If you're a fan of Mexican cuisine but are following a keto or low-carb diet, this easy keto taco casserole recipe is a lifesaver on busy weeknights. This dish will satisfy your cravings while keeping you on track with your health goals. It's packed with flavor and is incredibly easy to make, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a potluck with friends.
Why You'll Love This Keto Taco Casserole
This keto taco casserole has all the flavors of tacos but without the carbs! It's also gluten-free, and the best part is that the entire hands-on time is only about 5 minutes. It's a great way to enjoy a classic taco casserole without the refried beans and corn chips that are typically found in traditional recipes.
Ingredients You'll Need
This recipe uses only a few simple ingredients, many of which you may already have in your kitchen:
- Ground Meat: Ground turkey or ground beef both work well in this recipe. For a keto ground beef casserole, simply substitute browned ground beef. Lean ground beef or ground turkey are both delicious options. Ground turkey from Costco comes packaged in 1 1/2 pounds, which is the perfect amount for this recipe. However, using full-fat beef is completely acceptable when following a low-carb diet.
- Taco Seasoning: Use a packet or make your own keto taco seasoning to avoid added ingredients like cornstarch and sugar. Homemade taco seasoning is cheaper and tastes better than those packets you see in the grocery store. You will need 3-4 tablespoons, so if you buy the packets you’ll need 2.
- Diced Tomatoes: Rotel tomatoes (mild, medium, or hot) add a zesty flavor. You’ll use 1/2 cup of this, so the remaining can you can mix in this cheese nacho sauce. Alternatively, you can add diced tomatoes and add 2-4 ounces of chopped green chiles.
- Cottage Cheese: This is the secret ingredient for added protein and a creamy texture. One of the reasons to love using cottage cheese is because it is high in protein.
- Cheddar Cheese: Or any type of shredded cheese that goes well with Mexican food. You’ll also need a bag of shredded Mexican cheese to sprinkle on top of the casserole.
- Canola oil: This neutral, mild oil is great for browning beef.
Optional Toppings
The best part of this meal is that the options are limitless by adding your favorite Mexican flavors.
- Sour cream
- Avocados
- Diced tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Cauliflower rice
- Sliced scallions
- Hot sauce
- Olives
- Green onions
How to Make Keto Taco Casserole
This keto taco casserole is incredibly easy to make. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Step 1: Prepare the Meat
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef or turkey. Add taco seasoning and cook until meat is no longer pink. If you are using a low fat protein, then you will want to add a tablespoon of avocado or olive oil to the skillet.
- Next, add the diced Rotel tomatoes and cream cheese into the ground beef mixture. You can really ramp up the flavor to suit your taste buds depending on the tomatoes you use. There are so many options!
- Drain the meat properly since ground turkey isn’t greasy.
Step 2: Assemble the Casserole
- Place cooked meat in prepared baking dish. Add this keto taco casserole dish to your fiesta or simply make for taco Tuesday.
- Add Rotel tomatoes and cream cheese. Reduce heat to medium and stir until cheese melts and tomatoes are distributed through the taco meat.
- Top with sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes, olives and green onions.
- Top with shredded cheese.
Step 3: Bake
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly on the sides.
- For the best golden brown cheese on top broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes right before serving.
- Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips and Variations
- Add Vegetables: Slice a pepper and an onion and put them right into the casserole dish with the raw meat. To boost the nutrient content of this dish, add a bag of cauliflower rice to the filling. You don't need to defrost it first- simply add it to the skillet after the meat and vegetables are cooked.
- Spice it Up: Use hot taco seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the meat mixture.
- Make it Creamier: Stir in a little cream cheese or sour cream to the meat mixture for a richer flavor.
- Use Different Cheese: Experiment with different types of shredded cheese, such as Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack.
- Add a Crust: For a different twist, top the casserole with a low-carb crust made from eggs and cream.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this keto taco casserole with your favorite taco toppings, such as:
- Sour cream
- Avocado slices or guacamole
- Diced tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Hot sauce
You can also serve it with a side of cauliflower rice or a simple salad.
Storing and Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. To reheat, warm leftovers in the oven at 350°F until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave. To liven up leftovers, sprinkle some fresh cheese on top of the portion you want to reheat and pop it in the microwave for one to three minutes. Top with sliced scallions or cilantro and dig back in.
Is Cottage Cheese Keto-Friendly?
Yes, you can use cottage cheese while eating low carb or keto. Eating an entire tub of cottage cheese is not keto but using 2 cups divided by 6 servings is totally fine. I used Nancy’s Organic Lowfat Cottage Cheese in this keto Mexican casserole.
Nutrition Information
This keto taco casserole has only 6 grams of net carbs per serving. The nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
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