. Use your favorite name-brand low-carb macaroni, or make my almond flour pasta.
• Olive oil. For cooking the beef. Use any neutral-flavored oil. 
• Onion. Finely chopped. 
• Bacon. Because why not make a keto bacon cheeseburger casserole?!
• Ground beef. I used lean ground beef, but if you prefer higher-fat cuts, drain the excess fat before adding it to the casserole. 
• Tomato sauce. Think of this as the ketchup to the burger. 
• Worcestershire sauce. Just a dash adds a depth of flavor. 
• Shredded cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. A combination of both cheeses gives the casserole the perfect gooey, melty texture. 
• Cheeseburger toppings. Optional, but you can top the casserole with chopped dill pickles, shredded lettuce, yellow mustard, sugar-free ketchup, or sugar-free BBQ sauce. 

How to make low carb cheeseburger casserole

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Make the sauce. Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onion and chopped bacon and cook for a further minute. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink.  Add the tomato sauce to the pan and cook for another minute.

Step 2- Combine. Add the cooked pasta to the ground beef mixture. Stir in half the cheeses and combine.

Step 3- Bake. Transfer the mixture to the greased casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling.

Step 4- Top. Rest the casserole for a few minutes, add any cheeseburger toppings, and serve.

Arman’s recipe tips

• Prepare it up to four days in advance. Assemble the casserole, cover it, and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake. Let it come to room temperature for 20 minutes before baking. 
• If possible, use freshly grated cheese. Trust me, it melts way smoother and makes for a creamier mixture. 
• Adjust the consistency. If the sauce is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of pasta water to thin it out.
• Taste as you go, and add any seasonings or salt as needed. 

Variations

• Swap the meat. Instead of ground beef, use ground turkey, ground chicken, or even plant-based ground meat. 
• Add more veggies. Like cauliflower rice, diced tomatoes, chopped mushrooms, or sliced bell peppers. 
• Make a creamier sauce. Add a splash of heavy cream or softened cream cheese. 
• Play around with spices. Give it some heat with red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, or even my keto taco seasoning.

Storage instructions

To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week. 

To freeze: Place casserole portions in an airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. 

Reheating: Microwave portions in 30-second spurts until warm or in a preheated oven.

Frequently asked questions

How many carbs are in a cheeseburger casserole?

This entire recipes yields just 5 grams of net carbs for a huge serving. If you skip the low carb noodles, there are just 2 grams of net carbs.

Keto Cheeseburger Casserole

5 from 67 votes

My keto cheeseburger casserole features juicy ground beef, low-carb macaroni, and layer after layer of gooey melted cheese. 

Servings:

Prep:5minutes mins

Cook:15minutes mins

Total:20minutes mins

Ingredients  1x2x3x

• ▢8 ounces keto elbow macaroni * See notes
• ▢1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢1/2 large onion chopped
• ▢6 slices bacon chopped
• ▢1 pound lean ground beef
• ▢16 ounces tomato sauce passata
• ▢1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese grated
• ▢1/2 cup parmesan cheese finely grated

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and set aside. Cook the keto macaroni according to the instructions. 
• In a non-stick pan, add the oil. Once hot, add the onion and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the chopped bacon and cook for a further minute. Add the ground beef and break apart and cook until no longer pink.
• Add the tomato sauce and cook for a further minute. Drain the pasta and add it into the beef mixture. Stir through half the cheeses and stir until combined.
• Transfer the mixture into the greased baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling. 
• Remove from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes, before serving. If desired, add your favorite cheeseburger toppings like ketchup, BBQ sauce, and pickles.

Notes

* I used the low carb bread company macaroni, but any keto macaroni can be used, including keto pasta, almond flour pasta, zucchini noodles, or alternatives. Just be sure the pasta you use has few net carbs.

TO STORE: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to one week. 

TO FREEZE: Place portions of the casserole in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

TO REHEAT: Microwave portions in 30-second spurts until warm. You can also preheat it in the oven. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 194kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 21gFat: 10gSodium: 599mgPotassium: 439mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 397IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 256mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 4g

Cuisine: American