Three absolutely delicious, ultra simple Low Carb / Keto dinner recipes, all featuring ground beef! These family friendly recipes are made in just 30 minutes each with grocery staples. Best of all, they’re all budget friendly, too!
Jump to Recipe
Jump ahead to your favorite recipe:
- Loaded Burger Bowls
- Zucchini Taco Boats
This post was made in partnership with Walmart. Of course, all opinions I share are my own.
Table of Contents
Keto Ground Beef Recipes
Everybody get excited, because these ground beef recipes will be going in your regular dinner rotation! They’re easy to make, great for pleasing picky family members, plus they’re all Keto friendly and gluten free.
To easily adapt the recipes to be Paleo and Whole30, just omit the dairy.
*Check my Walmart Grocery Guide to see all the healthy & delicious goodies you can get on your next visit!*
How to Cook Ground Beef
For all of the recipes, you’ll want to use skillet-cooked ground beef, which only takes about 8-10 minutes total.
To cook ground beef, add it to a large skillet. Cook over medium heat, breaking it apart and turning often as it cooks, until browned. Season lightly with salt and pepper and continue to cook until cooked through. Optionally, you can drain off some of the rendered fat.
How to Defrost and Thaw Ground Beef
If you’re starting with frozen ground beef, it’s important to properly defrost & thaw it before you begin cooking. Here’s how to do it right:
- The safest way to defrost ground beef is to set it on a plate inside your refrigerator overnight.
- For faster results, you can defrost ground beef by running a sealed package under cold water or submerging it in a bowl of cold water. Alternately, you can defrost it in the microwave.
Pro tip: If you need to defrost meat a bit faster, set it on an aluminum pan or skillet. Conduction cuts the time in half!
Okay, now let’s get to it! Here are the three dinner recipes you’ll be making with your ground beef!
Keto Loaded Burger Bowls
These Loaded Burger Bowls are one of my absolute favorite recipes of all time, period. It’s exactly like the burgers you were up eating.. and you won’t even miss the bun!
This is one of those recipes you’ll be telling your friends to try. I don’t mean to hype it too much, but I promise, you’re going to love it!
Ingredients
I love that the ingredients in the burger bowls are super simple! Here’s what you need:
- Ground Beef
- Lettuce
- Pickles
- Cheddar Cheese
- Bacon
- Avocado
- Red Onion
- Special Sauce
- Sesame Seeds
You can totally customize the burger bowl based on your personal preferences, so if you hate pickles, leave them off! If you love tomatoes, add them in! This is just how my family really likes it.
Making the Burger Bowls
This recipe comes together really quickly!
- Cook the ground beef and bacon
- Prep the salad ingredients: Chop the lettuce, slice the avocado, dice the red onion, and grate the cheese.
- Make the Special Sauce
- Assemble all the ingredients in bowls, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve!
Keto Loaded Burger Bowls with Special Sauce
Everything you love in a burger without the bun!
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 607kcal
Author Laura Miner
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 6 slices sugar free bacon
- 1 head romaine lettuce
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced pickles
- 1 avocado
- 1/4 red onion
- 1/2 cup special sauce see below
- 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
Special Sauce
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 2 Tablespoon ketchup sugar free
- 2-3 Tablespoon relish
- 1 Tablespoon onion flakes
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoons pepper
Instructions
Cook the Beef & Bacon
Add the ground beef to a large skillet. Cook over medium heat, breaking it apart and turning often as it cooks, until browned. Season lightly with salt and pepper and continue to cook until cooked through. Optionally, you can drain off some of the rendered fat.
Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate until you're ready to serve it.
Prep the Salad Ingredients
Chop the lettuce, grate the cheese, cut the bacon into bite sized pieces, and dice the onion.
Make the speical sauce by mixing together all the ingredients in a small bowl.
Assemble & Serve
Divide the lettuce among four large bowls. Top with beef and all the toppings, and sprinkle with sesame seeds, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 607kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 641mg | Potassium: 1084mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 14020IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 5mg
Tried this recipe? I’d love to see it!Share and tag @cookathomemom on Instagram.
Keto Zucchini Taco Boats
These Zucchini Taco Boats are really fun to make, and the presentation is just amazing. If we ever have friends over who try to avoid carbs, this is what I serve.
The zucchini boats are the perfect vessel to fill with flavorful beef, and then they’re topped with all the yummy good stuff you’d normally have in tacos!
Ingredients
Okay, here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe happen!
- Zucchini
- Ground Beef
- Taco Seasoning
- Cheddar Cheese
- Red Onion
- Cilantro
- Lime
- Sour Cream (optional)
Making the Recipe
First, slice the zucchini in half from top to bottom. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and form into a boat shape. Drizzle with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
You’ll want to bake just until the zucchini are just softened, about 8 minutes. I like them to still have a little crispiness left in them.
Mix the ground beef with taco seasoning, and fill each zucchini with the mixture. Top with cheddar cheese and return to the oven for another 5-6 minutes.
Top with your favorite toppings: diced red onion, sour cream, cilantro, and whatever else you enjoy!
Keto Zucchini Taco Boats
Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4
Calories 399kcal
Author Laura Miner
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 Tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 2 Tablespoon diced red onion
- 1/2 cup full fat sour cream
- 1 small bunch cilantro
- 1 lime
Instructions
Cook the Ground Beef
Add the ground beef to a large skillet. Cook over medium heat,breaking it apart and turning oftenas it cooks, until browned. Season lightly with salt and pepper and continue to cook until cooked through. Stir in the taco seasoning.
*Optionally, you can drain off some of the rendered fat.
Preheat your oven to 375F.
Prep the Zucchini
Cut the zucchini in half from top to bottom. Use a spoon to scrape out the seedy middy and form into a boat shape.
Place the zucchini on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until softened slightly.
Fill each zucchini with ground beef and top with cheese. Return to the oven for a few more minutes, until the cheese has melted.
Assemble and Serve
Top with diced red onion, cilantro, and sour cream, and serve with slices of lime.
Nutrition
Calories: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 359mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 542IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 226mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe? I’d love to see it!Share and tag @cookathomemom on Instagram.
Keto Spaghetti Squash & Meaty Marinara
This recipe is a healthier, veggie loaded play on the classic Italian dish. I think it’s just one of those comforting, cozy meals to enjoy on a crisp evening.
An important note: Be sure to use low sugar marinara sauce.
Ingredients
I do love short ingredients lists, and you’ll only need FIVE things to make this one! Here’s what you need:
- Spaghetti Squash
- Ground Beef
- Sugar Free Marinara Sauce (I use Rao’s)
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Fresh Basil
Making the Recipe
My preferred method of cooking spaghetti squash is in the Instant Pot. You an also oven roast or even microwave a spaghetti squash, or even buy it fully cooked already!
Once your spaghetti squash is cooked, remove the seeds and use forks to gently scrape the flesh from the skin.
Lastly, top with sauce, ground beef, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a few fresh basil leaves!
Keto Spaghetti Squash & Meaty Marinara
A simple and absolutely delicious take on the classic Italian dish, this Keto friendly version is just as satisfying!
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 402kcal
Author Laura Miner
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium spaghetti squash
- 2 cups tomato sauce (use low sugar or no sugar added, like Rao's)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 small bunch fresh basil
Instructions
Cook the Spaghetti Squash
Cook the spaghetti squash in your Instant Pot: Pierce a few holes in the skin with fork or knife. Set on the rack inside your Instant Pot with a 1/2 cup of water. Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes. Use a MPR to release pressure (turn the knob and carefully release the steam).
Allow to cool enough to handle, then cut open and remove the seeds with a spoon. Use two forks to fluff the spaghetti squash and remove it from the skin.
Cook the Ground Beef
While the Instant Pot is cooking the squash, add the ground beef to a large skillet. Cook over medium heat,breaking it apart and turning oftenas it cooks, until browned. Season lightly with salt and pepper and continue to cook until cooked through. Optionally, you can drain off some of the rendered fat.
Assemble and Serve
On plates or inside the squash, top the spaghetti squash with sauce. Spoon the meat mixture on top of the sauce, then a big sprinkle of parmesan. Last, top with a few fresh basil leaves.
Nutrition
Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 949mg | Potassium: 1016mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1034IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 231mg | Iron: 5mg
Tried this recipe? I’d love to see it!Share and tag @cookathomemom on Instagram.
Well, it looks like all that’s left is to decide which recipe to make first!! Let me know in the comments, will you be adding these to your weekly meal plan?
