Low Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole (Printable)
Hearty casserole combining beef, bacon, and cheese for a keto-friendly twist on burger night flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef, 85% lean recommended
02 - 6 slices bacon, chopped
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup diced tomatoes, fresh or drained canned
06 - 1 cup chopped dill pickles
→ Dairy
07 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
09 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
→ Condiments & Spices
10 - 2 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup
11 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
12 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Optional Toppings
16 - Sliced green onions
17 - Extra pickles
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels, leaving 1-2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet.
03 - Add the ground beef to the skillet with the reserved bacon fat. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.
04 - Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the beef. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onion is softened and fragrant.
05 - Stir in the diced tomatoes, chopped pickles, sugar-free ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes to combine flavors, then remove from heat.
06 - In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese and heavy cream until completely smooth and well combined.
07 - Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the top and use a spatula to gently swirl it into the beef layer.
08 - Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the casserole, then top with the cooked bacon pieces.
09 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
10 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set. Garnish with sliced green onions or extra pickles if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- All the comfort of a bacon cheeseburger without the carb crash
- The cream cheese mixture creates this incredible rich sauce that ties everything together
- Perfect for meal prep and actually tastes better the next day
02 -
- Really drain those diced tomatoes well if using canned or your casserole might end up too watery
- Letting it rest for 5 minutes after baking is not optional or it will be too runny when you serve it
- The cream cheese mixture needs to be completely smooth or you will get weird white pockets in the finished dish
03 -
- Fry the bacon until it is extra crispy because it will soften in the oven
- Room temperature cream cheese blends much easier than cold straight from the fridge