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I’ve taken the best flavors from tacos and turned them into a super easy keto taco casserole recipe in the Crock-Pot slow cooker. Yes, you’ll love the way this low carb taco casserole tastes (of course!), but you’ll also love that it has just 4 grams net carbs per serving!
And then there’s the cooking method. This Crock-Pot taco casserole recipe is made in the… yup, you guessed right. 😉 So besides a little prep in the beginning, this ground beef taco casserole is mostly hands-off, which is one of the best parts about casseroles!
I also love that while this dish has traditional casserole qualities like being rich, filling, and hearty… it’s also topped with fresh, light, and flavorful toppings. This slow cooker taco casserole recipe is truly the best of both worlds.
If you’ve been following Wholesome Yum, it’s no secret that I love easy keto Crock-Pot recipes!
So, I was particularly excited to get my new 7-QT Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Easy Clean Slow Cooker and try making this keto taco casserole in it, because it was an improvement on the one I had before. Here’s why I like this one better:
- It lets me set the time in 30 minute increments. My previous one just had Low and High, which had default times. With this one, I can select Low or High, and set the exact time I want.
- It has convenient latch handles. That’s why they call it the Cook & Carry! I can seal it shut and take it to a friend’s house.
- It’s easy to clean. Unlike the one before, this Crock-Pot slow cooker has a non-stick ceramic coating, making it easier to clean after cooking.
- It’s 7 quarts. My last one was a 6-quart slow cooker, so the extra space in this one is nice, yet it doesn’t take up any more room in my kitchen.
How To Make Keto Taco Casserole
Making cheesy taco casserole keto is super simple, since the ingredients are naturally keto friendly. And since we’re using the 7 QT Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Easy Clean Slow Cooker, this slow cooker taco casserole recipe is quick and easy!
Let me show you how to make taco casserole in the Crock-Pot Cook & Carry:
- Brown the ground beef. Heat avocado oil in large skillet and add ground beef. Cook, breaking apart, until browned.
- Season the ground beef. Add the taco seasoning and water to ground beef and cook until the extra water evaporates or is absorbed into the meat.
- Transfer beef to the 7 QT Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Easy Clean Slow Cooker. Arrange it evenly on the bottom.
- Grab 2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles and drain very well. I had to call out this step because it’s super important! The casserole will be watery if you don’t.
TIP: This makes a pretty spicy ground beef taco casserole. If you prefer it more mild, you can replace one or both of the cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles with plain diced tomatoes instead. (Just watch the size – the ones with chiles are 10 ounces each but the ones without are usually 14.5 ounces, and you want 20 ounces total for the recipe regardless of whether you use the ones with or without the chiles.) Adding sour cream for garnish will also mellow it out.
- Add vegetables to the keto taco casserole. Top ground beef with diced peppers, onions, and drained tomatoes with green chiles.
- Stir together. Although some keto casseroles are layered, for this one we mix it all.
- Cook the Crock-Pot taco casserole. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook for 2-3 hours on High or 4 hours on Low.
TIP: To turn on the 7 QT Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Easy Clean Slow Cooker, plug it in, press Select until the light next to High or Low is on, then use the Timer arrows up or down to set the time you need.
- Add cheese. When you’re ready to serve slow cooker taco casserole, stir the mixture well first, sprinkle in cheddar cheese, and cook on high for about 5 minutes, until the cheese melts.
TIP: If you didn’t drain the tomatoes well enough, the casserole may be watery when it’s done cooking. You can just use a large serving spoon or ladle to remove extra liquid before adding the cheese.
- Serve with desired toppings. I’m sharing my favorite toppings below!
Can You Make Low Carb Taco Casserole Ahead?
Yes, you can make slow cooker taco casserole ahead! Here are the different ways you can do it:
- Brown the ground beef ahead. Assemble the rest of the low carb taco casserole recipe once you are ready to cook it.
- Use the Cook & Carry function (my preferred method!). You can actually cook the casserole ahead of time at home, but don’t add the cheese or toppings. Seal the lid with the latches, and then you can take it to a potluck or whatever! Just plug it in when you get there and leave on the Warm setting for up to 4 hours. Add the cheese and heat on High for a few minutes to melt it once everyone is ready to eat.
- Prepare the entire easy taco casserole with ground beef ahead and store in the fridge. Re-heat when you are ready to eat it. One of the good things about casseroles is that they generally re-heat so well and this one is no exception.
How To Reheat Keto Taco Casserole
You have 3 options for reheating Crock-Pot taco casserole (#1 is my fave!):
- Use the Crock-Pot slow cooker again! Simply spoon the casserole back into the slow cooker and cook on High until hot. This works best if you didn’t add the cheese yet.
- Reheat in the microwave. This is certainly the fastest option, like if you are reusing the casserole for lunch. (Yay, leftovers!)
- Heat in the oven. If you stored the slow cooker taco casserole in a glass dish in your fridge, you can just throw it in the oven to reheat.
TIP: If you are transferring the casserole to the slow cooker or another dish for reheating, add a fresh sprinkle of shredded cheese on top!
Can You Freeze Slow Cooker Taco Casserole?
Yes, you can freeze this cheesy low carb taco casserole! Simply let it cool completely and store in an air-tight container. It will last 4-6 months.
Thaw overnight, reheat until hot, and add your toppings. Almost as good as fresh from the slow cooker! 😉
Toppings For Crock-Pot Taco Casserole
One of the best parts about Crock-Pot taco casserole? The toppings, of course! Warm and filling ground beef casserole is topped with crunchy and cool toppings like salsa, sour cream, and avocado. Here are my favorite topping ideas for ground beef taco casserole:
- Tomatillo Avocado Salsa Verde – Creamy, cool, and super fresh, this salsa verde will add great flavor to this keto taco casserole recipe.
- Homemade Salsa – This easy, 5-ingredient recipe comes together with fresh tomatoes and adds classic Mexican flavors to your ground beef taco casserole.
- Easy Guacamole – My favorite recipe for guacamole! It gives the easy keto taco casserole creamy flavor – and everyone loves guac!
- Pico de Gallo or simply fresh tomatoes – Diced tomatoes or pico are great toppings if you don’t make your own salsa.
- Iceberg lettuce – Shredded lettuce is a cool and crunchy topping, and adds a little green to the dish, too! Don’t skip it.
- Avocados – If you don’t make guacamole, be sure to top your taco meat casserole with some diced avocado instead.
- Fresh cilantro – Chopped cilantro will add a great, fresh flavor to your low carb taco casserole.
- Sour cream – If your slow cooker beef taco casserole is a bit spicy, a dollop of sour cream will mellow it out a bit.
If you like this taco casserole keto recipe, you probably love tacos as much as I do. Check out my complete guide to low carb tacos – it has everything you need to know about keto tacos.
Tools To Make Ground Beef Taco Casserole :
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- 7 QT Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Easy Clean Slow Cooker – My new favorite slow cooker. And you kinda need a Crock-Pot slow cooker to make Crock-Pot taco casserole! 😉
Crock-Pot Low Carb Keto Taco Casserole Recipe:
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RECIPE CARD
Crock-Pot Low Carb Keto Taco Casserole Recipe
This easy low carb keto taco casserole recipe has just 4 grams net carbs! See how to make Crock-Pot taco casserole with just 10 minutes prep and simple ingredients - the slow cooker does all the work.
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Taco Casserole:
Optional Toppings:
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In a large saute pan, heat avocado oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking apart with a spatula, for 8-10 minutes, until browned.
Add the water and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil, then simmer for a 2-5 minutes, until it thickens and taco meat forms.
Transfer the beef to the 7 QT Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Easy Clean Slow Cooker. Add the diced peppers, onions, and drained diced tomatoes with green chiles. Mix everything together.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook for 4 hours on Low or 2-3 hours on High. At this point you can take your Crock-Pot Cook & Carry anywhere you need to (use the side latches to seal the lid), and just plug it in to keep it warm when you get there.
Right before serving, stir the casserole. (You can spoon out any excess liquid that may have accumulated, but there shouldn't be much if you drained the tomatoes well.) Set the Crock-Pot slow cooker to High and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Top your casserole with any toppings you like, such as lettuce, tomatoes, avocados and/or cilantro.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups, or 1/6 entire recipe
Nutrition info does not include optional toppings, since what you add, and how much, will vary.
* This makes a pretty spicy taco casserole. If you prefer it more mild, you can sub one or both of the cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles with plain diced tomatoes instead. Adding sour cream for garnish will also mellow it out.
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Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Net carb count excludes fiber, erythritol, and allulose, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. (Learn about net carbs here.) We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
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54 Comments
Jennifer
This was off-the-charts amazing! Our whole house smelled like yummy Mexican food as the crockpot was working away, and this dish was every bit as good as I’d hoped it would be! My husband went back for seconds and thirds.
I would have loved to add a few cans of drained whole black beans to the crockpot but the carb count would be too high. Chopped jalapenos would also be a nice addition. And – Crunched up Doritos (after it’s served) – That’s my husband’s suggestion. LOL! Which would also be a no-no due to carbs…
We camp a lot in our travel trailer and have a crockpot in there and I can see this dish being repeated again and again camping (or, not camping.) A+++
John
Taste great. Easy for meal prep. Just scoop out about 8 oz and pop it in the microwave than dump it on some mixed greens.
Only issue I had is my calories and carbs don’t add up. With Cronometer it was saying it was more like 450 Kcal and 8 net carbs (before shredded cheese).
Wholesome Yum M
Hi John, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! The calories can vary depending on the type of ground beef you bought. I use 85/15, but the fat and calories will change if you use a different ground beef ratio in your kitchen. Carbs can also vary greatly depending on if you use my homemade taco seasoning or a storebought version. Be sure to double-check those off the shelf seasoning blends, they can sneak in some extra carbs with anti-caking agents or cornstarch.
kathy
Was awesome, only issue I had was the calories per serving 612! If ground turkey is used would the calories be less?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Kathy, I am glad you liked the recipe. Using ground turkey would subtract about 80 calories per serving. If you would like to lighten up the calorie count further you can use less or omit the cheese entirely.
Mindy
We enjoyed this recipe, however I used 2 lbs of meat and it was still not hearty enough for a main course. We put ours on a bed of lettuce and topped with sour cream and avocado.
J
Made last weekend. Ate this week for lunch. I loved it and going to make it again for next weeks lunch. Thank you!
mandi
this was so good and easy
Patricia B.
Followed the recipe exactly and it was delicious! You can season to your liking. As with any recipe, make sure you taste the ground beef after cooking, Adjust to your taste and you can’t go wrong. I served with lower carb tortillas. Thank you so much for a keeper recipe!
Miciah
My grandchildren asked me if they can have tacos for dinner. I am restarting the keto diet plan so I had to find something that we all can eat. This meal was the best! My husband and grandchildren all gave me 2-thumbs up. They were ranking and raving about it the entire night. Then they went back for seconds. I gave them regular store-bought tortilla chips and I made my keto tortilla chips. I love this meal. This will be a regular once or twice a month. And…very easy to make. Thank you for share such a delicous meal plan
Walter
Easy. Kids liked it.
Thanks for the recipe, here’s my constructive critisism:
I had to add an additional ounce of taco seasoning, it was a bit bland after all the toppings.
Also draining the tomatoes probably helps…but by time the peppers cook down and the meat slow cooks, having extra moisture in there really can’t be avoided. You have to use a slotted spoon. (2tsp corn starch didn’t help either)
Don’t spend extra money on the colored peppers. Just go with green peppers. By the time it’s done cooking all the color is gone anyhow. And from tasting the peppers when I was dicing them, there’s no added flavor benefit.
Next time I’m going to throw a can of corn in there.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Walter, I am glad you found success with this recipe. Yes, definitely drain your tomatoes before adding to the slow cooker. It is just too much liquid otherwise!
Dustin
Trying this in the instant pot tonight, any recs in time for instant pot?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Dustin, There is no need to change anything in the recipe if you are using the slow cooker function on your instant pot. If you would like to use the pressure cooker function, then cook and break down the meat in the IP using the ‘Saute’ button. Complete through step 3. For step 4, put the lid on your IP and use the ‘Manual’ button to use the pressure cooker function and set the timer to 20 minutes. Make sure the vent is closed. Once the pressure cooker cycle is complete, release pressure, remove the lid, add toppings, and enjoy!
LJ
May I make a suggestion? Instead of discarding all that lovely juice from the diced tomatoes with green chiles, why not retain the juice and add enough water to make the 3/4 cup of fluid – instead of plain water?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi LJ, Absolutely! Just make sure it’s not too much liquid to make your casserole soupy.
Sandra
Can you use ground turkey instead of ground beef for the taco casserole
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Sandra, Yes, absolutely!
Lauren
Can you use ground turkey instead of beef?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Lauren, Yes, that will work fine. Enjoy!
Lauren
Does the meat need to be drained of fat before adding the water? I hope not, mine is going with all of it since I didn’t see that in the directions!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Lauren, The fat doesn’t need to be drained, but the diced tomatoes should be drained before using. Enjoy!
Diane
I notice that virtually all of Maya’s recipes get 5 stars and no wonder–I can’t give this anything less! I think the secret is her taco seasoning recipe. The flavor is really unique and I can’t put my finger on why it’s so good, but I’ll be making this again and again. It’s easy to make, and uses ingredients already in my cupboard! I used just a pinch of cayenne, after test-driving this recipe with the full amount first. It was right on the edge of my comfort level so I backed off when making this for a company dinner.
I ran out of time on the day I was serving this, so I ended up doing all the cooking on the stove and then transferring to the slow cooker only to keep it warm while serving. It sat in the cooker maybe an hour and probably that helped the flavors blend. I had cooked the meat as directed, with the seasoning and water, then transferred the meat to the cooker leaving most of the juices behind in my pan. I cooked all the veggies in the pan so they would also absorb the good flavors, then transferred all to the cooker and stirred well.
In other variations on this recipe (I googled), I saw people using kale or zucchini. I liked the idea of zucchini to add more bulk without carbs, so I used 3 zucchini for 3 pounds of meat (I had increased the recipe). Since my guests were not low-carb, I served rice and tortilla chips for them to combine as desired. My toppings were avocado, grated cheddar, sour cream, salsa, chopped green onions, and cilantro–on the table for each to use as desired. It was a great meal and enjoyed by all! Thanks, Maya. 🙂
Miriam
Delish!
Ari
I didn’t use every single ingredient (no lettuce or taco seasoning). I used Cayenne pepper instead of taco seasoning. All in all, when I took the first couple of scoops out. DELICIOUS. I will be making this more often. Keep these slow cooker keto meals coming!
Jim Wells
Amen, on to the next one…….
Laura W
Will have to try this sometime. My family loves Mexican food.
Sandi
Maya, I’m curious as to why you would use iceberg lettuce (with virtually no nutrition) as opposed to romaine, kale, or any other greens that are so full of nutrition? I have found that if you chop it small enough (like in a chopped salad) that even young children will eat it.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Sandi, Iceberg lettuce is commonly used in Mexican food. It also holds up well to the residual heat in the crock pot. You can absolutely sub any other green you prefer to use.
Anita Erb
Can this recipe be made in a 6 quart Crock-Pot? I don’t want it to overflow but it looks like a dish I could easily take to a covered dish meal.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Anita, A 6 qt. Crock Pot should work just fine.
SDL
It turned out great! thank you very much for sharing. Awesome sauce!
Lilly
Unfortunately I wasn’t impressed with this one, it just lacked much flavor and didn’t really taste “special”. I made the recipe exactly as described but added in 1/2 of an onion instead of just 1/4. Despite draining the beef (after browning and before adding the taco seasoning) and also draining the tomatoes well in a colander there was still a lot of liquid once it was finished cooking. I got a lot of this out with a spoon after it finished and before I added the cheese on top.
I served mine with shredded lettuce, avocado, and my favorite pico de gallo. The meat was more bland than it normally is when I made tacos.
The only “advantage” I can see to making this recipes is that the peppers and onions get very soft. However, I can make taco meat with seasoning in 10 minutes on the stove and then spend 10-15 minutes also sautéing the veggies and come out with the same result and better flavor.
Beth
This is 2 of my most favorite things: crockpots and tacos! I need easy, family friendly recipes during these busy holiday months!
Eileen Kelly
I absolutely love how easy this taco casserole is to make/ It is delicious and flavorful and making it in the slow cooker is a big plus.
Debra
WOW…. this is amazing! The flavors are wonderful. EVERYONE loved this. I doubled the recipe. This will be a go to in the future. I put mine on top of lettuce with all the toppings. Try this easy and delicious!
Naomi
This looks so good and i can’t wait to make it! I’m always looking for easy recipes for my crock pot. Normally, I’m a chili girl but this will hit the spot. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Rebekah Buis
Do you have to brown the meat first? Or can you throw it all in and cook for longer?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Rebekah, Browning the meat first makes a huge difference in the flavor of the final dish. It will be more bland, and possibly watery, if you don’t brown it first. You could try it if you really want to.
Tayo
What an amazingly delicious recipe! Everyone loved it and I can’t wait to make it again. Thank you!
Love Keil
Taco casseroles are my favorite, specially yours! It was a huge hit today! Thank you for the recipe!
Whitney
This is the PERFECT weeknight dinner, I love coming home to a slow cooker full of yummy food! I like how this is healthier than your average casserole, thank you!
Pam
What a great addition to my low carb recipe collection (and my slow cooker collection 🙂 Can’t wait to try it.
Irina
We do not follow the keto diet, but we enjoy low-carb meals from time to time. This casserole recipe sounds so delicious to try! Will make it happen!:) BTW! I love your site!
Naomi
Irina,
I’m low carb as well! I’ve been following Atkins, since the early 90’s. Dr. Atkins knew what he was talking about. I need more protein vs fat but I do love some of the Keto recipes.
Beth
My family went crazy for this! It was so tasty and delicious to eat!
Suzy
I really love how this is made in the slow cooker. I am always looking for simple recipes to make for busy nights!
Cindy Gordon
Another WIN for the crockpot! I love crockpot meals to make my weeknights easier with all of these fall sports! Thanks for a delicious recipe!
Andrea Metlika
I use my crock-pot all the time during the winter months. We love Mexican food and this casserole is perfect for us.
Molly Kumar
So delicious and perfect for a weekend meal.
Syd
Maya, just questioning the cooking temps to time. Wouldn’t you want to cook this longer at the low temp and a shorter time needed at the higher temp?
This is how we make our chili… sometimes we add spicy hot V8 juice and sometimes Ranch style beans ( not keto friendly version).
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Syd, Yes, it would be 2-3 hours on High or 4 hours on Low. I do have a slow cooker keto chili here as well.
Cathy
Hi I was wondering if I can freeze this.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Cathy, Yes. Store it in an airtight container and it will keep for up to 6 months.