This Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole is made low carb secretly using cauliflower as the base and no one will know! It's low carb, keto, gluten free, nut free and grain free! My New & Improved Method makes this a much easier casserole to get on the table fast even on a busy weeknight! Just 4 grams of net carbs per serving, perfect for those on a low carb diet or keto diet!
WHAT IS A CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE?
A cheeseburger casserole is essentially a deconstructed cheeseburger! All the flavors of a cheeseburger made into a layered casserole dish with the secret vegetable ingredient as the base! This recipe was first published in March of 2015 and has been updated with a new & improved method and video.
I do love a cheeseburger every once in a while, but I always skip the hamburger bun. I'm gluten free and keto, buns at burger joints are not. But isn't the best thing about a cheeseburger is all the toppings? Now don't get me wrong, I like keto rolls and keto bread like everyone, but sometimes I don't have time to make them for a burger.
I highly doubt it's the bun that makes the burger. So I give you the inside out burger made into a layered dish! The perfect cheesy keto bacon cheeseburger casserole!
NEW & IMPROVED CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
Impress your whole family or friends when you make this cheeseburger casserole recipe. This amazing recipe requires a little bit of work, but the results are well worth the effort.
Bring it to a pot luck and WOW everyone there when you tell them they just ate cauliflower! Cheese and bacon make everything right in my world. Even if you are watching your calories this dish will fill you up with one small serving so the calories will be completely worth it since this is a complete meal!!
The previous method for making this low carb cheeseburger casserole when I first published it in 2015, required steaming a fresh head of cauliflower. You see back in 2015 there were not many options as you see today for cauliflower already in rice form.
The other change I made to make this easier is to bake the bacon instead of watching it in a skillet. This way you don't have to babysit the bacon and can get on with the rest of the recipe.
HOW TO MAKE CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
Ingredients- see exact amounts below
- Bacon
- Avocado oil or olive oil
- Ground Beef
- Seasonings
- Frozen Cauliflower Rice
- Coconut Flour
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Mustard
- Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Add your bacon in an even layer on a large baking sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes or until crisp. You could fry your bacon in a skillet but baking the bacon save time to make the rest of the recipe much faster.
Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium- high heat and add ground beef. You could use any oil you prefer. You could also swap ground beef with ground turkey or chicken if you like. Cook until browned. Stir in the onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl to keep warm and set aside.
Place frozen cauliflower rice in a microwavable bowl and cook for 5 minutes. Add the coconut flour and salt and mix well. Set aside. SEE NOTES BELOW IF USING FRESH CAULIFLOWER.
Once bacon is crisp, remove to a paper towel lined pan. Once cool chop into pieces.
Make the sauce: Add the butter to the skillet and stir in the coconut flour. Reduce to low heat and stir until the flour has absorbed the butter. Pour in the heavy cream and mustard and continue to stir until it thickens.
Assembly
- Place ½ cup of the sauce on the bottom of a 9 by 13 baking dish.
- Spread the cauliflower mixture on top of the sauce as evenly as possible.
- Place 4 ounces of cheddar over the cauliflower rice.
- Spread the ground beef over the cheddar evenly.
- Pour half of the remaining sauce over the beef.
- Place the remaining cheddar over the sauce.
- Pour the remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with chopped bacon.
- Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool out of the oven for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Top with fresh, chopped scallions if desired. Enjoy with a nice crispy green salad and some dill pickles.
- Store any left overs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
CAN I USE FRESH CAULIFLOWER?
You can definitely use fresh cauliflower for this recipe, but you will have to cook it prior to using it in this keto casserole which takes a bit more time.
In 2015, I steamed 6 cups of cauliflower florets then used the food processor to turn it into rice, a lot more time involved as well as having to clean two kitchen appliances.
You could also use fresh cauliflower rice. I've don't that as well, BUT you still must cook the cauliflower rice or it won't get nice and soft in the base of this casserole.
Buying frozen cauliflower rice is the quickest method since it's already cooked and you just need to heat it up about 5 minutes. See my new video below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
I think this keto cheeseburger casserole needs no sides, but if you wanted to these Keto Air Fryer Rolls would be easy to add or a simple salad like my Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad or my Cucumber Dill Salad.
But to enjoy this inside out burger without a bun and be completely satisfied, there is not defeat in that. It's called winning!
MORE KETO RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
- Low Carb Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
- Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Bites
- Philly Cheese steak Stuffed Mushrooms
- Mini Bunless Cheeseburger Bites with Thousand Island Dip
- Chicken enchilada Cauliflower Casserole
- Beef Stroganoff Cauliflower Casserole
Low-Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
This low carb bacon cheeseburger casserole has all the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger, but with only 7 total grams of carbs per serving. It's a great option for a meal prep on a weekend, as well as adding to your freezer meals. My entire family loves all of my low carb meals, but this is one of their favorites.
Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 ounces bacon
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 20 ounces frozen cauliflower rice (see notes above for fresh cauliflower)
- ⅓ cup coconut flour 40 grams
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Add your bacon in an even layer on a large baking sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes or until crisp.
- Add avocado oil to a large skillet and add ground beef. Cook until browned. Stir in the onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl to keep warm and set aside.
- Place frozen cauliflower rice in a microwavable bowl and cook for 5 minutes. Add the coconut flour and salt and mix well. Set aside.
- Once bacon is crisp, remove to a paper towel lined pan. Once cool chop into pieces.
Make the Sauce
- Add the butter to the skillet and stir in the coconut flour. Reduce to low heat and stir until the flour has absorbed the butter. Pour in the heavy cream and mustard and continue to stir until it thickens.
Assembly
- Place ½ cup of the sauce on the bottom of a 9 by 13 baking dish.
- Spread the cauliflower mixture on top of the sauce as evenly as possible.
- Place 4 ounces of cheddar over the cauliflower rice.
- Spread the ground beef over the cheddar evenly.
- Pour half of the remaining sauce over the beef.
- Place the remaining cheddar over the sauce.
- Pour the remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with chopped bacon.
- Cover and bake 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool out of the oven for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
jeff hertzog (radio america USA)
I think this can be served on a bed of romaine lettuce and mixed greens, almond and/or coconut flour would do
Tammy
I made this tonight for dinner. My husband and I both loved it!!
kathie thurston
You could use cream cheese to thicken the sauce and not use any coconut flour and thin as needed
Raichael
I just read another comment that you said the cauliflower needs to be mashed? The recipe states riced cauliflower. That's why I used the frozen cauli rice. Does it need to be mashed to make more of a 'crust' layer? If so that needs to be stated in the recipe.... I bet that's why my base turned out dry though it seemed the flour (almond or coconut? I used coconut but I see you commented almond) didn't mix with the rice at all.
Brenda
The difference I think is frozen cauli rice doesn't have as much moisture in it as fresh steamed cauliflower which may be why it was dry for you. I've done it both ways, once I riced the cauliflower and the kids seemed to notice it more so the other times I've made it I made it more of a mashed texture and that seemed to disguise it more for them or they liked it better that way anyway.Using coconut flour most likely is why yours came out dry, maybe just less is needed if using coconut flour, it tends to soak up everything in its path!
Raichael
I don't know where I messed up, butt he cauliflower base was dry. Like it needed an egg or something to add moisture and hold it together. I used frozen cauli-rice I don't know if that made a difference. And it seemed like there wasn't enough sauce, next time I'll probably don 2 cups of cream instead, and add cheese to the sauce to make a true cheese sauce. But overall the kids liked it and that's what matters!
Kristin
How about cutting out the flour, using 1 C cream and adding 2 eggs? Do you think that would work as a binder? Or Xanthan gum?
Brenda
Might still be soupy, needs something to absorb moisture. Yes maybe some xanthan would work.
Suzy
Wow! The whole family enjoyed this dish which is a rare occurrence in our family!
Joanne
Tonight for dinner, I put together a low carb bacon cheeseburger bake, and it was delicious!
I like your version, too.
Laurie
I just bought a head of cauliflower at the farmer's market today because it was so fresh, and I was wondering what I was going to do with it. I have my answer! =)
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!!
Bill
Oh this is good. I made it with 85/15 hamburger, 1/2 lb of regular bacon and thin slices of Velveeta. I drained off all but about a teaspoon of grease which I left to combine with the butter, flour and cream. Very tasty recipe that will be on the table again soon!
Gretchen
I process my cauliflower without steaming it first into rice likeness and then package it up and freeze it.
Do I need to steam it before making this recipe if it is already riced?
Brenda
Yes it needs to be mashed for this recipe so it will combine better.
Alissa
I used frozen cauliflower and did not cook it first and it was amazing. Maybe adding that extra step makes it over the top but didn't seem necessary.
Lisa
If I rice the raw cauliflower do I still need to microwave it?
If I microwave do I squeeze out the liquid in a cheese cloth as other recipes call for?
Does almond flour work as well as regular flour?
Excited to try this! Just began low carb!
Brenda
You still need to cook the cauliflower but no you don't need to squeeze any liquid out the almond flour should be enough to absorb.
Alissa
This was great!!! Trader Joe's now carries frozen cauliflower that's already riced. Man, using that is such a time saver and makes this recipe fast to get in the oven. I didn't steam the cauliflower for this recipe, just mixed with almond flour. I used a jalapeno cheddar cheese and used coconut milk instead of heavy cream. I added maybe 1/2 Tablespoon of arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce and used tapioca flour in the sauce, as my flour of choice.
My husband loved this as well and we probably ate close to have of it. Definitely will be added to the meal rotation!
peg andrews
Alissa>>did you only use 1 package of the frozen Trader Joe's cauliflower?
Leslie
I have been looking for some low-carb recipes. I have been successfully low-carb for about 11 months and I am getting really tired of the same old stuff. This looks delicious. Sharing!
Jolene Coolidge
This is sooo good. I used ground beef in place of turkey and cooked the bacon slightly crispy. It came out great. Next week trying the low carb spaghetti squash lasagna casserole.
Sandra D
Made this tonight. Taste was right up there, but I was thinking the cauli / almond flour would be more firm. Might mix the cauli with mozzarella next time (like a cauli pizza dough). Had company to test this on tonight too - he thought it was awesome!
Brenda
Glad to hear!
Michelle
I made this for the family tonight and even my fussy son ate his whole plate without even knowing he ate cauliflower!
Phe
Just cooked this tonight and it is amazing!!!!!!!! Family loves it! Thank you for sharing this ?
Sharon
I would like to make this casserole to take to a potluck dinner. Could you put it in a slow cooker?
Brenda
I've never tried, let me know if you do try it.
Sharon
I made this casserole and put it in layers into my slow cooker and took it to a potluck. I heated it up on LOW. It was a BIG hit and no one would believe that it was made with cauliflower not mashed potatoes. Thanks for a great recipe--my grandchildren age 4 & 2 love it too.
Brenda
Thank you for sharing!
Jo Ann Grissom
Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe, both my husband and I agree it's one of the most delicious casseroles I've ever made, and it's low carb, yay! We are so bored with plain meat and veggies that it's a real treat to enjoy comfort food like this. I froze a portion, and it was just as good re-heated. I tried almond flour in my sauce, and it wasn't thickening up much, so I just added a bit of cream cheese and a little shredded cheddar, and that did the trick. I'm looking forward to having this once a week this fall and winter!
Brenda
So happy you enjoyed it and the hubby too!
Rachel Gaston
I just cooked this dor my family! Vant wait to taste it!
Randy Burson
We made this for dinner tonight. It was great! Thank you.
coachcheryl35
I made this last night. Awesome as always!
Brenda
Thank you!
Karen
My whole family loved this. I was very sceptical because cauliflower has been a bone of contention with one of my sons in the past when I added it to recipe. "Awesome" was the reaction I got after all was consumed. I did add a half onion chopped, 2 cloves of garlic, red Chili flakes, double the oregano and a tbsp. of worchestershire sauce to the meat after it was cooked and sautéd for a bit. I also used 10% half and half instead of whipping cream to cut the fat. YUMMY and thank you so much. This is a keeper.
Mary Taylor
Loved it! Left out the flour, just added a bit of Xgum to the sauce and also added mushrooms.
Brenda
Thank you!
Hope
When making the sauce. Do you drain the grease in the skillet before adding the butter and flour?
Brenda
I did not.
Krystal
I didn’t either but golly was this greasy. Flavorful but oily