Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (2024)

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This Keto-friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe makes a meal even the kids will love! It’s suitable for low-carb, ketogenic, Atkins, diabetic, LC/HF, and Banting diets. This casserole is a grown-up version of Beef-a-roni!

Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (2)

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Sometimes my recipe inspiration comes from gourmet magazines, sometimes it comes from a restaurant menu. For this recipe, however, my inspiration came from Chef Boyardee. Yes, you read that right!

Chef Boyardee products weren’t a regular on our menu, when I grew up. That made them a special treat. My brother’s favorite were the Spaghetti-O’s. My favorite was the Beef-a-roni.

This recipe is a grown-up and carbed-down version of the stuff you get in a can. A garlic infused tomato sauce is stirred into ground beef and onions. Oregano and basil add that Italian flavor we love in our red sauces. Cauliflower stands in for carb-laden pasta. It’s all topped off with melted cheese goodness.

I resisted the urge to top this baby off with some sort of upscale Italian cheese. Nope, what this casserole needed was a basic cheddar or cheddar blend. It’s all about being kid-friendly.

In this Keto-Friendly Ground Beef Italian Casserole Recipe, I melt the cheese under the broiler. Everything else is already completely cooked, so there’s no need for a long baking time. Just a few minutes under the broiler and the cheese turns into that melted goodness we all crave.

This recipe is a frugal, quick meal that everyone will love. Looking for other low carb casseroles to enjoy? Check out my Low-Carb Baked Seafood Casserole Recipe, this taco casserole from Joy Filled Eats, this cheddar chicken and broccoli casserolefrom Tasteaholics, this keto beef taco casserole, or my Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole. Enjoy!

-Annissa

Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (3)

Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (4)

Make a delicious Keto-Friendly meal that even kids will love with this Italian-Inspired Ground Beef Casserole Recipe! This casserole is loaded with ground beef and melted cheese and gets lots of flavor from tomatoes and Italian herbs. 😋🍖🍴

Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (5)

4.84 from 12 votes

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This Keto-friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe makes a meal even the kids will love! It's suitable for low-carb, ketogenic, Atkins, diabetic, LC/HF, and Banting diets. It's a grown-up version of Beef-a-roni!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian, low-carb

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 9

Calories 209 kcal

Author Annissa Slusher

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cauliflower chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 4 ounces white onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 1/2 cup cheddar or Mexican blend cheese finely shredded, quantity divided

Instructions

  1. Spray an 8" X 8" baking dish with a non-stick spray.

  2. Place 1 1/2-2 inches of water in the lower part of a steamer. Bring water to a simmer. Place cauliflower in the upper part of the steamer, cover, and fit the upper part of the steamer over the simmering water. Steam cauliflower until tender--about 10-12 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the outside of the beef is browned. Drain if desired.

  4. Add onions to the skillet. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the meat is cooked through and the onions are tender. Turn heat to medium. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.

  5. Stir in the tomato sauce. Add the basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

  6. Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring frequently. When mixture comes to a simmer, stir in reserved cauliflower and 1/2 cup of the cheese.

  7. When cheese has melted and cauliflower has reheated, taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer the mixture to the prepared 8 X 8 baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese over the top.

  8. Place rack about 8 inches below heat element in oven. Preheat broiler. (If pan is not broiler-safe, set oven to 425º Fahrenheit.) Place the casserole under the broiler (or in preheated oven if using the non-broiler option) until cheese has melted as desired. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/9th of the recipe

Per serving:

Calories: 209

Total fat (g): 13

Carbs (g): 6

Fiber (g): 2

Protein (g): 18

Nutrition Facts

Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 209 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Protein 18g36%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

  1. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (7)

    G on January 19, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    I see that you steam the cauliflower but don’t see anything after that on what to do with it.

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (8)

      Harper and Annissa Slusher on January 20, 2018 at 8:21 am

      I just fixed it. Thanks for letting me know.

      Annissa

      Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (11)

      Marsha Reed on June 4, 2018 at 10:38 am

      What kind of tomato sauce did you use for low carb?

      Reply

      • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (12)

        Harper and Annissa Slusher on June 4, 2018 at 12:37 pm

        Marsha,
        I don’t remember the brand I used. I just read all of the labels at the store and found the one that had the fewest carbs.Be careful because you need to look at the serving size too since each brand may use a different serving size.
        Annissa

        Reply

        • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (13)

          Jen on February 7, 2019 at 7:41 pm

          I use Rao’s

          Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (14)

      Jessica on December 1, 2018 at 9:37 am

      I don’t see a response to this but I am
      Wondering too. How do you cut the cauliflower?

      Reply

      • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (15)

        Annissa on December 1, 2018 at 3:28 pm

        I chop the cauliflower into medium sized pieces–maybe an inch or so, but each piece varies a bit in size.
        -Annissa

        Reply

  2. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (16)

    Eila on April 16, 2018 at 7:13 pm

    Delicious!!! Everyone in the family loved this recipe. Thank you!❤️

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (17)

      Harper and Annissa Slusher on April 16, 2018 at 8:31 pm

      You’re welcome!

      Reply

  3. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (18)

    Virginia on April 26, 2018 at 6:11 pm

    I got the ok to make this again from my pickiest eldest daughter.

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (19)

      Harper and Annissa Slusher on April 26, 2018 at 8:15 pm

      Glad she liked it enough to want it again! Picky kids can be the toughest!
      -Annissa

      Reply

  4. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (20)

    Tiffany on April 30, 2018 at 8:19 pm

    This was AMAZING! Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (21)

      Harper and Annissa Slusher on April 30, 2018 at 8:50 pm

      You’re welcome!

      Reply

  5. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (22)

    Christine Neely on May 28, 2018 at 11:20 am

    If I don’t have a steamer can I microwave the cauliflower?

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (23)

      Harper and Annissa Slusher on May 28, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      Sure! That should work fine.

      Reply

  6. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (24)

    Susan Magee on August 16, 2018 at 7:13 pm

    I’d like to use riced frozen cauliflower. Suggestions?

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (25)

      Harper and Annissa Slusher on August 17, 2018 at 10:13 am

      Hi Susan,
      Riced frozen cauliflower would cook a lot faster than florets. I wonder if you even need to cook it before putting it in the casserole. Because it is frozen, it might add a bit of water to the dish and thin it out a bit. I think if I were to use it, I would just sauté it a few minutes in a bit of butter to get rid of excess moisture, then use it like I did the florets. You may be able to get away with just using it straight from the bag. Let me know how it goes!
      -Annissa

      Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (27)

      Harper and Annissa Slusher on September 1, 2018 at 5:11 pm

      Absolutely!
      -Annissa

      Reply

      • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (28)

        Kay Raymond on November 13, 2021 at 3:23 pm

        I use frozen

        Reply

  7. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (29)

    Carol on October 31, 2018 at 12:31 pm

    Glass baking dish under the broiler? No problem?

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (30)

      Annissa on October 31, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      Carol,
      I haven’t had any issues doing this for short periods of time. It literally takes only a minute or so. You won’t want to have the dish super-close to the heating element. Feel free to use another type of pan if you like. Of course, you should follow the instructions on your bakeware.
      -Annissa

      Reply

  8. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (31)

    Joni on December 10, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    Ok… i jate people who change things… but i had to for various reasons.
    All i had on hand was riced cauliflower… i cooked that for a few minutes…added to the rest of the ingredients..also I don’t have a broiler so just baked it for 15-20 minutes until the cheese was melted.
    My husband loved it. Said it reminded him of rice instead of cauliflower. He thought it was one of the better ‘keto’ casseroles
    I have made…
    So… it was still a hit. Thank you for putting this recipe out… we very much appreciate it and will make it again..

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (32)

      Annissa on December 10, 2018 at 4:38 pm

      Joni,
      We must think alike! I just made a taco casserole using riced cauliflower. It works beautifully and I didn’t even defrost it first. This one has to cook longer, though.

      Annissa

      Reply

  9. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (33)

    Kristen on December 13, 2018 at 10:24 am

    So if I am using the Trader Joe’s riced cauliflower-fresh, not frozen, do I need to cook it first? Or can I just add it and will the cooking of the casserole cook it enough? I dislike soggy cauliflower. Anything to save save time and a dish, lol!

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (34)

      Annissa on December 13, 2018 at 10:45 am

      Kristen,
      For this recipe, I would cook it first since it’s really only in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese. If you prefer, you might be able to get away with not cooking it first if you use the baking instructions for our Low-Carb Mexican Taco Casserole. This bakes a lot longer and should cook the little bits of rice. I haven’t tried this, but I use frozen cauliflower rice in the Mexican casserole and it comes out fine.
      Annissa

      Reply

  10. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (35)

    Luisa on January 13, 2019 at 4:01 am

    Absolutely amazing, EVERYONE LOVED IT. Great way to stay keto.

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (36)

      Annissa on January 13, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      Yay!I’ll take that as a win!
      -Annissa

      Reply

  11. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (37)

    Monica on January 31, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    I only had rice cauliflower so I used about a cup and a half and it came out awesome! Hubby lived it too!

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (38)

      Annissa on February 1, 2019 at 10:29 am

      Yay! Glad you both enjoyed it!Cauliflower rice is a great substitution.
      -Annissa

      Reply

  12. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (39)

    Tanya on February 28, 2019 at 11:02 am

    Hi, I’m wanting to assemble this in the morning and cook it at night. Should I not steam the cauliflower as long, since it will probably take longer to warm up after being in the fridge all day? Thoughts?

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (40)

      Annissa on February 28, 2019 at 3:06 pm

      I think you could go ahead and lightly steam the cauliflower. I would assemble it and then refrigerate and then bake in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly in the center.
      -Annissa

      Reply

  13. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (41)

    Deborah Mathison on March 10, 2019 at 3:12 pm

    Well, lazy me decided to make this in my cast iron frying pan and then run it under the broiler. **I did steam the frozen cauliflower in its microwavable bag and then stir it in with the other ingredients just before adding the cheeses. MMMMM!

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (42)

      Annissa on March 10, 2019 at 6:30 pm

      Love this!
      -Annissa

      Reply

  14. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (43)

    Mary on April 28, 2019 at 7:20 pm

    I used riced cauliflower worked nice! Looks great! First time making it. Tasted very good.

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (44)

      Annissa on April 28, 2019 at 11:05 pm

      Yay! Glad it was a hit!
      Annissa

      Reply

  15. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (45)

    Robertta Rasmussen on May 9, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    I wanted to know if I could substitute broccoli for the cauliflower, my grandkids hate cauliflower.

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (46)

      Annissa on May 10, 2019 at 7:05 am

      That should work fine. It will look and taste a bit different than the original recipe, but I think it would turn out.
      -Annissa

      Reply

  16. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (47)

    Jennifer on June 15, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    First time making it and it was delicious! I love that it’s easy to make too

    Reply

  17. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (48)

    Julia Stearns @ Healthirony on July 10, 2019 at 4:31 am

    That keto-friendly Italian ground beef casserole looks absolutely fantastic. Beautiful photos, too. I look forward to trying this.

    Reply

  18. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (49)

    Sherry on August 2, 2019 at 12:44 am

    This is delicious. I will definitely make this again.

    Reply

  19. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (50)

    Jill Roberts @ Wellnessgeeky.com on August 5, 2019 at 5:07 am

    Oh my! This keto-friendly Italian ground beef casserole was delicious and so easy to make! Will have to try this for my family. Thanks so much!

    Reply

  20. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (51)

    Simone Allers on September 25, 2019 at 2:18 am

    I look forward to trying this recipe tonight!
    Substituting the tomato sauce for pasata. Hopefully still taste good!

    Reply

  21. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (52)

    Heart on September 26, 2019 at 11:40 pm

    This keto friendly italian ground beef recipe looks delicious and I’m sure my family would love this. Thanks for sharing this. I hope to see more healthy new recipes from you!

    Reply

  22. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (53)

    Kim on May 2, 2020 at 7:32 pm

    Amazingly delicious! I used the already riced cauliflower and Paul Newmans tomato sauce.

    Reply

  23. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (54)

    Donna on September 22, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    Used 28oz can San Marzano tomatoes for the sauce. Doubled the amt. of ground beef. Used Parmesan & mozzarella cheeses to make it truly Italian. Kept the amt. of cauliflower the same.

    Reply

  24. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (55)

    jack on November 12, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    this recipe woks like a charm just not really sure what to do with the caluflour

    Reply

  25. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (56)

    Leah on May 12, 2021 at 11:55 am

    What is a serving size? One cup?

    Reply

    • Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (57)

      Annissa Slusher on May 12, 2021 at 3:21 pm

      There are 9 servings in this recipe. I cut the casserole into 9 pieces like a hashtag so the serving size is 1/9th of the recipe..

      Annissa

      Reply

  26. Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (58)

    Jessie on January 21, 2023 at 3:00 am

    I already had riced cauliflower so I used that and it came out absolutely wonderful!! I have been doing a keto-friendly diet with my extended family and I have a feeling this will be a winner!! We have been doing a lot of taco meat but I wanted something different and am so glad I tried this!! Delicious!!

    Reply

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Keto-Friendly Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to eat at an Italian restaurant when on keto? ›

Keto Italian Food Staples You Can Order at the Restaurant
  • Olives — Ask for fresh olives instead of bread.
  • Cured meats — Prosciutto, pepperoni, salami, soppressata, coppa, capicola, bresaola, etc. ...
  • Carpaccio — Raw, thinly sliced meat or fish.
  • Italian cheeses — Ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, buffalo mozzarella, etc.
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Is ground beef OK for keto diet? ›

Low-cost AND low carb! It's not too good to be true—ground beef is totally keto-approved! The low-budget meat you know and love can be incorporated into SO many keto recipes, whether you're in the mood for a hearty dinner, a light lunch, or just a snack (fat bombs, we love you).

Is hamburger grease good for keto? ›

Yes. On a ketogenic diet, all fats with the exception of processed vegetable oils are considered good fats.

How many carbs are in keto beef stew? ›

How many carbs are in keto beef stew? This keto beef stew recipe has 5.8g of carbs and 1.6g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4.2g net carbs per bowl of stew.

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Plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are nutritious, high protein foods. While they contain some carbs, you can eat them in moderation on keto. Both yogurt and cottage cheese have been shown to help decrease appetite and promote feelings of fullness (33, 34 ).

What foods are unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

How many eggs a day on a keto diet? ›

It's totally fine and safe to eat up to 6 eggs a day while on the keto diet. You can consume even more eggs per day occasionally, as long as you make sure that you eat your greens, healthy fats and proteins from other sources.

Can you eat too much salad on keto? ›

Can you eat too much salad on keto? Vegetables do contain carbohydrates, so it is possible to eat too much salad and exceed your carb limit for the day. However, if you're careful about the greens and other veggies you include and don't overdo it, delicious salads can be a staple in your keto diet.

What is the best deli meat for keto diet? ›

Some of the best meats for keto include beef, pork, chicken, salmon, and bison. Still, all plain, unprocessed meats are keto-friendly and low in carbs — so there are plenty of options to choose from.

What cheese is good for keto? ›

Some cheeses suit the keto diet better than others. This mainly comes down to their carb and fat content and level of processing. The best keto cheeses include cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese, while the worst are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties.

How to get into ketosis in 24 hours? ›

You can make several diet changes to reach ketosis in 24 hours, including:
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  2. Cutting out added sugars and processed snacks.
  3. Eating moderate amounts of protein.
  4. Consuming an abundance of non-starchy vegetables.
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What is a good substitute for potatoes in stew? ›

Turnips are an ideal potato replacement as they have a similar texture. Turnips can be prepared n several different ways, including baking, boiling, roasting, or steaming.

Can you eat carrots on keto? ›

Carrots can be part of a keto diet. However, given that they contain moderate amounts of carbs, you'll need to strictly limit your portion size.

What can I use instead of potatoes in stew? ›

Most squash are good substances for potatoes, ditto yams. As for celery, leeks, green onions, ect. Nothing is equal to a potato in a stew for me; the savory starchiness it brings is quite unique for the tuber. Yucca and taro come close, but those are potato-like too (just sweeter).

What is the healthiest meal at an Italian restaurant? ›

What Are the Healthiest Options at Italian Restaurants?
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Keto-friendly pizza toppings include meats like pepperoni, sausage, and bacon, along with vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Opt for full-fat cheeses and sugar-free tomato sauce. Experiment with various combinations to find your favorite keto pizza toppings.

What pasta is allowed in keto? ›

The Best Keto Pasta Noodles

LC Foods Egg Noodles offer a great alternative to regular pasta, as they are made from a combination of Organic Non-GMO yellow soybeans and water. This makes them perfect for adding to your favorite keto dishes and topping with pesto or a creamy cauliflower Alfredo.

Can I eat spaghetti during keto? ›

Eating refined high carb foods like white bread, pasta, rice, and pastries could prevent a ketogenic state if you end up getting more than your daily carb allowance. While these are fine to eat in moderation if you're not following a low carb diet, those looking to achieve or maintain ketosis will need to limit them.

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