Ground Beef And Broccoli Bake

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This Ground Beef and Broccoli Bake is a super easy dinner casserole! Keto, paleo, and gluten-free, you’ll be done cooking in half an hour!

Beef and Broccoli Bake in a red casserole dish

Beef and Broccoli Casserole

A beef and broccoli dish is one of those classic combinations that never gets old. Whether the first time you tried it was at a Chinese restaurant or it is something your family has been making for decades, it is a great recipe that you can easily add to your menu plan without any major changes to your shopping list. 

An easy beef casserole made with ground beef, this is a great dish to season to your liking. Several spices will bring out the flavors, but you can add a little bit of cayenne to make it spicy or tone it down if you prefer a mild touch. 

I usually choose an extra lean ground beef because it fits in with my meal plans for the rest of the week, but you can use the ground beef with the fat content you prefer for this keto casserole. You want this to be a huge hit for your family, so make it the way they’ll love the most. 

A naturally keto and paleo-friendly meal, you can turn this into a vegetarian dinner as well. Opt for veggie crumbles instead of the ground beef and you’re good to go for a tasty meat-free meal. 

This Beef and Broccoli Bake is both a comfort food and a super healthy option, so I think you’ll enjoy it!

Recipe Notes:

  • Season this dinner recipe so that you get the best flavor for your whole family. I highly recommend tasting both the ground beef and broccoli before pouring them into the casserole dish. 
  • Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of each ground beef and broccoli dinner portion for a little extra crunch. 

Hamburger broccoli casserole in an oblong red casserole dish on a wooden table

Broccoli Beef Casserole Recipe

How To Make:

Ground Beef and Broccoli Bake Ingredients:

10 oz lean ground beef
3 oz butter, salted
9 oz fresh broccoli florets 
4 oz cheese (I used marbled cheddar cheese)
1 tsp garlic powder (or more to taste)
1 tsp onion powder (or more to taste)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (a few shakes optional if you like it spicy)

Supplies Needed:

Cutting board
Sharp knife
Spatula or wooden spoon
Medium casserole dish
2 large frying pans

Ground beef and broccoli bake in a red casserole dish on a wooden table

Directions:

Step 1: Rinse and trim the head of broccoli. Using a cutting board and a sharp knife, cut it into small florets. 

Ground beef cooking in a pan with butterStep 2: Take out a large skillet and heat your butter. Brown the ground beef on medium-high heat and drain any excess fat.

Season it to taste with the spices of your choice in the ingredients list. I usually just do a dash of each and then taste it once all of the beef is cooked through. You’ll be adding more seasoning in a minute. 

Broccoli florets frying in a black panStep 3: Reduce the heat to low and pull out a second frying pan. In the second pan, on a second burner, fry the chopped broccoli in a tablespoon of butter for a few minutes. (If you are using frozen broccoli, thaw it before frying it in the pan.)

While it is frying to a bright green color, be sure to stir your ground beef over medium heat to keep it from over-browning.

Beef and broccoli in a pan cookingStep 4: Add the broccoli stir fry to the cooked ground beef and season everything with another dash of spices. Stir everything together to make sure that the spices have mixed through. 

Ground beef and broccoli with seasonings in a panStep 5: Spray the sides and bottom of a casserole dish or au gratin dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Place your ground beef mixture into the dish. Sprinkle your favorite shredded cheese on top of the beef and broccoli, and broil it in the oven for about four minutes. 

Beef broccoli cheese casserole in a red casserole dish on a wooden tableIf you’d prefer not to use the oven, you will still be able to get some melted cheese going on top of the meat mixture without it (just because of how hot it will be after cooking), but the oven is what creates the cheesy crispiness. Serve hot and enjoy!

How To Store Ground Beef And Broccoli Bake

Store any leftovers in the casserole dish wrapped tightly in aluminum foil or in several airtight containers (if you want to portion it for several days) or in a single airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Ground beef and broccoli Bake in a red casserole dish on a wooden table

What Can I Serve With My Ground Beef And Broccoli Casserole? 

I usually serve this delicious casserole with both sour cream and hot sauce. In terms of a side dish, there are tons of options! If you’re making this as a low carb casserole and need something along those diet lines, try some easy stuffed mushrooms or Cheddar and Sour Cream Ranch Dip with a side of veggies. 

If you have no diet restrictions, this delicious meal can be fleshed out easily with a few sides to feed the entire family. Make some red potatoes, tater tots, white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice while the casserole is cooking on the stove and make a quick salad. A great way to put dinner together on busy weeknights!

What Cheese Should I Use With This Main Dish?

I used marbled cheddar when the images were taken, but I’ve also used sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and Mexican cheese. I suggest choosing your favorite cheese and going with that – especially if you have picky eaters in the house! 

Can I Use Different Seasonings In This Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole?

Between the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne you should have plenty of flavor, but of course, you can add anything you’d like (or choose to use combinations like garlic salt). It’s your broccoli beef casserole, so run with it!

A Ground Beef and Broccoli Bake in a red casserole dish on a wooden table

Can I Use Something Other Than Ground Beef?

This is designed as a ground beef recipe, but if you don’t have access to ground beef or you’d like to use leftover flank steak, roast, or something else, go for it. Just be careful not to overcook the meat when you are seasoning or it will be too tough. 

If you’d like to substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for ground beef instead, you can easily make that swap. Season everything the same way, making sure not to overcook the ground meat. 

Can I Add Anything To The Casserole Itself?

I enjoy this easy ground beef and broccoli recipe as it is, but you can also add things to change it up over time. Add some fresh mushrooms, a small onion, green peppers, green onions, or bell peppers as you cook broccoli in the pan, or add a bit of tomato sauce or Worcestershire sauce to change up the flavors a bit. 

Are You Looking For More Tasty Casserole Recipes? Here Are Some Of My Favorites:

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Yield: 4 servings

Ground Beef And Broccoli Bake

Ground beef and broccoli Bake in a red casserole dish on a wooden table

This Beef and Broccoli Bake is a fantastically easy dinner that everyone will love. Keto, paleo, and gluten-free, you'll be done cooking in under half an hour!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 10 oz ground beef
  • 3 oz butter
  • 9 oz broccoli
  • 4 oz cheese (I used marbled cheddar)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder (or more to taste)
  • 1 tsp onion powder (or more to taste)
  • Cayenne pepper (optional, if you like it spicy)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and trim the broccoli. Cut it into small florets.
  2. Take out a large frying pan and heat your butter. Brown the ground beef on medium-high heat and season it to taste with the spices of your choice in the ingredients list.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and pull out a second frying pan.
  4. In the second pan, on a second burner, fry the broccoli in 2 Tbsp butter for a few minutes. While it is frying, be sure to stir your ground beef to keep it from over-browning.
  5. Add the broccoli to the cooked ground beef and season everything with another dash of spices. Stir everything together to make sure that the spices have mixed through.
  6. Take your broccoli and beef and place it into a casserole or au gratin dish. Top the beef and broccoli with your favorite shredded cheese and broil it in the oven for about four minutes.

Notes

If you'd prefer not to use the oven - you will be able to get some melty cheese going on top of the beef and broccoli without it (just because of how hot it will be after cooking), but the oven is what creates the cheesy crispiness.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 485Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 413mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 27g
One picture of broccoli and ground beef in a pan and another of Beef and Broccoli Bake in a red oblong casserole dish

Healthy beef and broccoli bake in a red baking dish on a wooden table

Looking for some other delicious ground beef recipes? 

4 Comments

  1. My family loved this! Even the Aunt in law loved it and went back for second! 😳🤩 Thank you so much! I would double the recipe if my hubby was home, it was just three kids under 10 and two adult women. Nothing left over! 🤤🥰

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