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If there’s one type of meal that makes an appearance most often at our house, it’s low carb dinner recipes that are an entire meal in one. Even more so when they are flexible enough to make ahead or freeze! This easy keto cheeseburger casserole has been a favorite for a long time, because it fits all of that criteria and it’s very family-friendly. I’m excited to finally share it with you! I hope this skinny low carb cheeseburger casserole recipe will become a staple for your family like it is for mine.
Layers in a Low Carb Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
Traditional cheeseburger casserole recipes almost always include a starch. Most often this pasta, but sometimes roasted potatoes or rice. These are obviously all unsuitable for a low carb cheeseburger casserole.
Can you guess what my keto cheeseburger casserole recipe uses instead? It’s probably my favorite low carb vegetable ever… or at least the most versatile – cauliflower!
So, even though it’s loaded with cheese and beef, using the cauliflower actually makes this a skinny cheeseburger casserole. In addition to being keto friendly, it’s also pretty light for such a hearty type of dish. It has 479 calories and 2 grams net carbs in a large meal-sized portion.
But even if you’re not a huge fan of cauliflower, don’t turn away just yet. You might actually like the way we use it in this keto cheeseburger casserole recipe.
Unlike many of my most popular easy low carb casserole recipes, such as chicken bacon ranch casserole, lazy cabbage roll casserole, and chicken cordon bleu casserole, this one is comprised of layers.
We have 3 main layers in the skinny cheeseburger casserole…
1. The Cheesy Base Layer
The base is similar to a cheesy cauliflower rice. Just like my cauliflower fried rice and cauliflower pizza crust recipes, we stir fry it first. This releases all the moisture and cooks the cauliflower, at the same time avoiding that awful steamed cauliflower smell. Win-win!
The base layer also has some similarities to the flavors in loaded cauliflower casserole, because of the cheddar cheese and cream in there. You could leave the florets whole like that recipe does, but the keto cheeseburger casserole stays together much better with riced cauliflower.
2. The Hearty Beef Layer
You can’t have a low carb cheeseburger casserole without ground beef, can you? Of course not. This layer is simply sauteed ground beef. I use a ratio of 1 teaspoon of salt per pound of ground beef, which is what Julia Child recommends.
And, you can use the same pan you used to stir fry the cauliflower, so no additional dishes. Yay!
3. The Topping
The last layer in keto cheeseburger casserole is the topping. Add anything here that you’d put on your burger. (That is, anything that can withstand heat – no lettuce, please!) I used ketchup, mustard and cheddar cheese.
Once all the layers are assembled, the low carb cheeseburger casserole goes in the oven, until the cheese is nice and gooey.
Tips For How To Make Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
For some tips and variations when making this low carb cheeseburger casserole recipe, you can try…
…Ricing cauliflower in the easiest way for you.
If you haven’t riced cauliflower before, it’s very easy to do! Check my post on cauliflower fried rice for instructions on how to do it using a food processor or box grater.
…Buying pre-made riced cauliflower to save time and effort.
>> Can you just buy riced cauliflower?
Sure! Many grocery stores carry it these days. If purchasing fresh cauliflower rice, make sure to buy it no more than 1-2 days before using, otherwise the raw stuff in the bag gets mushy and spoils pretty quickly in the fridge.
>> Can you use frozen cauliflower rice?
Yep, that works too! No need to thaw it. You can just stir fry it from frozen.
Either way, this will skip the step of making the cauliflower rice yourself.
…Using cauliflower florets instead of cauliflower rice.
While it’s not my favorite method for this recipe, you can use cauliflower florets instead.
If you do, you’ll need to roast them first, which is actually more time consuming than just stir frying the cauliflower rice. I highly recommend using my favorite method for the best roasted cauliflower.
After that, you can mix it with the cheese and cream, then proceed with the low carb cheeseburger casserole recipe as written.
…Including homemade sugar-free ketchup if you can, or buying it if you need to.
What about the ketchup in this keto cheeseburger casserole recipe? Doesn’t ketchup contain sugar?
It’s up to you what to do with this one. My preference is to make my own easy sugar-free ketchup recipe like this.
You can also purchase ketchup if you’d like. There are a couple brands that make natural sugar-free ketchup without artificial sweeteners, including this one and this one.
Otherwise, if your household is cutting carbs and sugar but not strictly sugar-free, you can use a regular store bought ketchup as well. From a functional standpoint it will work just fine, and even then this skinny cheeseburger casserole recipe will be much lighter than most casseroles.
…Adding your favorite toppings.
This easy cheeseburger casserole recipe is a breeze to customize with your favorite toppings. Almost anything you can put on a burger, you can put it either on or in this casserole!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
>> Want a bacon cheeseburger casserole?
Crumble some bacon on top of the cheese.
>> Like pickles on your burgers?
Add some on top of the ground beef. Don’t add too much, though, because they tend to water down the casserole. This is why I left them out of the base version on the recipe card. It’s up to you if that’s worth the trade-off. You can also just add them on top at the end.
>> Missing the lettuce or tomatoes?
Shred or dice ’em on top of the casserole after baking.
>> Feel like a bun – with or without sesame seeds?
Serve the casserole with some almond flour biscuits, or just top it with sesame seeds.
…Making the low carb cheeseburger casserole in advance.
A huge bonus about this low carb casserole is that it’s easy to make ahead! Check the instructions below on how to freeze it, or simply make it a few days beforehand for meal prep.
How To Freeze Skinny Cheeseburger Casserole
You can easily make skinny cheeseburger casserole ahead, either for meal prep or for freezing long term.
How to meal prep keto cheeseburger casserole
To meal prep this casserole just a few days ahead, complete all the steps except adding the toppings (ketchup, mustard and cheese). These are best added right before baking, because they’ll soak into the meat below too much if they sit in the fridge for a long time.
Instead, prepare the base layer and meat layer in the casserole dish, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. When you want to serve the low carb cheeseburger casserole, simply add the toppings and cheese. Then, complete the final baking step to heat it through and melt the cheese.
However, if you already made the casserole and just want to store the leftovers, they’ll still be plenty good if you refrigerate them all assembled. This is also convenient if you want to plan ahead for work lunches that you can take with you.
Can you freeze low carb cheeseburger casserole?
If you want to freeze this easy cheeseburger casserole, go for it! Just assemble the whole thing and let it cool to room temperature before freezing. The flavor is optimal for about 6 months, but it’s safe in the freezer even beyond that.
To reheat after freezing, you can either do it from frozen or thaw it first. The ketchup and mustard do mix into the meat a little more than they would if it was fresh, but it’s still delicious!
Easy Low Carb Keto Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
Easy Low Carb Keto Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
With common ingredients, this easy keto cheeseburger casserole recipe is a one-dish low carb dinner for the whole family. Check the tips & variations for the best skinny low carb cheeseburger casserole ever.
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Base Layer
Beef Layer
Topping
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Rice the cauliflower using a food processor or box grater. (Learn more about how to make cauliflower rice here.)
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Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower rice and sea salt. Stir fry until the cauliflower is cooked and a little browned, about 7-10 minutes.
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Remove from heat. Stir in the cheddar cheese and heavy cream.
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Transfer the mixture evenly to a 9 x 13 in (23 x 33 cm) glass casserole dish. Set aside.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
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Lightly wipe down the saute pan to remove any cauliflower pieces, and add the ground beef. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Cook the ground beef until browned, about 10 minutes. Drain if needed.
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Sprinkle the ground beef evenly over the cauliflower in the casserole dish.
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Drizzle the casserole with ketchup (you can make your own sugar-free ketchup like this, or store bought is fine if you are not strictly sugar-free) and mustard. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
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Bake for about 10 minutes, until casserole is hot and cheese melts.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/9 of entire casserole (cut into approx 3 x 4.3 in rectangles)
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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133 Comments
Debra
0Wow, so simple yet so very tasty. I used the frozen riced cauliflower and added a few mushrooms to the ground beef then in addition to the ketchup and mustard I added 3 chopped dill pickles that I let drain a paper towel to take out any excess moisture. My husband said it’s a keeper and it’s fabulous
tina
0Finally, a keto recipe that my kids didn’t complain about. You couldn’t even taste the cauliflower! Next time we might add a little bacon and make a bacon cheeseburger casserole. Also, I used frozen cauliflower and it was perfect.
Jess
0hi I am making this tonight, and I am using Frozen already riced cauliflower, but I don’t know how much to use, what is the equivalent to a whole cauli vs frozen?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jess, This recipe is very forgiving so don’t worry if you don’t have the exact amount. A 16 oz bag should do just fine here.
Abbie Cooper
0Gorgeous!!! Tastes just like Big Mac but without the bun, you need to try this!!!
Madonna Jansekovich
0This was delish…….being a new keto eater, this was the best recipe. Thanks so much for your input.
Julie
0This Cheeseburger Casserole was easy and delicious. A great recipe. Will definitely have again.
Chris
0Can I substitute the cheddar cheese for shredded mozzarella cheese?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Chris, Yes! Sounds great!
Chris
0Do I substitute it with an equivalent amount of mozzarella cheese? Will it come out the same? Sorry, never tried cheddar cheese before
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Chris, This is really up to your taste. I would use the same amount as listed, but if you don’t like a moderate amount of cheese then you can scale the amount back.
Paul Harding
0Not shopping today, so no cauliflower. Can I substitute mixed vegetables (Costco frozen)? Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Paul, Yes, you can definitely do that. I’d recommend stir frying lightly them first to make sure any extra water evaporates, so that your casserole doesn’t get soggy.
Paul
0I did do exactly as you suggested and everything came out great, just more colorful than the cauliflower!
Keto Eyes
0I made this tonight, had low expectations, was blown away. It’s a simple recipe but all recommendations are spot on. I prepped the cauliflower in the food processor, game changer!! My only deviation from the recipe was I cooked onion with the burger. This will be a regular in our weekly menus.
Tamela Freeman
0I made this last night for dinner using frozen riced cauliflower and it turned out amazing. I liked it so much I brought it to work for lunch today also! Thank you for sharing!
Clarissa Smith
0I’m cooking this tonight for the first time and wanting to freeze it. My question is do you bake it before freezing or after when you are ready to eat it? Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Clarissa, You can freeze it before baking. When you are ready to eat it, add ketchup, mustard, and cheese and bake until warmed through.
Sharene Pritchard
0I going to try this recipe tonight but I don’t have enough cauliflower so am going to add cabbage to it. Do you think that will work?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Sharene, The recipe should still work fine. I think pan frying the cabbage in the leftover bacon grease would be a tasty addition to this recipe.
Christopher
0I had a lot of fun making this last night. In my 33 years of living, I have never eaten cauliflower, much less cauliflower rice, so I am anticipating my lunch for today.
Last year I lost 70 lbs on keto eats and I never felt better. I am so glad I found this website yesterday!
Would it be possible to add more nutritional facts…or is there an extended version? I ask because I want to put my metrics in for MyFitnessPal.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Christopher, If you are looking for additional nutrition facts you can enter my recipes into an online recipe calculator. Congratulations on your weight loss!!
Ashley F
0This was so good!! Easy to cut the recipe in half but now that we’ve tasted it, I wish I would’ve done the whole 9×13 for some leftovers!! A definite keeper. I used frozen riced cauli and also sauteed diced onions before throwing the ground beef in the pan to brown. Thank you for another great recipe!
Tara
0I really enjoyed this. My husband cannot get on board with cauliflower rice and for that reason, he wasn’t a fan. I may try again using spaghetti squash in the base layer.
Mary
0Happy New Year!
I love your recipes and all the hints, BUT I don’t love the fact that I have to scroll through SO much to get to the recipe. I don’t always have that much time! PLEASE CAN YOU POST THE RECIPE AT THE TOP? If anyone wants to read all the other stuff, they can.
Thank you.
Mary
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Mary, You may prefer to use the ‘Jump to Recipe’ button. It’s located just under the title of the blog post.
Kacie
0I started the new year going low carb to help with inflammation and joint issues and your recipes have saved me! They are amazing! My husband and I absolutely loved this one. So easy and it was delicious!! Thank you!!
Jackie
0My husband loved this! it is so much like the hamburger tatertot hotdish that he grew up eating in Minnesota. I didn’t have any avocado oil so substituted coconut oil. Also substituted dijon mustard for regular mustard. Will be making this more often.
Walmart has G Hughes Sugar Free Ketchup, 13 oz for 1 Carb and 0 sugar.
Judy
0Can this recipe be made with canned beef? I am out of hamburger and want to make this recipe now!
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Judy, that should work!
Sarah
0This tastes unbelievably good!!!! I would eat this even if I weren’t limiting carbs. I don’t like cauliflower, but this was amazing!!
Anna
0I have a question, I have a bag of riced cauliflower. How much of that equals one head?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Anna, A head is approximately 4 cups.
Jenean W Hill
0I don’t have avocado oil or heavy cream for the cheeseburger casserole. Do you have some good substitutions? Your meatloaf just came out of the oven and the chicken broccoli bacon ranch casserole is ready to go in!
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jenean, you could probably substitute some warmed up cream cheese mixed with a little milk as a replacement for the cream. However, this will raise the overall carb count. As for the avocado oil, you can use butter or any neutral flavored oil.
Robby
0I am happily married my wife and I will be celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary in June. I am 56 father of 6 children, 4 perfect and 2 well they are on their way to achieving perfection. My wife use to cook but now her disability prevents her from doing so. My children are my biggest and my favorite critics.
I made this dish for the first time. Followed the recipe as it is written and it turned out pretty good. I will make it again some time. I found it easy and simple, my daughter doesn’t like to cook helped me and we enjoyed the time together. I did use sugar free ketchup and deli style mustard. I use graded colby jack cheese although I would have prefered extra sharp cheddar. But my daughter doesn’t like it. I do believe I will add some other herbs next time. I might add bacon as well as I am a big fan of bacon makes everything taste better. But this recipe is good just the way it is. It didn’t turn out with a strong Cauliflower flavor as I would have suspected, although that would have been alright as my family likes cauliflower anyway it is prepared. I did use sage sausage as I didn’t have ground beef. And I added a little crushed red pepper flake.
Candace
0I tried this recipe for the first time this weekend and followed it to the letter. Its very good. I do think I will add some onions next time for added flavor. I realize this adds some trace amounts of carbohydrates as well, but there is also added fiber. I used store bought sugar-free ketchup and a zero carb/sugar dijon mustard (I do not care for traditional yellow mustard) and it was delicious. Its a great make ahead dish for those that also do meal planning for the week and need lunches as well as dinners. I imagine it will also freeze well if, like me, you don’t like eating the same thing all week. Thanks for posting this recipe! Its a real keeper.
Ellen
0I loathe the smell and taste of cauliflower. Is it noticeable in this dish?
Thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Ellen, No, I don’t think it’s too noticeable with all the cheese and other layers.
Lana Rupnow
0Soooo delicious!!!
Thank you.
Jack
0I planned to make this last Sunday but forgot to pick up cauliflower at the store. I was not going back out. But I did have two bags of frozen cauliflower tots, so I put the ground turkey, chopped onion, condiments & cheese in the pan first, then topped with the frozen tots. Baked for 24 minutes. Topped with chopped lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Came out great!
Brenda
0Excellent made it and the whole casserole was gone between the 4 of us. I added dill pickles on top after cooking
Traci
0This was my first time trying a recipe with riced cauliflower. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and have to say I was pleasantly surprised! This is soooooooooo good!! I love the flavor, and honestly couldn’t even tell the cauliflower was there. I dressed up my first serving with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles. Delicious! Can’t wait to try it with other ‘toppings’. The versatility is great. This will become a go-to. Thank you!
Kathy A
0This is an excellent base for a lot of different riffs. There is a noticeable lack of seasonings, so I grabbed the spice blend I use when cooking burgers on the grill and mixed that in. I also added a can of tomato paste because not all my family likes ketchup. But I could see myself using taco seasoning and adding refried beans for a Mexican feel. Or, using stir fry sauce, omitting the cheese and topping with green onions for an Asian take. Or curry powder for an Indian take. And so on.
The other change I will make next time is to add an egg to the crust and prebaking for 15 minutes to make a crispier crust.
But a great start. Thanks!
Suzy
0Such a delicious keto recipe!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
0The cauliflower is genius! This is just the kind of homey, comfort food dish my family craves and the idea that it’s healthier is awesome!
Annie
0Oh yes please! This looks so delicious, I love that it’s low carb too! I don’t think I’ve made cheeseburger casserole before, but I do not know why because I love cheeseburgers and I love casseroles so what’s not to love!?
Diana
0I LOVE the looks of the casserole! I am always looking for easy to make meals, and that it freezes well is an additional plus! Thanks for sharing this yummy dish! – Debbie, VA
Ben Myhre
0This looks like such a comfort food and delicious weeknight dinner perfect for the whole family. I am not sure about low carb or keto or all of that, but it looks good.
Rita
0Just delish!! I added some green onions when i fried the cauliflower rice and then sautéed mushrooms and added a layer of them before the ground turkey!!! Sooooo yummy!!!! Thanks for such a great recipe!!
Debby
0I don’t have any heavy cream only milk. Wondering if I could I use cream cheese or Greek yogurt instead (maybe thinned with the milk)?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Debby, Sure you could use some heated cream cheese (so that it’s easy to mix in) and a bit of milk. However, the milk would add carbs. I wouldn’t recommend Greek yogurt since it would be tangy, and might be a bit strange in combination with the other flavors, but it’s up to you if you like the flavor combo!
Alison
0Just made this for lunch today it was delicious! I also made your sugar-free ketchup which was incredible! My husband loved it and said how much he loved the mustard in it. Thank you so much for your amazing website!!
Donna Young
0What could be used instead of heavy cream?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Donna, It depends, why are you looking to replace it?
Betty
0Delicious!!!
Herb
05 star!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you!
Herb
0OMG – delicious! This is now one of my fav Keto-pees. The rices cauliflower base is a nice touch and somehow fills for flavor void left when removing the bun. I used 2 bags of frozen riced cauliflower and grass fed beef, shredded lettuce, cheddar, diced tomatoes, dill slices – yum! Better than ANY burger I’ve ever had. Seriously. Thanks for the recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy you liked it, Herb! Thank you!
Patricia
0Can I use ground turkey instead of beef for the cheeseburger casserole?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Patricia, Yes, you definitely can!
Trista
0Have you tried this with coconut milk? I don’t tolerate dairy very well, but am wondering if the coconut milk would give it a coconut taste?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Trista, I haven’t tried, but you could definitely do that. The other flavors would cover up the coconut pretty well, I think. However, you’d still have dairy from the cheese, which I assume you saw. I know some people tolerate cheese better than milk/cream.
Holly Wesebaum
0I’m using Weight Watchers points and cannot figure out the saturated fat for these recipes. I only see the fat, but not the saturated. Any suggestions how I can obtain that figure from these recipes? Thanks, HOlly
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Holly, Sorry, I only have the nutrition info on hand that’s on the recipe card, but you can enter your ingredients into an online calculator if you need other info. I hope you’ll try the casserole!
Mara
0What is a serving size? A cup?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Mara, A serving is 1/9 of the entire recipe, so if you cut it into 3 pieces in both directions (3 by 3 for 9 total), one piece is a serving.
Shirley F
0Needed a quick meal to prep on Sunday evening to have a for lunches for work for the week. This was quick & tasty and reheated well! Served with a salad of fresh baby spinach. So yum! Great recipe! Add ed some toasted onion and garlic granules to meat as it browned for extra flavor as I was afraid it would be bland. Reminded me a bit of tator tot hotdish! Only keto version!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy you liked it, Shirley! Have a great day!
Doreen
0OMG! This is so full of flavour! I am not a burger fan, but this is really a great dish. Thank you again Maya for all your useful tips and recipes. You definitely keep me on the right path. Bless you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Doreen! Thanks for stopping by!
Natalie Ellis
0I love this recipe so much! So hearty and cheesy for a simple night meal.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy you liked it, Natalie! Thank you!
Christine
0I am allergic to cauliflower! Any suggestions for substitution in this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Christine, You can try either shredded cabbage or shredded zucchini. Whichever one you use, make sure to stir fry until very dry before using in the casserole, so that it isn’t watery.
Leslie Warren
0This sounds fabulous. If I were to use frozen cauliflower rice, how many cups or would I need just a 12oz bag. Thank you!! Your recipes are a life saver
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Leslie! It’s approximately 4 cups of cauliflower rice.
Leslie Warren
0Thank you for the quick response. Can’t wait to make it
Anna Rivera
0What if you dont like ketchup or mustard? What other condiments will work??
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Anna, Almost any condiments that you like on your burger will work. Or you could even just leave them out if you want to. I also like spicy appetizer dipping sauce, which you could drizzle here instead of ketchup and mustard.