Cheeseburgers have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. This Keto Cheeseburger Casserole delivers all the flavors without all of the carbs. Perfectly seasoned ground beef is tossed with ketchup, mustard, and pickles and topped off with a generous sprinkling of cheese. The final touch is a zippy sauce made from mayonnaise, mustard, and pickle juice.
This Keto Cheeseburger Casserole is SO easy to make and is my favorite low-carb way to enjoy my favorite flavors.
Best of all, all of my kids like this recipe. It is one of their favorite keto casseroles.
For more fun low carb inspiration, don't miss my Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, Cheeseburger Soup and Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza.
Ingredients
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When I tested this with 80/20 ground beef, I found we liked it better when I drained the extra fat from the beef after browning. I’ve made this subbing in ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder, and that was good.
For the pickles, check the labels as some brands sneak in sugar. I like using Bubbies, which you can find in the refrigerator section.
Same with ketchup: make your own sugar-free version or grab a keto-friendly brand. Traditional ketchup has sugar, so don’t skip this detail if you’re keeping it strict keto.
Serving Suggestions
- I recommend topping this with shredded romaine lettuce, fresh chopped tomatoes, pickles, and cooked chopped bacon.
- If you like, serve it all on top of cooked cauliflower rice.
- A simple green salad is also a nice side here.
Tips & Variations
- To make Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, add 8 ounces of cooked and crumbled bacon to the ground beef just before you transfer it to the casserole dish.
- I like to use cheddar cheese here, but any cheese that you like works here. Whatever kind you use, fresh grated works best.
- If you would like a bit more spice, add ½ teaspoon chili powder and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing are excellent drizzled on top of this in place of the mayo/mustard sauce.
- Some people like to add egg to the meat mixture to make it hold together better. You can experiment by adding three eggs and see which way your family prefers this recipe. If you would like a creamier casserole, you could also add ¼ cup heavy cream when you add the cream cheese.
- Sausage or ground turkey can be used in place of the ground beef, but you do lose those cheeseburger vibes.
Making Instant Pot Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
The Instant Pot makes this recipe a snap.
You can scroll down to the recipe card for the full instructions.
The most important thing to remember is not to stir when you add the remaining ingredients before cooking, as this could lead to burning.
Step by Step
Start by cooking the ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet until the ground beef starts to brown.
Stir in the cream cheese into the ground beef mixture and cook until the meat is brown and the cream cheese has melted.
Next, stir in your pickles, condiments, and seasonings.
After that, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 9 baking dish and bake.
Finally, when the casserole is done, drizzle with the sauce and serve with shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, and bacon.
Keto Cheeseburger Casserole (Oven or Instant Pot)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 6 ounces cream cheese cubed
- ⅓ cup diced dill pickles I use Bubbies
- ¼ cup keto ketchup
- 1 ½ tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise sugar-free
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons pickle juice sugar-free
- For topping: shredded lettuce tomato, pickles, bacon
- ⅓ cup beef broth Instant Pot Only.
Instructions
Oven
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat a skillet to medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef, onion, and garlic, and cook until the ground beef starts to brown.
- Stir in cream cheese and continue to cook until the meat is browned and the cream cheese melts.
- Stir in pickles, ketchup, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Transfer to a casserole dish and top with cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stir together mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and pickle juice.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and drizzle with the sauce.
- Top with desired toppings and serve.
Instant Pot
- Set your Instant Pot to saute, high. When the screen says "HOT" add the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook until the beef just starts to brown. Add ⅓ cup beef broth and scrape up any browned bits.
- Add the cream cheese, pickles, ketchup, mustard, salt, and pepper. DO NOT STIR.
- Place the lid on your Instant Pot and set to manual high pressure for 1 minute. Allow to release naturally for 5 minutes and then do a quick release. Stir well.
- Add the cheese and return the lid to the pot. Allow to sit until the cheese melts. Top with the sauce and serve.
Notes
Variations:
- To make Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, add 8 ounces of cooked and crumbled bacon to the ground beef just before you transfer it to the casserole dish.
- I like to use cheddar cheese here, but any cheese that you like works here.
- If you would like a bit more spice, add ½ teaspoon chili powder and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing is excellent drizzled on top of this in place of the mayo/mustard sauce.
judith McCarthy says
I would love to make this dish. I have a variety of different size casserole dishes. You don't indicate the size casserole. Looking at the picture provided, are you using, a 9x9, 3-quart casserole? Size does affect amount of servings.
Wendy Polisi says
It was an 8 x8
Lisa says
That looks great! Thanks!
Cyn Wise says
Yummy! Just made this and my non-keto wife thoroughly approves!
Wendy Polisi says
So glad that you all enjoyed it.
Nicole says
We loved it. Thanks.
Randy Huguenin says
I made this tonight and it was awesome. Thank you for sharing.
Wendy Polisi says
So glad you liked it!
Karen M. says
This was so so good! I made it in the Instant Pot; and it came out perfectly! I didn't have an onion on hand but subbed out two tablespoons of minced onion. I tried it with the ranch dressing and lettuce, which was very good. I then tasted it right out of the pot without any topping, I liked that even better!
Thank you so much for the recipe. It's going in my rotation for sure!
MeMow says
Soooo darn good! Mine never looks so pretty but the taste is amazing. The right balance of ketchup mustard mayo and pickles. We eat it like a salad in a bowl topped with tons of shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes.
Thank you for this delicious affordable low carb recipe.
Sheila says
Always willing to try a recipe but this one was so good we’re having it tonight. This is now one of our regular favorites. Thanks!
Susan says
Serving size?
Gen says
My boyfriend is notoriously anti-casserole (don’t know why!) but he LOVED this one. So delicious - thank you!
Cam says
This will become our family's favorite!
Patty says
Is it supposed to be soupy? I did it in the instant pot .. It tasted good though !!