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Low Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole – A Cozy, Crowd-Pleasing Weeknight Bake

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Ground beef (85–90% lean)
  • Bacon (thick-cut preferred)
  • Yellow onion, finely diced
  • Garlic, minced
  • Eggs
  • Heavy cream (or half-and-half)
  • Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • Cream cheese, softened
  • Pickles, chopped (dill)
  • Tomato paste
  • Sugar-free ketchup (or lowest-sugar you can find)
  • Yellow mustard
  • Worcestershire sauce (check for low sugar)
  • Smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Olive oil or avocado oil
  • Optional toppings: sliced green onions, sesame seeds, hot sauce

Method
 

  1. Preheat and prep the pan. Heat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with oil or butter.
  2. Crisp the bacon. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove to a paper towel–lined plate and crumble when cool. Reserve 1–2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan.
  3. Sauté onions and garlic. In the bacon drippings, cook the diced onion until soft and lightly golden, about 5–7 minutes. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Brown the beef. Add ground beef to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed.
  5. Build that burger flavor. Stir in tomato paste, mustard, ketchup, and Worcestershire. Let it simmer 2–3 minutes so the flavors meld. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  6. Whisk the custard base. In a bowl, whisk eggs, heavy cream, a pinch of salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
  7. Make it cheesy. Off the heat, stir cream cheese into the beef mixture until melted and creamy. Fold in half the shredded cheddar and most of the crumbled bacon (save some for topping). Add chopped pickles for that classic bite.
  8. Assemble. Spread the beef mixture evenly in the greased baking dish. Pour the egg-and-cream mixture over the top, letting it seep through. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and reserved bacon over everything.
  9. Bake. Place in the oven and bake 20–25 minutes, until the center is set and the top is bubbly and lightly golden. If needed, broil for 1–2 minutes for extra color.
  10. Rest and serve. Let the casserole rest 10 minutes so it slices cleanly. Top with green onions and sesame seeds if you like. Slice into squares and serve warm.