🌮🧀 Keto Cheesy Taco Casserole

A delicious low-carb casserole loaded with seasoned ground beef, creamy cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and plenty of melted cheddar. It’s hearty, comforting, and perfect for an easy weeknight keto dinner.

🛒 Ingredients

For the casserole

  • 1½ lb (680 g) ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ small onion, finely diced
  • 1 small bell pepper, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup diced tomatoes, drained
  • 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • ¼ cup sliced jalapeños, optional
  • 2 green onions, sliced

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat the oven.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or similar casserole dish.

2. Brown the beef.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until browned and cooked through.

3. Cook the vegetables.
Add the diced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until they begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

4. Season the beef.
Stir in the tomato paste, taco seasoning, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1–2 minutes, allowing the spices and tomato paste to become fragrant.

5. Add the tomatoes.
Stir in the drained diced tomatoes. Cook for another 2 minutes. If the mixture looks very wet, let it simmer briefly until most of the excess liquid evaporates.

6. Make it creamy.
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the softened cream cheese and sour cream until completely combined and creamy.

7. Add some cheese.
Mix in ½ cup of the shredded cheddar and ¼ cup of the Monterey Jack. Stir until the cheese begins to melt into the beef mixture.

8. Transfer to the casserole dish.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.

9. Add the cheesy topping.
Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and Monterey Jack evenly over the top. Add sliced jalapeños if you like a little heat.

10. Bake.
Bake uncovered for 18–22 minutes, until the casserole is hot and the cheese is melted and bubbling around the edges.

11. Broil for a golden top.
For an extra-golden cheesy crust, switch the oven to broil and cook for 1–2 minutes. Watch carefully so the cheese doesn’t burn.

12. Rest and garnish.
Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced green onions before serving.

🌶️ Optional Toppings

Add any of these after baking:

  • Avocado
  • Sour cream
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Sliced jalapeños
  • Sliced green onions
  • Guacamole
  • Salsa with no added sugar
  • Extra shredded cheese

💡 Keto Tips

For a lower-carb version, choose unsweetened tomato products and taco seasoning without added sugar. You can replace the tomatoes with a smaller amount of diced bell pepper or chopped zucchini if you want to reduce carbs further.

For extra fat and flavor, use 80/20 ground beef and full-fat cheese and sour cream.

Servings: 6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: About 40 minutes.