Low Carb Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

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If you love the flavors of a Philly Cheesesteak, then you are going to love my Low Carb Philly Cheesesteak Casserole. I combine ground beef with onion and peppers, season with a little salt and pepper before topping with cream cheese and provolone cheese slices and baking to perfection in the oven.

Low Carb Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

My simple Philly cheesesteak casserole recipe is a family favorite. Who wouldn’t love caramelized ground beef, onion and peppers topped with a molten cheesy topping?

To make this the best cheesesteak casserole recipe, I like it extra cheesy. Top the casserole with cream cheese and further slices of provolone cheese so that you get that perfect molten, bubbly top.

It’s easy to make this easy Philly cheesesteak casserole ahead of time. Prepare the ground meat layer earlier in the day or the day before. Then cool and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook. Then all you need to do is place the cheeses on top of the casserole and cook in a hot oven until molten.

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole ingredients

• GROUND BEEF: I used 2 pounds of lean ground beef.
• ONION: I used a regular onion, but you could also use a red onion.
• BELL PEPPERS: Use any combination of bell peppers, I used a green and an orange pepper, but you could use yellow or red pepper too.
• SEASONING: I seasoned the beef with sea salt and black pepper, to taste.
• CREAM CHEESE: I used ½ (8 ounce) package of full fat cream cheese.
• CHEESE: I topped the casserole with sliced provolone cheese.

How to make Low Carb Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and cook, crumbling as it browns.

• When the beef is almost cooked through, add the onion and bell peppers.

• Continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes or until the onion is tender.
• Season the beef and vegetables with salt and black pepper.
• Drain the meat and vegetables well and then return it to the skillet.

• Stir the cream cheese into the meat and vegetables until evenly combined.

• Transfer to the prepared casserole dish and smooth into an even layer.

• Place the sliced cheese over the top.

• Bake the casserole for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Flavor variations

• As this is a Philly cheesesteak casserole I’ve used ground beef. However, you could also use ground lamb, chicken or turkey, all would work perfectly with the other flavors in the casserole.
• If you want to add in extra veggies, no problem. Saute mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, celery or carrot, along with the onions and bell peppers.
• Add a teaspoon of garlic powder to season the beef.
• Like your food extra spicy, then add some freshly chopped jalapeno peppers to the mix, or stir through a teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
• I’ve topped the casserole with provolone cheese, but you can use any other cheese slices, like cheddar, mozzarella or Gruyere cheese.
• Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for extra depth of flavor.

Serving suggestions

I like to serve this dish with a few extra veggie sides like my Roasted Green Beans, or Sheet Pan Roasted Broccoli.

I’ve kept this dish low carb, but you can serve some carbs alongside for those who aren’t watching their carb content. This casserole would make a great filling for some buns, or served alongside some steamed rice. Or how about a side of my tasty Bacon Cheddar Ranch Potato Salad.

For those following a low carb diet, then swap regular white rice for some cauliflower rice instead.

Recipe hints & tips

• Use the best quality lean ground beef (at least 85% lean) for your budget, it will make all the difference to the flavor of the finished dish.
• Take time to drain the excess liquid from the beef, otherwise the casserole will be too watery.
• Remove the cream cheese from the refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking and allow to come to room temperature. The softer cheese will cook more quickly.
• This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled if feeding a crowd.

FAQs

Try some of my other low carb meals here at When is Dinner:

• Low Carb Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken
• Zucchini Chicken Enchiladas
• Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken
• Mediterranean Chicken Skillet
• Asian Zucchini Noodles