7 Low-Carb Casseroles That Are Comforting & Easy To Make In 2024

Meal prep can be difficult on a low-carb diet. If you’re looking for an easy recipe with low prep time, casseroles are a complete meal, convenient, and easy to make. However, the high starch in most normal casseroles isn’t allowed on a low-carb diet.

There are still many easy, wonderful recipes for healthy low-carb casseroles for those on keto or other carb-restrictive diets! Here are our seven favorite low-carb, keto casserole recipes — all gluten-free, too.

What Is A Casserole?

A casserole is defined as any dish baked in a casserole dish — a deep and wide baking dish. They typically contain melted cheese with starch, protein, sauce, and other ingredients. 

However, some of these ingredients may not be suitable^[1] for those on a lower-carb diet. Following a very low-carb diet like a ketogenic diet, you must keep your net carb intake low. 

Net carbs are the grams of carbohydrates you digest and absorb. Dietary fiber is a type of carbohydrate, but as we don’t absorb it, it doesn’t count toward your net carb intake.

How To Make Low-Carb Casseroles?

Low-carb recipes usually substitute carbohydrates and starchy vegetables with keto-friendly ingredients – or remove them altogether. Low-carb casserole recipes are no different.

Cheeseburger casseroles, for example, are typically made with elbow macaroni — high in carbs and not even healthy carbs. The keto version removes the macaroni and lowers the net carbs of the meal without drastically changing the taste.

Reasons To Love Low-Carb Casseroles

Low Prep Time

Easy low-carb casseroles can be a quick, absolutely delicious one-dish meal for the whole family. Many casserole recipes take a maximum of an hour to make. 

Can Aid Weight Loss

A lower-carb diet can help with weight loss,^[2] so healthy low-carb casseroles can be part of a weight-loss diet.

Nutritious

Because of the numerous healthy ingredients that low-carb casseroles can contain, they can be very nutritious. This is especially beneficial because some other foods you may enjoy on a low-carb diet may be lacking.

For example, low-carb casseroles with ground beef, chicken, or pulses can replace the need for low-carb protein powder. 

7 Best Low-Carb Casseroles

LOW-CARB CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE

This is a simple recipe for an extremely easy dinner. Melting cheese and ground beef is the perfect combination.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of ground beef.
• 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar or Swiss cheese.
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil.
• ¼ cup ketchup.
• ¼ cup Dijon mustard.
• ¼ cup mayonnaise.
• 1 onion clove, minced.
• Salt and pepper.

Instructions:

1. Fry ground beef over medium heat in olive oil. While cooking ground beef, add garlic, salt, and black pepper.
2. Turn off the heat and stir in mayo, ketchup, and Dijon mustard.
3. Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
4. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

LOW-CARB PIZZA CASSEROLE

Love pizza, but are you trying to keep your carbs low? This is a healthy alternative to pizza, perfect for a lower-carb diet. It’s even low in saturated fat.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of cauliflower or 24 ounces of cauliflower rice.
• ½ cup low-carb marinara sauce or other rich tomato sauce.
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
• 1 ounce diced pepperoni.
• Salt and pepper.
• Italian seasoning.
• Optional toppings: Italian sausage, spinach, etc.

Instructions:

1. Combine cauliflower, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper into a casserole dish. Cook until cauliflower is tender and lightly browned.
2. Evenly pour marinara sauce over the mixture, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. 
3. Add pepperoni and any other toppings.
4. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

LOW-CARB TACO AND EGG CASSEROLE

Taco Tuesday coming up? Here’s a healthy keto casserole alternative to the classic sandwich.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef.
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil.
• 1 ounce of taco seasoning.
• 4 eggs.
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
• Optional toppings: diced tomatoes, sour cream, etc.

Instructions:

1. Cook ground beef in olive oil at medium heat. Then, drain the fat off and add taco seasoning.
2. Whisk eggs in a large mixing bowl, then add to the beef.
3. Evenly spread the mixture into a baking dish and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
4. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
5. Add any desired toppings afterward.

LOW-CARB BREAKFAST EGG CASSEROLE

Maybe you’re not just thinking about dinner tonight but also about breakfast tomorrow. This egg casserole – or crustless quiche – is a wonderful recipe that doubles up as a hearty breakfast.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound breakfast sausage, sliced.
• 12 large eggs.
• 1/2 cup sour cream.
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.
• Salt and pepper.
• Optional add-ons: bell peppers, tomatoes, etc. 

Instructions:

1. Whisk eggs, sour cream, cheddar, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
2. Cook sausage in a large skillet with medium meat, then drain its grease. 
3. Add sausage to the egg mixture along with any add-ons, then stir.
4. Pour and evenly spread the mixture into a baking dish.
5. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

*Keep in mind proper cooking practices^[3] when using eggs!

LOW-CARB SQUASH CASSEROLE

This low-carb casserole has a creamy sauce and a rich flavor and is suitable for vegetarians. 

Ingredients:

• 1 pound chopped yellow squash.
• ½ cup chopped onion.
• ¼ cup sour cream.
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
• 1 egg.
• 1 clove of garlic, minced.
• Salt and black pepper.

Instructions:

1. Boil squash for five minutes, then drain afterward with a colander. You can cook it in chicken stock or water.
2. Saute chopped onions with garlic, salt, and pepper for five minutes.
3. Mix beaten egg, sour cream, and onions in a skillet.
4. Add squash and cheese and mix.
5. Pour into a greased casserole dish. If desired, add additional shredded cheese.
6. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

LOW-CARB CHICKEN CASSEROLE

This casserole has everything you need in one dish – including your greens. 

Ingredients:

• 1 pound chicken breasts or thighs, boneless and skinless.
• 10 ounces of cooked broccoli.
• 1 ¾ cup heavy whipping cream.
• 6 ounces of cream cheese.
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder.
• 12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese.
• ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese.
• Salt and pepper.

Instructions:

1. Cook chicken breasts/thighs in a pan with cooking oil until golden brown. Then remove from the pan.
2. In the same pan, whisk together some parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and whipping cream. Add salt and stir until smooth.
3. Chop chicken, then add to the cheese mixture. Then, add broccoli and sprinkle on the remaining parmesan cheese.
4. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

LOW-CARB GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Another vegetarian recipe with a creamy sauce. You could substitute the creamy sauce for tomato sauce to make a lower saturated fat alternative.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked green beans, ideally sliced.
• 1-2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil.
• ¼ cup heavy cream.
• 2 ounces of cream cheese.
• 1 diced onion.
• 2 1/2 cups diced button mushrooms.
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.
• Ground pepper.

Instructions:

1. Whisk together heavy cream and cream cheese using medium heat. 
2. Add onion and mushrooms into the mixture and stir until thick.
3. Drain green beans for ten minutes and dry, then add to mixture. Stir together and let simmer for five minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Transfer everything into a casserole dish and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.
5. Bake for ten minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips For Making Healthy Low-Carb Casseroles

Prep The Kitchen

Before starting a casserole recipe, it is important to preheat your oven to the temperature dictated in the recipe card. Coat your casserole dish/baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Use Fresh Ingredients

There’s nothing wrong with using garlic powder to save time^[4] for an easy keto dinner, but the food quality would be better with fresh garlic cloves. 

Be Mindful Of Add-Ons

Some recipes allow for optional additions, but moderation is key. Adding too many add-ons or too much of one add-on may lower the dish’s quality. This is especially important to watch out for in keto casserole recipes.

How To Freeze Casserole Leftovers

Casseroles are a great way to use leftover ingredients that might otherwise go to waste.^[5] You can also easily store leftover casserole in the fridge or freezer.

If you freeze leftovers, store individual portions in freezer bags to make them easier to defrost. You can defrost and heat portions in a microwave in one-minute increments until warm.

Final Thought

A low-carb or keto casserole is an easy-to-make dish you can season with your favorite spices. 

However, keto diets can be tricky and take much meal prep time, so we recommend trying one of our recommended low-carb meal delivery services. Also, if you find yourself having difficulty getting in all the nutrients you need on a low-carb diet like the keto diet, you may have to turn to supplements like low-carb greens superfoods. However, many of these casserole dishes also use or allow for ingredients that provide the same benefit as a supplement. 

With so many keto casseroles to choose from – from classic flavors to keto pizza alternatives – there’s likely one perfect for your taste buds.

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