High-Protein Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Low carb, sugar-free and ready in 35 minutes — seasoned beef under bubbling cheddar with bacon arranged over the top
This high-protein bacon cheeseburger casserole keeps every promise on the cover: low carb, sugar-free, ready in 35 minutes — with 34g protein, 5g net carbs and 360 calories per serving. Seasoned ground beef is baked under a blanket of bubbling cheddar with crispy bacon pieces arranged over the top like the dish in the photo.
Per serving: 360 calories, 34g protein and 5g net carbs. Ready in 35 minutes.
Why you’ll love this cheeseburger casserole
- 34g protein per serving for just 360 calories
- Low carb and sugar-free — exactly as promised on the cover
- On the table in a genuine 35 minutes
- Every burger flavour: beef, cheese, bacon, pickles on the side
- Bubbling, golden cheddar like the photo
- Crispy bacon arranged over the top, in every scoop
Health notes
- Lean ground beef: Browned hard and drained — the protein base with the fat left in the pan.
- Turkey bacon option: Crispy bacon flavour for fewer calories — your call.
- No bun, no sugar: Sugar-free ketchup and mustard carry the classic condiment hit.
- Cheese on top, not buried: The blanket of cheddar seals in the juices.
- Locked from the cover: The photo supplied the title, claims, time and macros, so they are kept consistent throughout the block.
Key element — bacon arranged, never buried
Cook the bacon until crisp first, then arrange the pieces over the cheddar in neat rows like the photo — never buried under the cheese. In the oven’s heat the exposed pieces go extra-crisp while the cheese bubbles up around them, so every scoop lands crackly bacon on top and molten cheese below.
Ingredients
Casserole
- 2 lb lean ground beef (90/10)
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 Tbsp no-added-sugar ketchup
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 10 slices bacon, cooked crisp
- Diced pickles, to serve
Swaps
- Turkey: Ground turkey (93% lean) — just as good, slightly leaner.
- Turkey bacon: Crispy turkey bacon pieces for fewer calories.
- Spicy: Diced jalapeños and pepper jack instead of cheddar.
- Big Mac style: Shredded lettuce and sugar-free burger sauce on top at serving.
Instructions
| 1 | Crisp the bacon. Heat the oven to 375°F. Cook the bacon until crisp, then drain on kitchen paper and cut each slice into 2–3 pieces. |
| 2 | Brown the beef. Brown the beef with the onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 8–10 minutes, breaking it up, until deeply browned. Stir in the garlic, salt, pepper and paprika for 1 minute, then drain off all the fat. |
| 3 | Season burger-style. Stir the ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce through the beef. Taste and adjust the salt. |
| 4 | Layer the dish. Spread the beef in a greased white 9×13-inch baking dish. Blanket with the cheddar right to the edges. |
| 5 | Bacon on top. Arrange the bacon pieces over the cheese in neat rows, like the photo. Bake for 18–20 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and the bacon is extra-crisp. |
| 6 | Rest and serve. Rest for 5 minutes so the layers settle. Scoop into bowls and serve with diced pickles on the side. |
Pro tips
- Deep browning on the beef is the flavour of the whole dish — do not rush it.
- Drain the fat thoroughly; a greasy base never firms up.
- Bacon arranged on top stays crisp; bacon buried goes soft.
- Cheese right to the edges gives the crispy lacy border.
- Leftovers reheat brilliantly — a skillet gives the best crispy edges.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 360 |
| Protein | 34g |
| Net carbohydrates | 5g |
| Total carbohydrates | 6g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Total fat | 20g |
| Sodium | 820mg |
Per serving (6 servings), locked from the cover: 34g protein, 5g net carbs, 360 calories. Exact macros vary slightly with beef fat percentage and bacon type.
Variations
Taco version
Taco seasoning, pepper jack and sugar-free salsa.
Mushroom Swiss
Sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese instead of cheddar.
Breakfast
Breakfast sausage, cheddar and a fried egg on each scoop.
Loaded
Diced sugar-free pickles and red onion folded through the beef.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 days | Airtight container; the bacon softens slightly but the flavour holds |
| Freezer | Up to 2 months | Freeze in portions; thaw overnight |
| Reheat | — | Skillet over medium heat for crispy edges, or oven at 350°F |
