Like a cross between a cheeseburger and a lasagna, this comforting keto casserole has ground beef, broccoli, tomato sauce, and cheddar cheese. It’s great for anyone looking for a comforting and easy-to-make low carb dinner.
Recipe Overview
This casserole is soft and tender, with a rich and cheesy tomato meat sauce and juicy bites of broccoli. There are occasional crisp bites of diced celery. Seasonings are kept simple — just salt, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne.
Its recipe development is inspired by my other baked dishes, like tuna casserole and chicken bacon ranch casserole. This is basically a medley of some of my favorite casserole ingredients.
Moisture Control
To avoid ending up with a watery casserole, cook the broccoli and let it steam out before adding it to the casserole dish. The same goes for the ground beef and tomato sauce; the meat sauce should be simmered until it’s nice and thick, and then cooled a bit to let the steam escape. These steps will ensure a thick and flavorful casserole that holds together well.
Serving And Leftovers
This recipe yields one 8×8 inch casserole, which is divided into four servings. Each serving is a dinner-sized portion.
Serve this keto casserole with side dishes like garlic roasted mushrooms and creamed spinach. For something creamy, try cauliflower mac and cheese.
Got leftovers? Cover and store them in the refrigerator. They reheat well in the microwave or in the oven.
Keto Casserole With Ground Beef & Broccoli
Like a cross between a cheeseburger and a lasagna, this comforting keto casserole has ground beef, broccoli, tomato sauce, and cheddar cheese. It's great for anyone looking for a comforting and easy-to-make low carb dinner.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces 90-95% extra lean ground beef
- 14 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 12 ounces small broccoli florets
- 6 ounces (1 3/4 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ounce (1/4 cup) finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large stalk celery finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Prepare an 8x8 inch baking dish.
-
Cut any broccoli florets larger than 2 inches into smaller pieces, and add all broccoli to a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave until tender, about 5 minutes. Let them drain and steam out on paper towels.
-
Pat the ground beef dry with paper towels, if wet. On a large pan over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, about 5 minutes, breaking it apart as it cooks.
-
Add tomato sauce, celery, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne to the pan with the beef, stirring together. Simmer for at least 10 minutes until it thickens to a sauce-like consistency, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and let the moisture steam out.
-
Directly in the baking dish: add broccoli, beef-tomato mixture, and half of the cheddar cheese. Carefully stir until well-mixed.
-
Evenly top with remaining cheddar cheese. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
-
Bake at 375 F until the casserole begins bubbling up the sides and starts to brown on top, about 20 minutes. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into it.
Nutrition Info
| Nutrition Facts Per Serving (Serves 4) |
| Calories 370 | |
| Total Fat 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat 11g | 53% |
| Cholesterol 111mg | 37% |
| Sodium 1290mg | 54% |
| Net Carb 5.5g | |
| Total Carb 9.5g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber 4g | 15% |
| Sugars 5.5g | |
| Protein 37g |
Love this recipe! Great low carb alternative to traditional casserole.
It was a HIT! One of the first Keto recipes I’ve made for all of us to enjoy and it worked out! No cayenne or celery seasoned with garlic and black pepper only Yum!
Loved it! Super easy and with lots of flavor
Yum! Love this, easy to make up and tasty. I left out the salt and it was perfect. I bet the leftovers will be good tomorrow for lunch. Thanks for the recipe.
Dee
I made this tonight. Didn’t really like the combination of beef and broccoli flavor.
Excellent casserole. A definite keeper.
Awesome.
This was very easy to make, very tasty, and very filling. Though I am not typically sensitive to salt, I think the salt in the recipe should be reduced to no more than 1 tsp unless you are using low sodium or no salt tomato sauce.
PS – I am so thrilled to find Julia’s website and recipes!
My family loved this but all said it was a little to salty for them!