Keto

Serving

Keto Kid-friendly

Cheeseburger Casserole

Name: Cheeseburger Casserole
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Keto
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20); 4 slices bacon, chopped; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 2 large eggs; 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded; 1/4 cup sugar-free tomato paste and 1 tbsp mustard

All the savory, cheesy goodness of a classic bacon cheeseburger, baked into a family-friendly, low-carb casserole.

45 minutes

Serves 4

Dinner

16 min prep

25 min cook

Contains common allergens

Egg Dairy mustard

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Instructions

6 steps

1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x9 inch baking dish.
2
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned. Drain most of the excess grease.
3
Stir the sugar-free tomato paste and mustard into the beef mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and onion powder, then transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
4
In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, eggs, and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese until well combined.
5
Pour the creamy egg mixture evenly over the beef in the baking dish, letting it sink into the meat. Top evenly with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
6
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the casserole is set, bubbly, and the cheese is slightly golden on top. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

Cheeseburger Casserole — plated and served — Serving moment. How Cheeseburger Casserole looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

74/100

Good fit for most families

Allergen-friendly 70

Kid-friendly 85

Weeknight-easy 64

Budget-friendly 86

Great leftovers 93

Pantry-friendly 47

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

810

Calories

63 g

Protein

6 g

Carbs

58 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

Cheeseburger casserole is a ground-beef bake that distills the flavors of a classic American diner burger into a one-pan dish without the bun. It became popular in low-carb cooking communities as an accessible way to satisfy burger cravings during the week without any special technique or uncommon ingredients. The dish is deeply practical — it uses pantry staples, bakes in under 30 minutes, and feeds a family from a single dish.

Listahan note

This version keeps the focus on the beefy, cheesy core and uses a cream cheese layer to create a custardy interior that holds the casserole together when scooped.

Technique cues

Brown the ground beef until the fat has mostly rendered and the meat is deeply colored, not just gray — those browned bits carry the burger flavor that makes the dish taste intentional rather than thrown together.
Soften the cream cheese fully before stirring it in so it blends smoothly without lumps; cold cream cheese will streak through the mixture and create uneven pockets.
Let the casserole rest 5 minutes after pulling it from the oven so the cheese layer firms up enough to scoop in clean portions rather than sliding off.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: While the beef browns, shred the cheddar and soften the cream cheese so the casserole comes together in one continuous motion after draining the meat.
Make-ahead: Assemble the casserole fully up to one day ahead, cover, and refrigerate; add 5 extra minutes to the bake time when cooking from cold.
Leftover move: Scoop leftovers into lettuce cups or serve over shredded cabbage for a quick next-day lunch that stretches the batch.
Cleanup rhythm: Use the same skillet to brown the beef, mix in the cream cheese and seasonings, then transfer directly to the baking dish — only two vessels total.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

ground beef

protein base

Purpose: 80/20 ground beef provides enough fat to keep the casserole moist and flavorful without added oil.

Handling: Brown in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking into small crumbles, then drain excess fat before combining.

Adaptation: Ground turkey or bison works as a leaner alternative, though you may want to add a tablespoon of butter for richness.

cream cheese

binder and richness layer

Purpose: Cream cheese creates a creamy, slightly tangy matrix that holds the casserole together and adds satisfying fat without carbs.

Handling: Soften at room temperature for 30 minutes or microwave in 15-second bursts, then stir until smooth before mixing in.

Adaptation: Full-fat sour cream can replace half the cream cheese for a tangier, lighter texture.

cheddar cheese

topping and flavor anchor

Purpose: Sharp cheddar bubbles and browns on top, delivering the cheesy, savory crust that makes this feel like a real cheeseburger.

Handling: Shred from a block for better melt; pre-shredded bags contain anti-caking starch.

Adaptation: Colby-Jack or American cheese melts more smoothly if you prefer a diner-style finish.

dill pickles

burger signature accent

Purpose: Chopped dill pickles stirred into the filling add the briny, acidic contrast that signals cheeseburger to your palate.

Handling: Drain and chop finely so the flavor distributes without adding soggy patches.

Adaptation: Pickled jalapenos or yellow mustard gives a different but still burger-adjacent tang.

yellow mustard and Worcestershire sauce

seasoning backbone

Purpose: These two condiments replicate the umami depth and tangy sharpness of a well-seasoned burger patty.

Handling: Add directly to the browned beef and stir well before transferring to the baking dish.

Adaptation: Sugar-free ketchup can replace the mustard for a sweeter, classic-burger flavor profile.

Technique notes

A thin layer of sugar-free ketchup spread on top before the shredded cheddar gives the casserole a glossy, caramelized topping reminiscent of a dressed burger.
Diced onion and green bell pepper cooked with the beef add vegetable bulk and the aromatic sweetness of a backyard burger without adding meaningful carbs.
For a crispy topping, turn the broiler on for the last 2 minutes of baking and watch closely — the cheese goes from bubbling to burnt quickly under the broiler.

Ingredient swaps

Gluten-free direction: The base recipe is naturally gluten-free; just verify your Worcestershire sauce label, as some brands contain malt vinegar from barley.
Lower-sodium direction: Use low-sodium Worcestershire sauce, reduce added salt, and choose a mild cheddar rather than sharp to lower the overall sodium content.
Weeknight shortcut: Use pre-seasoned ground beef or add a packet of burger seasoning blend to speed up the flavor-building step.

Serve alongside

Romaine lettuce wedge with ranch dressing
Dill pickle spears
Roasted broccoli with garlic butter
Unsweetened iced tea
Sparkling water with lime

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Refrigerate leftovers in the baking dish covered with foil or transfer to an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave at 70 percent power for 2 minutes, or warm the whole dish covered in a 325 degree F oven for 15 minutes.

Equipment

Large oven-safe skillet or 9-by-13-inch baking dish
Box grater for shredding cheese
Wooden spoon or spatula for breaking up ground beef

Make this household-aware

Listahan Pro checks this recipe against your household's allergens, finds pantry-aware swaps, builds the shopping list, and helps you plan the week around it.

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