Keto Taco Casserole

We have the BEST Keto Taco Casserole right here! It’s loaded with ground beef, and topped with cheesy goodness. It has everything you love about a taco without all the carbs. Your entire family will love it!

It’s almost time for Taco Tuesday and I have a new recipe for you and your family. Our keto taco casserole is going to be a smash hit in your family. 

So you all know by now how much I LOVE casseroles! Why? Because what’s better than one-pan meals? Let me answer that for you…nothing! Hahaha.

I made this low carb taco casserole recently and gave half of the pan to some friends of ours to bring home and have for dinner. I got the nicest texts from them saying how much they loved it. It makes me so happy when we make a recipe and it’s a big hit! 

I mentioned my total love of casseroles and if you share the same feelings as me then a few other awesome casseroles you will want to try is our Cheesy Keto Chicken Casserole, Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, Spaghetti Squash Casserole, oh and our Keto Broccoli Casserole.

What is a Taco Casserole?

Simply put, a taco casserole is basically a deconstructed taco put into a casserole dish. It has all the yummy ingredients you want such as meat, cheese, peppers and onions, and even sour cream. In this particular recipe we use eggs as a binder, but trust me you can’t even taste it.

Is Taco Casserole Kid-Friendly?

Most kids I know love tacos! I mean what’s not to love right? But have you ever tried to watch a little kid hold a taco? Most of the time though the taco falls apart…hahaha!

So this easy keto taco casserole is perfect for kids, it’s basically a deconstructed taco! They will love it!

Is Taco Casserole Keto?

Sure thing!! Our baked taco casserole is 100% keto-friendly! We use all keto ingredients including ground beef, peppers, onions, tomatoes, eggs, cream cheese, and just a tad of sour cream.

Oh and don’t forget we top it with cheddar cheese, which in my opinion is a keto diet staple!

Everyone cooks differently but I’d say for the most part unless you are adding white or brown rice to your taco casserole most of them should be keto. Like I said, for the most part.

How Many Carbs are in Taco Casserole?

When I say we are giving you a low carb taco casserole, I mean it’s really low carb. How many carbs exactly are we talking about?

To be exact, for 1 serving it has only 3 NET CARBS. I told you it was low!

What Ingredients are in Low Carb Mexican Casserole?

• Ground Beef – I used 85/15 lean ground beef, but if you want to use 80/20 then you will just need to drain the excess liquid out of the pan before assembling the casserole.  
• Homemade Taco Seasoning – You DEFINITELY need homemade taco seasoning, store-bought is just not good.   
• Onions and Bell Peppers – Chop ½ of both onions and bell peppers. I like using either yellow, red, or orange peppers. 
• Rotel Tomatoes with Green Chiles – I always use mild, but you can use hot if you prefer more of a kick. 
• Eggs – Using eggs is what will act as the main binder in this keto taco casserole. Don’t worry you won’t be able to even taste the egg. 
• Heavy Cream – ¼ cup of heavy cream gets mixed into the eggs 
• Sour Cream – ⅓ cup of full-fat sour cream also is mixed into the egg mixture. 
• Cheddar Cheese – 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled on top.

Best Taco Seasoning to Use

Honestly guys I’m not going to sugarcoat this one, you NEED HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING! 

I bought a packet of store-bought seasoning a few weeks ago because I didn’t have any homemade seasoning. I opened the packet and it looked and smelled so gross. 

I threw it away and made up a new batch of our homemade taco seasoning instead. Trust me when I tell you homemade is the way to go and it makes all the difference.

Different Variations

Keto casseroles are great because you can change things up a bit when it comes to your ingredients. Below are some different ideas you can do to add or change this keto taco casserole recipe.

What Meat is Best for Taco Casserole?

Pick whichever meat you prefer, but here are a few classic choices:

• Ground Beef (what we used) 
• Ground Chicken
• Ground Pork 
• Ground Turkey
• Cubed Beef 

Obviously, whichever meat you choose, make sure it is either ground-up, or cut into very small bite-sized pieces so that it mixes easily with the other ingredients.

Cheese Options

Cheddar is always my favorite when making our keto taco bake, but if you want something different you can use any cheese that goes with Mexican. The ones I recommend are Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend.

Can I Add Rice?

You can add in rice to make it heartier, but depending on your dietary restrictions will depend on which kind of rice you add. 

• Cauliflower Rice – Great for keto and low carb eaters 
• Heart of Palm Rice – Another great addition when eating low carb
• Regular Rice – White or brown rice can be added, but keep in mind it will no longer be a keto recipe.

Toppings

• Sour Cream 
• Olives 
• Salsa
• Cilantro 
• Tomatoes 
• Jalapeños

Making Taco Casserole Egg-Free?

You can make it egg-free but I can’t say that it will be too firm. Not saying that’s a bad thing, but the consistency will be looser.

What Type of Pan is Best for Mexican Casserole?

This keto Mexican casserole recipe fits perfectly in a 9×13 casserole dish. I used a ceramic dish, but if you have a glass one that works great too.

How to Make Keto Taco Casserole 

Let me show you step-by-step how to make the best keto taco casserole. 

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Gather all your ingredients.

STEP 2: In a large skillet or frying pan add the ground beef. Using a meat chopper mix up the ground beef.

STEP 3: Add in the taco seasoning, onions, and pepper. Cook on medium-high heat.

STEP 4: Once the beef is basically cooked, add the can of Rotel tomatoes. (Be sure to drain the can first)

STEP 5: In a large mixing bowl add the eggs, heavy cream, and sour cream. Whisk together.

STEP 6: Transfer the ground beef mixture to a 9×13 casserole dish.

STEP 7: Pour the egg mixture over the beef.

STEP 8: Top with shredded cheddar cheese.

STEP 9: Bake for 30 minutes.

STEP 10: Let sit on the counter for about 5 minutes before cutting.

STEP 11: Top with your favorite toppings and serve.

FAQs and Best Tips

Here are some of our favorite tips for this recipe to make it come out great every time.

• HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING IS THE BEST!
• I like to use 85% or 80% lean ground beef
• If there is liquid after cooking the ground beef, you may want to drain it. 
• A meat chopper is a great tool for breaking up and mixing ground meat. If you don’t have one I’d suggest getting one. 
• 9×13 casserole dish is perfect for this recipe. Glass or ceramic will work. 
• Topping Suggestions: Sour cream, olives, salsa, cilantro, tomatoes, jalapenos.

Can I Make it Spicier?

Of course! I’m just not into super spicy food, but I know a lot of you are. If you want more of a kick, then add some jalapenos, a dash of cayenne pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture.

Is Sour Cream Keto?

Sour cream pretty much has become a staple when making keto casseroles. The key to using sour cream is that you want full-fat, don’t use low-fat.

Keto Taco Bake in a Slow Cooker

Yes, you can make a keto taco bake in a slow cooker, but you are going to cook it without the egg mixture. 

Crockpot Instructions: 

1. Gather all your ingredients. 
2. In a large skillet or frying pan add the ground beef. Using a meat chopper mix up the ground beef.
3. Add in the taco seasoning, and cook on medium-high heat. Transfer to a slow cooker. 
4. Add the onions, pepper, and Rotel tomatoes to the beef mixture and stir everything together. 
5. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 4 hours, or 2 hours on high. 
6. Right before serving, stir the casserole. Spoon out any excess liquid that may have accumulated. 
7. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top, cover, and cook on high for 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts. 
8. Top with your favorite toppings and serve.

What to Serve with Low Carb Taco Casserole?

This keto taco casserole is filled with tons of protein because of the ground beef and the eggs, so it’s pretty filling on its own. But if you serve it with something else then here are a few suggestions I have. 

• Homemade Mango Salsa 
• Avocado Salsa
• Homemade Salsa
• Fathead Dinner Rolls 
• Keto Cornbread 
• Spinach Salad 
• Greek Salad 
• Green Toss Salad

Make-Ahead & Storing Options 

STORING LEFTOVERS: 

1. Cover the keto taco casserole while still in the baking dish with foil and place it into the fridge for 3-5 days. This is the easiest way but takes up more space in your fridge. 
2. Place the leftover keto taco bake in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-5 days.

How to Reheat

There are 2 ways to reheat your low carb Mexican casserole leftovers. 

1. Microwave for 60-90 seconds. 
2. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 300 degrees.

Can You Freeze Taco Casserole?

FREEZE BAKED LEFTOVERS: 

1. If you have leftover keto Mexican casserole, place it in an airtight container and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
2. Bake the low carb taco casserole, let it completely cool. Cover with plastic wrap and foil. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

THAWING INSTRUCTIONS: 

1. Let your keto taco casserole thaw in the fridge, before baking it. If you place an ice-cold glass or ceramic baking dish straight from the freezer to the oven it may crack when reaching the hot temperature. 
2. Remove the plastic wrap and foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Tools to Use

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Meat Chopper 
• Frying Pan 
• Mixing Bowl 
• Whisk 
• 9×13 Casserole Dish

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Gluten-Free: I served this to a friend of mine and they were shocked that it was completely gluten-free. 
• Nut-Free: We don’t use any type of nuts or nut flour in our recipe. 
• Egg-Free Option: If you have an egg allergy you can leave out the eggs and the egg mixture entirely. Instead, mix in 8 oz of cream cheese with the meat mixture while still in the frying pan. Transfer to a baking dish, then top with cheddar cheese and bake.

Other Similar Recipes

Looking for other casserole recipes? Check out some of our other favorites.

• Cheesy Keto Chicken Casserole 
• Keto Broccoli Casserole 
• Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole 
• Keto Chicken Enchilada Casserole 
• Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Casserole 
• Cauliflower Casserole with Bacon 
• Baked Zucchini Casserole 
• Easy Breakfast Casserole 

They all are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will be a hit for your family or friends.

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