This Low Carb Beef And Tomato Casserole is the perfect make-ahead meal that will keep those hectic weekday nights running smoothly!
Casseroles like this one are so easy to prep ahead of time and have ready to pop into the oven. Most casseroles are loaded with heavy carbs, but not this one! This dish is low carb while still being cheesy and delicious. Served with a side salad it’s a healthy and filling meal that the whole family can enjoy.
Best Low Carb Casserole
- This casserole recipe could also be named “cauliflower rice casserole” because low-carb riced cauliflower is used as a replacement for rice.
- Healthy and hearty this casserole is sure to keep everyone full and happy.
- This dish is made in scrumptious layers. There is the layer of flavorful red meat sauce, a riced cauliflower layer, a cottage cheese layer, and the final layer of mozzarella cheese that will turn golden and bubbly in the oven.
Ingredients And Variations
SAUCE LAYER: Ground beef, pasta sauce, seasoning, and some aromatics are the basic ingredients for this delicious sauce. For some variation, the ground beef can be replaced with sausage or chicken that has been diced into small pieces.
RICE LAYER: If using pre-made frozen riced cauliflower remember to let it thaw and squeeze out the extra moisture. It is also very easy to make riced cauliflower at home. Wash and cut the cauliflower into florets, and then add to a blender and blend (do not over-blend, the cauliflower should be the size of rice grains). Fresh riced cauliflower should be cooked before adding it to the casserole.
CHEESE LAYER: Cottage cheese, eggs, parmesan cheese, and some herbs make for a cheesy layer that is slightly tart and salty. And don’t forget to add the mozzarella on the top. This adds the finishing touch to the casserole.
VARIATIONS: Add some mushrooms, cooked squash, and spinach for added color, or use up some homemade cauliflower fried rice for added flavor.
How To Make Beef & Tomato Casserole
With layers of meat sauce, cauliflower rice, a cottage cheese mixture, and then topped with mozzarella cheese, this casserole is so hearty and healthy!
- Make the sauce layer by cooking the meat, the pasta sauce, and the seasonings.
- Drain the cottage cheese and mix with the egg, parsley, and parmesan cheese.
- Prepare the cauliflower rice.
- Layer into a baking dish.
- Top with mozzarella and bake (as per the recipe below).
Leftovers?
Leftovers are the best for lunch the next day. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Leftovers can also be frozen. To reheat, let it thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat in the oven at 425°F until it is warm and ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
- Cauliflower rice is quite simple to make and is the best replacement for rice or pasta.
- This casserole can be made ahead of time and frozen. Freeze the casserole whole or divide it into individual portions. This will make it perfect for a quick and portable lunch.
- Serve this delicious entree with other low carb sides like some zucchini fries, or roasted green beans, or even a crisp and delicious caesar salad.
Other Delicious Low Carb Casseroles To Try!
- Cauliflower Enchilada Casserole – zesty and delicious.
- Zucchini Lasagna Roll Ups – a low carb twist on a classic.
- Easy Low Carb Shepherd’s Pie – delicious cauliflower replaces potatoes.
- Zucchini Lasagna – easy and so hearty.
Low Carb Beef And Tomato Casserole
Ingredients
Topping
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 15 ounces low carb pasta sauce such as Raos
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cheese Layer
- 1 ½ cups cottage cheese
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoons fresh basil or ½ teaspoon dried basil leaves
Cauliflower Rice
- 3 cups cauliflower rice thawed and squeezed dry, (or cooked if homemade)
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Brown beef, onion, and garlic until no pink remains. Stir in pasta sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer 10 minutes uncovered.
- Place cottage cheese in a mesh strainer and gently press to drain. Mix together cottage cheese, egg, parmesan, parsley, and basil. Set aside.
- If using frozen cauliflower rice, thaw and gently squeeze dry. (If using homemade cauliflower rice, just cook in a skillet with a little bit of oil until tender.)
How to Assemble and Bake:
- Mix cauliflower rice with butter, parsley, salt & pepper. Spread into the bottom of a 9x9 inch, or 2 quart, baking dish.
- Top with the cheese mixture, the meat sauce, and finally the mozzarella cheese.
- Bake 30-35 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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Recipe updated July/2022 for improved flavor and consistency.
This was so delicious! I can’t wait to make it again.
Made this recipe again and it was just as delicious as I remember, and super easy to prepare! My family loved it and didn’t even realize it was made with cauliflower rice!
So happy you all enjoyed it Samantha!
Not enough sauce, bland flavor. I even deglazed the pan with a little wine and added a pinch of sweetener to the tomato gravy. Cauliflower was very tasteless. Don’t know if anything can be done to rescue this crap.
I’m sorry to hear that! We really did enjoy this recipe. You can alter the sauce ratio and spices to your preferences though. We would love to hear how it turned out for you!