10 Keto Ground Beef Recipes for Easy and Delicious Dinners

By
Derek Jacobson
·

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Ground beef is one of the easiest proteins to keep on hand for keto dinners. It is cheap, it cooks fast, and it works in skillets, casseroles, and stuffed vegetables. Most of these meals come together in 30 to 45 minutes with basic pantry items.

Below are ten low-carb ground beef recipes from our kitchen. Each one swaps out buns, tortillas, pasta, or rice for cheese, vegetables, and creamy sauces. After the list, you will find tips for picking ground beef and answers to common questions.

Keto Cheeseburger Casserole

a baked casserole with a creamy cheddar cheese base, melted cheese on top, and garnished with chopped parsley

The Keto Cheeseburger Casserole gives you the taste of a cheeseburger without the bun. Seasoned beef bakes under a creamy cheddar layer until bubbly. Top it with pickles and a little mustard to make it taste like the drive-thru version.

Keto Taco Skillet

A skillet filled with a colorful keto taco mixture of ground beef, melted cheese, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro and sour cream.

The Keto Taco Skillet is a one-pan dinner with taco-seasoned beef, diced tomatoes, and melted cheese. Serve it with sour cream, avocado, and cilantro. Leftovers make a great lunch over shredded lettuce.

Keto Meatballs in Creamy Garlic Sauce

Meatballs baked in a creamy white sauce under golden melted cheese in a cast-iron dish

These Keto Meatballs in Creamy Garlic Sauce skip the breadcrumbs and simmer in a rich garlic and Parmesan sauce. Spoon them over zucchini noodles or mashed cauliflower so none of the sauce goes to waste.

Keto Stuffed Peppers

a baking dish with 6 stuffed pepper halves stuffed with ground beef and melted cheese

Keto Stuffed Peppers are filled with a cheesy beef mixture in place of rice. Green peppers have the fewest carbs, while red and yellow peppers taste a little sweeter. Each pepper is a full serving, which makes portions easy.

Keto Ground Beef Stroganoff Skillet

Beef and mushroom stroganoff in a creamy sauce topped with sour cream and parsley

The Keto Ground Beef Stroganoff Skillet has browned beef and mushrooms in a creamy sauce. It is the classic comfort meal without the egg noodles. Serve it over cauliflower rice on a cold night.

Keto Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

skillet filled with browned ground beef in sauce along with broccoli

The Keto Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry tastes like takeout and is ready in about 20 minutes. Ground beef and fresh broccoli cook in a savory sauce. Keep the broccoli a little crisp so it holds up in leftovers.

Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

A white casserole dish containing a hearty dish. The dish appears to be a baked casserole with a cheesy sauerkraut and Swiss topping, melted cheese on top, and garnished with caraway seeds, shown from above with soft lighting.

The Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole layers seasoned beef, peppers, onions, and melted cheese in one baking dish. It hits the same notes as the sandwich, and it reheats well for lunches during the week.

Keto Sloppy Joe Skillet

Skillet of saucy sloppy joe ground beef

The Keto Sloppy Joe Skillet brings back a childhood favorite. Sugar-free ketchup keeps the sauce tangy and sweet without the extra carbs. Eat it with a fork, in lettuce cups, or over a baked low-carb bun.

Keto Beef Zucchini Boats

Baked vegetable boats stuffed with meat sauce, topped with melted cheese, tomato slices and parsley

Keto Beef Zucchini Boats use hollowed-out zucchini as the shell for savory beef and melty cheese. They are a smart way to use up a big summer zucchini. Chop the scooped-out flesh and cook it into the filling.

Keto Ground Beef Enchilada Bake

a baked casserole with a tomato-based sauce and melted cheese, melted cheese on top, and garnished with shredded cheddar and chopped cilantro

The Keto Ground Beef Enchilada Bake has all the flavor of enchiladas with no tortillas. Beef, red sauce, and cheddar bake together until bubbly. It is great for sharing and easy to portion for meal prep.

How to Pick Ground Beef for Keto

On keto, fat is your friend. An 80/20 blend has enough fat to stay juicy and keep you full. Leaner 90/10 beef works too, but it can taste dry in skillets. If you use lean beef, add a spoonful of butter or olive oil while it browns. Grass-fed beef has a slightly richer flavor, but regular ground chuck works just fine in every recipe above.

Tips for Better Keto Ground Beef Meals

  • Brown the beef in a hot pan and do not stir it right away. Let a crust form first for more flavor.
  • Cook ground beef to 160°F. Use an instant-read thermometer in thicker items like meatballs.
  • Read labels on sauces and seasoning packets. Many taco mixes and ketchups have added sugar.
  • Shred your own cheese. Bagged cheese has starch that keeps it from melting smoothly.
  • Cook a double batch of plain seasoned beef on Sunday. It speeds up two or three dinners later in the week.

Storing and Reheating

Keep leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Most of these meals freeze well for up to 3 months, except the zucchini boats, which get watery. Reheat in the microwave or in a covered dish at 350°F until hot in the center.

Keto Ground Beef FAQ

Should I drain the fat from ground beef on keto?
You do not have to. Leaving some fat adds flavor and keeps you full. Drain it if there is a pool of grease that would make the dish oily.

Can I use ground turkey instead?
Yes. Ground turkey works in all of these recipes. It is leaner, so add a little extra fat, and cook it to 165°F.

What can I serve in place of rice or pasta?
Cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, mashed cauliflower, and shredded cabbage all work well and soak up sauce.

Which recipe is fastest?
The taco skillet and the beef and broccoli stir-fry are both ready in about 20 to 25 minutes.

With casseroles, skillets, and stuffed vegetables on this list, you can eat ground beef all week and never get bored. Pick one for tonight and save the rest for later.

10 Keto Ground Beef Recipes for Easy and Delicious Dinners

Ground beef is one of the easiest proteins to keep on hand for keto dinners. It is cheap, it cooks fast, and it works in skillets, casseroles, and stuffed vegetables. Most of these meals come together in 30 to 45 minutes with basic pantry items.

Below are ten low-carb ground beef recipes from our kitchen. Each one swaps out buns, tortillas, pasta, or rice for cheese, vegetables, and creamy sauces. After the list, you will find tips for picking ground beef and answers to common questions.

Keto Cheeseburger Casserole

a baked casserole with a creamy cheddar cheese base, melted cheese on top, and garnished with chopped parsley

The Keto Cheeseburger Casserole gives you the taste of a cheeseburger without the bun. Seasoned beef bakes under a creamy cheddar layer until bubbly. Top it with pickles and a little mustard to make it taste like the drive-thru version.

Keto Taco Skillet

A skillet filled with a colorful keto taco mixture of ground beef, melted cheese, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro and sour cream.

The Keto Taco Skillet is a one-pan dinner with taco-seasoned beef, diced tomatoes, and melted cheese. Serve it with sour cream, avocado, and cilantro. Leftovers make a great lunch over shredded lettuce.

Keto Meatballs in Creamy Garlic Sauce

Meatballs baked in a creamy white sauce under golden melted cheese in a cast-iron dish

These Keto Meatballs in Creamy Garlic Sauce skip the breadcrumbs and simmer in a rich garlic and Parmesan sauce. Spoon them over zucchini noodles or mashed cauliflower so none of the sauce goes to waste.

Keto Stuffed Peppers

a baking dish with 6 stuffed pepper halves stuffed with ground beef and melted cheese

Keto Stuffed Peppers are filled with a cheesy beef mixture in place of rice. Green peppers have the fewest carbs, while red and yellow peppers taste a little sweeter. Each pepper is a full serving, which makes portions easy.

Keto Ground Beef Stroganoff Skillet

Beef and mushroom stroganoff in a creamy sauce topped with sour cream and parsley

The Keto Ground Beef Stroganoff Skillet has browned beef and mushrooms in a creamy sauce. It is the classic comfort meal without the egg noodles. Serve it over cauliflower rice on a cold night.

Keto Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

skillet filled with browned ground beef in sauce along with broccoli

The Keto Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry tastes like takeout and is ready in about 20 minutes. Ground beef and fresh broccoli cook in a savory sauce. Keep the broccoli a little crisp so it holds up in leftovers.

Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

A white casserole dish containing a hearty dish. The dish appears to be a baked casserole with a cheesy sauerkraut and Swiss topping, melted cheese on top, and garnished with caraway seeds, shown from above with soft lighting.

The Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole layers seasoned beef, peppers, onions, and melted cheese in one baking dish. It hits the same notes as the sandwich, and it reheats well for lunches during the week.

Keto Sloppy Joe Skillet

Skillet of saucy sloppy joe ground beef

The Keto Sloppy Joe Skillet brings back a childhood favorite. Sugar-free ketchup keeps the sauce tangy and sweet without the extra carbs. Eat it with a fork, in lettuce cups, or over a baked low-carb bun.

Keto Beef Zucchini Boats

Baked vegetable boats stuffed with meat sauce, topped with melted cheese, tomato slices and parsley

Keto Beef Zucchini Boats use hollowed-out zucchini as the shell for savory beef and melty cheese. They are a smart way to use up a big summer zucchini. Chop the scooped-out flesh and cook it into the filling.

Keto Ground Beef Enchilada Bake

a baked casserole with a tomato-based sauce and melted cheese, melted cheese on top, and garnished with shredded cheddar and chopped cilantro

The Keto Ground Beef Enchilada Bake has all the flavor of enchiladas with no tortillas. Beef, red sauce, and cheddar bake together until bubbly. It is great for sharing and easy to portion for meal prep.

How to Pick Ground Beef for Keto

On keto, fat is your friend. An 80/20 blend has enough fat to stay juicy and keep you full. Leaner 90/10 beef works too, but it can taste dry in skillets. If you use lean beef, add a spoonful of butter or olive oil while it browns. Grass-fed beef has a slightly richer flavor, but regular ground chuck works just fine in every recipe above.

Tips for Better Keto Ground Beef Meals

  • Brown the beef in a hot pan and do not stir it right away. Let a crust form first for more flavor.
  • Cook ground beef to 160°F. Use an instant-read thermometer in thicker items like meatballs.
  • Read labels on sauces and seasoning packets. Many taco mixes and ketchups have added sugar.
  • Shred your own cheese. Bagged cheese has starch that keeps it from melting smoothly.
  • Cook a double batch of plain seasoned beef on Sunday. It speeds up two or three dinners later in the week.

Storing and Reheating

Keep leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Most of these meals freeze well for up to 3 months, except the zucchini boats, which get watery. Reheat in the microwave or in a covered dish at 350°F until hot in the center.

Keto Ground Beef FAQ

Should I drain the fat from ground beef on keto?
You do not have to. Leaving some fat adds flavor and keeps you full. Drain it if there is a pool of grease that would make the dish oily.

Can I use ground turkey instead?
Yes. Ground turkey works in all of these recipes. It is leaner, so add a little extra fat, and cook it to 165°F.

What can I serve in place of rice or pasta?
Cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, mashed cauliflower, and shredded cabbage all work well and soak up sauce.

Which recipe is fastest?
The taco skillet and the beef and broccoli stir-fry are both ready in about 20 to 25 minutes.

With casseroles, skillets, and stuffed vegetables on this list, you can eat ground beef all week and never get bored. Pick one for tonight and save the rest for later.