Craving Mexican food while following a ketogenic diet? It's entirely possible to enjoy the bold and comforting flavors you love without sacrificing your low-carb lifestyle. Many traditional Mexican dishes can be adapted to be keto-friendly by making a few smart substitutions, such as replacing rice with riced cauliflower or using keto-friendly tortillas.
Keto Taco Casserole: A Family-Friendly Favorite
This keto taco casserole captures all the essence of Mexican cuisine - slightly spicy, extra cheesy, and incredibly satisfying, all while keeping the carb count low. A key element is the use of homemade keto tortillas, which provide an authentic taste and texture.
Ingredients and Preparation
The casserole consists of a ground beef mixture, keto tortillas, and plenty of cheese. The ground beef is sautéed with a homemade keto taco seasoning blend (to avoid hidden sugars and thickeners found in store-bought versions). The casserole is assembled by layering tortillas, seasoned beef, and cheese in a baking dish, then baked until bubbly and golden.
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Assemble: Place half of the keto tortillas into the base of a greased casserole dish.
- Make beef filling: Brown lean ground beef in a skillet with olive oil. Add keto taco seasoning and water, and simmer until thickened.
- Assemble: Add half of the seasoned beef mixture and half of the shredded cheese to the casserole dish. Repeat layers.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 180C/350F for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese melts and is bubbly. Let it cool for five minutes before serving.
Tips and Variations
- Make it spicy: Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture.
- Switch up the protein: Use shredded chicken breast or ground chicken instead of ground beef.
- Make it saucy: Substitute tomato sauce or pomodoro sauce for water in the meat mixture.
- Add more vegetables: Incorporate sliced bell peppers or cauliflower rice for added nutrients and bulk.
- Dress it up with toppings: Top with sour cream, sliced avocado, and diced tomatoes.
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, bring it to room temperature before baking as directed.
To prevent the casserole from becoming watery, remove any excess liquid from the skillet after cooking the beef mixture.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Keto Mexican Cheesy Chicken Skillet: A One-Pan Wonder
This cheesy chicken skillet is another excellent option for a quick and easy keto Mexican meal. It's packed with flavor and requires minimal cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Flavorful Ingredients
This skillet features chicken, onions, peppers, garlic, riced cauliflower, and plenty of cheese. The riced cauliflower serves as a low-carb substitute for rice, while the combination of spices and diced tomatoes ensures a delicious flavor.
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Cook the chicken in a slow cooker or Instant Pot with chicken broth, salt, and pepper.
- Sauté onion, green bell pepper, and garlic in butter until softened.
- Add Rotel and steamed riced cauliflower to the skillet.
- Stir in homemade taco seasoning and chicken broth. Cook until the extra liquid is absorbed.
- Add cooked chicken and stir well.
- Top with shredded cheese and let it melt.
Tips and Variations
- Substitute Ground Beef: Use ground beef and beef broth instead of chicken and chicken broth.
- Slow Cooker: Cook the chicken in a slow cooker to reduce cooking time.
- Instant Pot: Cook the chicken in the Instant Pot if you don't have a slow cooker.
- Garnish: There are so many options to garnish Keto Cheesy Mexican Skillet Chicken
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
This dish tastes even better as leftovers, allowing the flavors to meld together. Store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To make ahead, follow the recipe steps up to adding the cheese. Instead of melting the cheese on the stove, transfer the mixture to a casserole dish, cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to 1-2 days. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
The casserole can also be frozen. Allow it to cool, then transfer to a freezer-safe dish, wrap with foil, and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Taco Skillet: A Customizable Keto Delight
This taco skillet offers a simple and customizable way to enjoy Mexican flavors. It's made with taco meat, bell peppers, and diced tomatoes, topped with cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
Easy Preparation
Cook beef, bell peppers, and yellow onion in a large skillet until the meat is cooked and the veggies are tender. Drain any excess liquid, then stir in water and taco seasoning mix. Cook until the water is absorbed, then add the tomatoes and cook until the liquid is gone. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and cover with a lid to melt the cheese.
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