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Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It NowIf 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, low carb keto cheeseburger casserole has been a favorite for a long time, because it fits all of that criteria and it’s family-friendly. I’m excited to finally share it with you! I hope this keto hamburger casserole will become a staple for your family like it is for mine.
Unlike other keto casseroles, this casserole has layers like a cheeseburger! The base is similar to my loaded cauliflower casserole, while the beef and topping layers are similar to a big mac casserole. You’re going to love it!
Why You’ll Love This Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
- Cheeseburger taste, without the bun
- Seasoned ground beef
- Gooey, melty cheese
- Quick prep time
- Just 2.6g net carbs per serving
- Naturally gluten-free
- Easy cheeseburger casserole recipe for meal prep
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for a cheeseburger keto casserole, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Base Layer:
- Avocado Oil – For your pan. Olive oil or any other neutral cooking oil works.
- Cauliflower – Some people make cheeseburger casserole with pasta, but I used cauliflower rice for a healthier option that’s just as comforting. You can also use store-bought riced cauliflower (fresh or frozen), or use one of my roasted cauliflower recipes as the base instead.
- Sea Salt
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Pairs with the riced cauliflower for a cheesy layer. You can use any cheese you’d serve on a burger, such as mozzarella, Swiss, or Monterey Jack.
- Heavy Cream – Makes it rich and creamy. You could also use half and half, or coconut cream.
Beef Layer:
- Ground Beef – I typically use 85/15 grass-fed beef, which is flavorful without being too greasy, but use any variety you like. You could even sub ground chicken or ground turkey for lighter options.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
Top Layer:
- Ketchup – My fave is homemade sugar-free ketchup, but I like this store-bought brand when I’m in a hurry.
- Mustard – I used yellow mustard for classic hamburger flavor, but Dijon mustard works, too.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – For a gooey topping.
How To Make Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
This section shows how to make low carb cheeseburger casserole with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Make the base layer. Heat the oil in a large skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower rice and sea salt. Stir fry until the cauliflower is cooked and a little browned. Remove from heat, then stir in cheddar cheese and heavy cream. Transfer the cauli rice mixture evenly to a large glass casserole dish.
- Make the beef layer. Cook the ground beef until browned. Drain any excess grease if needed. Sprinkle ground beef mixture evenly over the cauliflower.
- Add toppings. Drizzle the keto cheeseburger casserole with ketchup and mustard. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- Bake. Place the hamburger casserole in the oven and bake, until the casserole is hot and the cheese is melted.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Wrap the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the casserole to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
- Meal prep: Make the casserole, and then portion it into individual containers in the refrigerator for easy lunches.
- Reheat: Simply pop bowls of individual portions in the microwave for a minute or two, until warm. Alternatively, you can reheat the entire dish in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes.
- Freeze: Cover the keto cheeseburger casserole with plastic wrap followed by foil, then keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can reheat right from frozen, but it’s much faster if you thaw in the fridge overnight first. You can also freeze individual portions instead to enjoy on meal at a time.
Recipe Variations
- Garlic – Cook a couple cloves of garlic before cooking the cauliflower. For a shortcut, sprinkle the cauli rice with garlic powder instead.
- Onions – Saute diced onions in the olive oil before adding the cauliflower rice to the pan. You could also just stir in some leftover caramelized onions. You could also saute them with the beef instead.
- Spices – I kept it simple with just salt and pepper, but a teaspoon of Italian seasoning or a dash of chili powder added to the meat would work well.
- Bacon – For a low carb bacon cheeseburger casserole, sprinkle chopped oven bacon on top, either before or after baking the casserole.
- Big Mac Style – Follow my big mac casserole recipe, or just drizzle this one with Big Mac sauce.
- Fresh Toppings – Top with chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, diced or sliced pickles, or any other burger toppings you like.
What To Serve With Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
This keto hamburger casserole is a complete meal on its own, but like a burger, you may want a side or two. Here are some ideas:
- Low Carb Fries – Make it a classic fast-food meal by pairing this keto hamburger casserole with a side of keto french fries or jicama fries. If you want a veggie twist, try zucchini fries.
- Salad – I love to pair this casserole with a simple arugula salad, but you can pair it with any of my keto salad recipes for a quick and easy side dish.
- Roasted Veggies – Serve keto cheeseburger casserole with a side of roasted vegetables like broccoli, or for extra comfort food, cheesy keto brussels sprouts.
- Fruit – For a light and refreshing side, simply serve this dish with a side of keto fruit.
More Keto Casserole Recipes
If you love low carb casseroles that make a complete meal on their own, here are some of my other meal-worthy casserole rotations:
Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
Make this low carb keto cheeseburger casserole with hamburger, cauliflower, cheddar cheese, and zesty toppings for an easy, comforting meal.
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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.
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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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143 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 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 low carb 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 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 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 recipes. 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!
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.