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Easy Keto Ground Beef Taco Salad Casserole Recipe

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Easy Keto Taco Salad Casserole Recipe is low on carbs but so high on flavor! 

Made with simple ingredients – Lean ground beef, onion, bell peppers, seasonings, cream cheese, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and shredded cheese.

The best part is this easy casserole is ready in less than 30 minutes! 

The perfect meal for the entire family. Taco night never tasted so good!

Why We Love Keto Ground Beef Taco Salad Casserole

  • A keto casserole recipe that low on carbs and also delicious.
  • Meal prep time is 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Made with simple ingredients.
  • Casserole recipes are a complete meal and are great the next day.
Close up photo of a large white oval baking dish. There is cooked ground beef, cooked chopped onion and yellow peppers, seasonings, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese spread evenly in the dish. There is melted shredded cheese covering the taco mixture. In the background there are two small clear bowls. One of the bowls has red salsa in it and the other has chopped green onions in it. There is also a small white bowl with shredded cheese in it in the background. Items are on a dark gray surface.

Ingredients For Low-Carb Taco Casserole

There is a large white bowl with raw ground beef in it. There are 2 medium white bowls. One has shredded cheese in it and the other has red diced tomatoes and pieces of green chilies in it. There is a small clear bowl with ground red powdered seasoning in it. There is a whole yellow pepper and a light yellow onion. There are 2 small white bowls with dry ground powdered seasoning in them. There is a small clear glass jar with a white label on it. There is dry green seasoning in the jar. There are 2 very small clear glass bowls with dry seasoning in them. There is a round light brown wooden container with the word salt on the top of it. Items are on a dark gray surface.

Lean Ground Beef – The leaner the better. I like to use 90/10. (see Recipe Tips) Other ground meat that you can use: ground chicken or ground turkey.

Onion – White onions are slightly milder. If you like a little stronger onion flavor, use a yellow onion or red onion.

Bell Peppers – I love the flavor of yellow, orange, and red peppers. They are sweeter and milder than green peppers. Use your favorite or what you have on hand.

Diced Tomatoes – If you love Mexican flavors, use canned diced tomatoes with green chiles in this taco salad recipe.

Homemade Taco Seasoning – Chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and sea salt.

Cream Cheese – This helps thicken the keto taco bake just a bit. (not pictured)

Shredded Cheese – Use your favorite cheese. The most popular cheeses for this Mexican casserole are cheddar cheese, monterey jack, and shredded Mexican cheese blend.

Favorite Taco Toppings

There are several bowls of various size. There is a large white bowl with shredded green lettuce in it. There are two medium white bowls. One bowl has shredded cheese in it, the other medium bowl has diced red tomatoes in it. There are three smaller clear glass bowls. One of the bowls has red salsa in it, one bowl has chopped green onion in it and the third clear bowl has white sour cream in it. There is a small white square dish that has chopped green jalapeno pepper in it. There is a whole uncut green avocado and a few sprigs of leafy green cilantro. Items are on a dark gray surface.
  • Sliced green onions
  • Black olives
  • Low carb salsa
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Fresh avocado
  • Sliced jalapeno peppers
  • Shredded cheese
  • Fresh chopped cilantro

Helpful Tools and Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • ​Cutting board
  • Large kitchen knife
  • Measuring spoons
  • 9×13 inch casserole dish
  • ​Wooden spoon or large kitchen spoon
  • Oven mitts

Keto Taco Salad Casserole Recipe

There is a white plate with a serving of taco salad casserole which consists of cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped yellow pepper, diced tomatoes, seasonings, and shredded cheese. There is diced tomato, sliced black olives and a dollop of sour cream on top of the serving of casserole. There is a dark fork resting in the serving of casserole. The corner of a white oval baking dish is in the background. Items are on a dark gray surface.

Simple Steps

There is a light wooden cutting board. There is a mound of chopped white onion and a mound of chopped yellow pepper on the wood board. Board is on a dark gray surface.
  • Chop bell pepper and onion.
  • Preheat oven.
There is a large black cast iron round pan with raw ground beef in it. There is a black meat chopper utensil resting in the pan. Pan is on a dark gray surface.
  •  Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the ground beef breaking it up with a wooden spoon or meat chopper utensil.
There is a large black cast iron round pan with raw ground beef cooking in it. There is a mound of chopped white onion and a mound of chopped yellow peppers on top of the ground beef. Pan is on a dark gray surface.
  • Add the onion, and bell pepper. 
There is a large black cast iron round pan with cooked ground beef, chopped white onion and chopped yellow pepper in it. There are small bowls of various sizes in the back ground. The bowls content consist of ground spices. One of the bowls has chunks of white cream cheese. There is a small glass jar in the background with dried green herbs in it. There is a set of measuring spoons resting in the herb jar. All items are on a dark gray surface.
  • Cook beef until it is no longer pink and veggies are tender. (see Recipe Tips)
There is a large black cast iron round pan with cooked ground beef, chopped white onion and chopped yellow pepper in it. There is red dry ground seasoning sprinkled over the top of the beef mixture. Pan is on a dark gray surface.
  • Season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
There is a large black cast iron round pan with mixed together cooked ground beef, chopped white onion, chopped yellow pepper and seasoning in it. There is a large stainless steel spoon resting in the pan. Behind the pan there is a small white bowl with chunks of white cream cheese in it. Items are on a dark gray surface.
  • Combine until seasoning is fully incorporated.
There is a large black cast iron round pan with mixed together cooked ground beef, chopped white onion, chopped yellow pepper and seasoning in it. There are chunks of white cream cheese in the meat mixture. There is a large stainless steel spoon resting in the pan. There is an empty small white bowl in the background. Items are on a dark gray surface.
  • Add the  softened cream cheese to the ground beef mixture.
There is a large black cast iron round pan with mixed together cooked ground beef, chopped white onion, chopped yellow pepper, cream cheese, and seasoning in it. There is a large stainless steel spoon resting in the pan. Pan is on a dark gray surface.
  • Stir until completely mixed. 
There is a large white oval baking dish. There is cooked ground beef, cooked chopped onion and yellow peppers, seasonings, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese in the dish. There is a large stainless steel spoon resting in the dish. Dish is on a dark gray surface.
  • Transfer to a baking dish. 
  • Add the drained canned diced tomatoes with green chilies, and half of the shredded cheese to the taco meat mixture.
  •  Mix until well combined.
There is a large white oval baking dish. There is cooked ground beef, cooked chopped onion and yellow peppers, seasonings, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese spread evenly in the dish. Behind the dish is a small white bowl with shredded cheese in it. Items are on a dark gray surface.
  • Spread the mixture to an even layer in the casserole dish.
There is a large white oval baking dish. There is cooked ground beef, cooked chopped onion and yellow peppers, seasonings, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese spread evenly in the dish. There is shredded cheese covering the taco mixture. Dish is on a dark gray surface.
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the entire top.
There is a large white oval baking dish. There is cooked ground beef, cooked chopped onion and yellow peppers, seasonings, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese spread evenly in the dish. There is melted shredded cheese covering the taco mixture. Dish is resting on a black wire cooling rack which is on a dark gray surface.
  • Bake until cheese is completely melted and bubbling.
  • Cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving with fresh toppings.

See Recipe Card below for exact measurements and times.

Close up photo of a large white oval baking dish. There is cooked ground beef, cooked chopped onion and yellow peppers, seasonings, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese spread evenly in the dish. There is melted shredded cheese covering the taco mixture. In the background there is a half cut avocado and a small white bowl with sliced black olives in it. Items are on a dark gray surface.

Serving Suggestions

  • Spoon taco mixture into corn tortillas or taco shells. 
  • If you’re following a keto diet, have keto tortilla chips with this low carb taco casserole recipe for a nice added crunch!

Recipe Tips

When lean ground beef 90/10 is browned, there is enough fat to cook the onion and bell pepper. 

If you use ground beef that is not lean there is often a lot of excess fat that you may need to drain off or the baked casserole can be too runny. 

A great option is to brown the ground meat separately, draining excess liquid. 

Saute’ chopped onion and bell pepper in a little olive oil or avocado oil. Mix with ground meat.

Are you looking to save meal prep time on busy weeknights? Purchase pre chopped onions, peppers, and fresh topping at your local grocery store. This is a new favorite meal prep trick I love to share!

There is a white square plate with a serving of taco salad casserole which consists of cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped yellow pepper, diced tomatoes, seasonings, and shredded cheese. There is red salsa on top of the serving of casserole. There are a few slices of green jalapeno pepper on the plate. The corner of a white oval baking dish is in the background. Items are on a dark gray surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of ground meat can you use in taco salad casserole?

Ground beef is used in this easy keto taco casserole recipe.

Other great options are ground turkey or ground chicken.

How do you store casserole leftovers?

Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

How do you reheat taco casserole?

Place leftovers to an oven-safe baking dish, cover with aluminum foil, and place in a hot oven (350ºF).

Heat for 10-20 minutes, or until hot throughout.

Is sour cream part of a keto diet?

Yes, sour cream is low in carbs and often used in keto recipes.

Looking for new recipes for dinner time? 

Check out more casseroles the whole family will love!

Yield: 8 servings

Easy Keto Ground Beef Taco Salad Casserole Recipe

There is an orange bowl with shredded green lettuce in it with a serving of taco salad casserole which consists of cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped yellow pepper, diced tomatoes, seasonings, and shredded cheese. There are pieces of tomato on top of the serving of casserole. There are slices of green avocado laying on the rim of the bowl. There is a stainless steel fork resting in the bowl. In the background there is a green jalapeno pepper and half of an avocado. Items are on a dark gray surface.

Made with simple ingredients - Lean ground beef, onion, bell peppers, seasonings, cream cheese, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and shredded cheese.

The best part is this easy casserole is ready in less than 30 minutes! 

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef (see Recipe Tips)
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 medium bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
  • 4 ounces of cream cheese - softened
  • Canned diced tomatoes with green chilies (10 ounces - drained)
  • 2 cups shredded cheese (divided in half)
  • Cooking spray - if needed
  • Favorite Toppings
  • Sour cream
  • Sliced green onions
  • Black olives
  • Low carb salsa
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Fresh avocado
  • Sliced jalapeno peppers
  • Shredded cheese
  • Fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. Chop onion and belle pepper.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the ground beef breaking it up with a wooden spoon or meat chopper utensil.
  4. Add the onion, and bell pepper. 
  5. Cook beef until it is no longer pink and veggies are tender. About 5-10 minutes. (see Recipe Tips)
  6. Season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Combine until seasoning is fully incorporated.
  7. Reduce flame to medium heat.
  8. Add the  softened cream cheese to the ground beef mixture. Stir until completely mixed. 
  9. Transfer meat mixture to a 9×13 baking dish. 
  10. Add the drained canned diced tomatoes with green chilies, and 1 cup of shredded cheese to the taco meat mixture.
  11. Mix until well combined.
  12. Use the back of the wooden spoon and spread the mixture to an even layer in the casserole dish.
  13. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the entire top.
  14. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is completely melted and bubbling.
  15. Cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving with fresh toppings.

Notes

Helpful Tools and Equipment

Large skillet

​Cutting board

Large kitchen knife

Measuring spoons

9x13 inch casserole dish

​Wooden spoon or large kitchen spoon

Oven mitts

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve Taco Salad Casserole over shredded lettuce or spoon taco mixture into corn tortillas or taco shells. 
  • If you're following a keto diet, have keto tortilla chips with this low carb taco casserole recipe for a nice added crunch!

Recipe Tips

  • When lean ground beef 90/10 is browned, there is enough fat to cook the onion and bell pepper. If you use ground beef that is not lean there is often a lot of excess fat that you may need to drain off or the baked casserole can be too runny. 
  • A great option is to brown the ground meat separately, draining excess liquid. 
  • Saute' chopped onion and bell pepper in a little olive oil or avocado oil. Mix with ground meat.

  • Are you looking to save meal prep time on busy weeknights? Purchase pre chopped onions, peppers, and fresh topping at your local grocery store. This is a new favorite meal prep trick I love to share!

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

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