Unbelievably Delicious Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole – Easy Low-Carb Recipe You’ll Love!

Craving a comforting and flavorful meal that fits your keto lifestyle? Look no further than this Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole! This recipe takes the classic flavors of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and transforms them into a convenient and satisfying casserole. It’s a crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner that’s low-carb, high in fiber, and packed with protein.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole has everything you love about a traditional Philly cheesesteak, but without the bread. The creamy cheese sauce perfectly complements the savory steak and sautéed vegetables. It’s an easy recipe that comes together in a single skillet, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Plus, it's a great way to enjoy a comfort food classic while staying true to your low-carb goals.

Ingredients You'll Need

Ground Beef: The base of this Keto Philly cheesesteak casserole. You can also use shaved steak or steak strips if you prefer a more traditional approach.
Bell Peppers: Sticking to the classics, bell peppers and philly cheesesteak go hand in hand. Use a combination of yellow and green for an extra pop of color, but any color of pepper will do.
Onion: Adds classic Philly cheesesteak flavor to the casserole.
Mushrooms: Adds a meaty and hearty texture to the casserole. Either sliced cremini or white button mushrooms will work well.
Garlic: Because most good dishes begin with a little bit of garlic.
Mozzarella Cheese: For that much needed ooey, gooey cheesy layer. I like using grated mozzarella because it melts beautifully all over the beef and veggies. However, if you’re looking to keep things a little more traditional, you can substitute provolone instead. Simply cover the top of the casserole with provolone slices instead of mozzarella and continue on with the baking instructions.
Cream Cheese: Where most of the creaminess comes from! Cream cheese is like a Keto dieters best friend!
Parmesan Cheese: Cause you can never have too much cheese.
Heavy Cream: YES to more creaminess! Heavy cream is another widely used ingredient for Keto dieters for it’s high fat content.
Olive Oil: For sautéeing and softening the veggies. Adds flavour.
Worcestershire sauce: To enhance the flavor of this casserole you can add 2-3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce to the beef mixture, which adds richness to this Philly cheesesteak casserole recipe.
Beef Broth: Adds depth of flavor to the cheese sauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here's how to make this delicious Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole:

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare the steak: Season the steak with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the heat. Allow to cool slightly and chop.
Sauté the vegetables: Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and cook for 6 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic powder and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Combine the steak and vegetables: Return the chopped steak to the skillet and stir to combine. Remove from heat.
Make the cheese sauce: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan and add the beef broth. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add the cream cheese. Cook, whisking often until the cream cheese is melted. Reduce heat to low and add in 8 ounces of the provolone cheese. Cook until the cheese is melted.
Assemble the casserole: Add the cheese sauce to the steak mixture and stir to combine.
Bake: Spray an 8 x 11 or 9x9 baking dish (I used 8 x11) with oil or cooking spray. Pour the steak mixture into the dish. Drizzle the liquid egg and cheese mixture on top. Top with the provolone cheese slices.Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese begins to bubble.
Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, before serving.

Tips for the Perfect Casserole

Slice the bell peppers and mushrooms into the same size thickness to ensure even cooking. Don’t make the pieces too big that they’re difficult to bite and overtake the entire casserole.
Sauté the veggies in a hot skillet with some oil before assembling the casserole. This will make sure they come out nice and soft and tender. The raw veggies won’t be able to fully cook through if you just throw them in without lightly pre-cooking them first. Don’t worry about cooking them all the way through.
When assembling the cheese sauce, keep a close eye on it to ensure nothing boils over or burns. Putting heavy cream and cheese over a hot stove is not necessary the easiest task and it requires focused attention to ensure it comes out just right. Since melting the cheeses and heavy cream is the way we make the delicious creamy sauce that literally pours over the entire casserole, it has to be perfect or else the dish will easily ruin.
Generously grease the baking dish with either oil or butter before adding the ground beef mixture and baking.
Don’t skimp out on the cheese! The ooey, gooey-ness from the different cheeses is what really takes this Philly cheesesteak casserole to the next level! Like a good Philly cheesesteak sandwich….it’s all about the cheese, eh?!
Let this Keto Philly cheesesteak casserole sit at least 5 minutes before serving/eating. The juices, sauces and cheeses are still flowing and bubbling directly out of the oven and if you cut into it too soon, you’ll lose all that goodness.

Variations and Substitutions

Meat: While ground beef is a convenient option, you can use shaved steak or steak strips for a more authentic Philly cheesesteak experience. You can also use flank steak if you wish.
Cheese: Provolone is the traditional cheese for Philly cheesesteaks, but mozzarella, parmesan reggiano, or a combination of cheeses can be used.
Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables like jalapenos for a spicy kick.
Spice: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beef mixture for a touch of heat.

Serving Suggestions

This casserole is hearty and satisfying on its own! However, if you want to serve it with something, consider a light soup or side salad. A tomato salad, cucumber salad, or kale caesar salad are all great options. Cauliflower rice is also a great Keto side dish.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Storage: Once cooled, leftovers can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the oven, microwave, or in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little water to the casserole before reheating to prevent it from drying out.

Can I Make Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole in Advance?

YES! And that’s the beauty of casseroles, don’t you agree?! There are two ways you can do this:

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Prep all the different components of the casserole except for the creamy sauce (unfortunately, that has to be made fresh. But don’t worry, it’s quick and easy!) So, brown the ground beef and sautée the veggies and store them in an airtight container. Keep them in the fridge until ready to use. I wouldn’t do this more than a day or two in advance. When ready to assemble the casserole, simply make the sauce, mix it in with the veggies, pour it into your greased casserole dish, top with cheese, bake and enjoy! Full instructions can be found in the recipe card down below.
The other option you have if you want to make this Keto Philly cheesesteak casserole in advance is to assemble the entire thing in the casserole dish, cover it with aluminum foil and keep it in the fridge until ready to cook. Again, I wouldn’t recommend doing this any more than two days in advance. But, when ready to eat, all you have to do is pop it in a 350°F oven until warm and heated through. So, probably closer to 30 minutes instead of the normal 20 since it’s coming from the cold fridge. And voila! Dinner made easy any night of the week!

Can I Freeze Philly Cheesesteak Casserole?

YES! PRO TIP: Make a double batch and portion it out into freezer/oven safe containers. That way, when ready for a comforting and cozy dinner, all you have to do is throw it into a 350°F oven and cook, covered, for about an hour or so until the cheese is bubbly and the casserole heated through (it might take a bit longer than this if cooking directly from frozen).If planning to freeze, follow the recipe instructions until step number 10. Freeze. Then continue on with the cooking instructions when ready to eat, adding a bit more time to ensure it gets cooked all the way through. No need to thaw in advance. But, if you want to, thawing in the fridge overnight the day before you want to eat it will give you the best results.

Is Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Keto?

Yes, because this recipe is made with ingredients that are low in carbohydrates, with only 12 grams of carbs per serving, this recipe is considered keto.

Nutritional Information

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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tags: #keto #cheese #steak #casserole #recipe