This Keto Mac and Cheese Skillet Casserole is a game changer. We love to eat it for dinner and also serve it on Sundays during football season. Mac and Cheese Skillet Casserole will definitely be part of the spread at our Super Bowl Party.
The Perfect One Pot Meal
This easy grain-free casserole recipe makes a wonderful dinner but is also good for so many other occasions. It’s the perfect one-pot potluck meal, given that it’s chock full of protein and vegetables, easy to make, and delicious.
Healthy Dinner Recipe for Kids
Keto Mac and Cheese Skillet Casserole has a bit of a kick to it! If you are making this healthy dinner recipe for children, you may want to reduce the smoked paprika.
Keto Mac and Cheese Skillet Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound organic grass fed ground beef
- 4 cups cooked spaghetti squash noodles
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a 10 inch cast iron skillet, cook beef until brown
- Remove from heat and set aside
- In a large bowl, Whisk heavy cream and eggs until smooth
- Mix in smoked paprika, salt, and pepper
- Stir in spaghetti squash, parmesan, and 1 cup cheddar
- Stir in ground beef
- Transfer mixture back to cast iron skillet
- Top with remaining cup of cheddar
- Bake at 350°F until bubbling around the edges 40-50 minutes
- Cool 15 minutes
- Serve
Quick and Easy Keto Dinner Recipe
To make this keto casserole recipe even easier, I cook the spaghetti squash the night before. That way I simply brown the meat, toss the ingredients in a bowl, and throw it in the oven for a wonderful grain-free dinner.
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
If you haven’t cooked spaghetti squash before take a look at my How to Cook Spaghetti Squash guide. In it, I show you the easiest way ever to cook this low-carb winter squash.
More Low-Carb Keto Dinner Recipes
Here are some of my other easy low-carb keto dinner recipes!
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This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared this recipe in January 2017.
KELLY says
GREAT MAC N CHEESE RECIPE!, I WAS THINKING OF PUTTING A CRUMBLE TOPPING ON IT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A TOPPING, LOVE YOUR RECIPES
Elana says
Kelly, that is a great idea! I haven’t tried that though so not sure, feel free to experiment :-)
Ellen says
I’ve heard that many people use crushed pork rinds. The only ones I would recommend would be Epic.
Elana says
Ellen, that is a great idea :-)
Inna says
Made this recipe twice already! Reheats well for lunch. I can’t believe I used to put so much effort trying to cut the squash in half before putting it in the oven…. Your method works so much better! Thank you..
Elana says
Inna, I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying this recipe as well as my super easy method for cooking spaghetti squash :-)
Cielo says
Hello, your recipes all look amazing! Only question I have is macro contents of each recipe. I’m trying to follow no more than 20g of carbs daily. You mention different ratios of macros you’ve done in the past and got tired of weighing everything, being so strict & now just more intuitive. I’d love to be able to pick and choose recipe meals for the day that ensure my macros are on target. Thank you for your insight in how I can maintain this Keto lifestyle I’ve inplemebted in the past two weeks
Elana says
Cielo, thanks for your comment. For more on that please go here:
https://elanaspantry.com/nutrition-information/
Once you’ve weighed everything and counted macros for a year or so you’ll be able to eyeball everything, that’s about how long it took me :-)
Elana
Barb says
What would be a good alternative to smoked paprika? I know a few of your recipes call for it. My husband reacts when I use it in the kitchen – it effects his breathing. Any alternative to the “smoked” or should I simply substitue regular paprika?
Elana says
Barb, I haven’t tried that so not sure. Feel free to experiment and I hope you’ll let me know how it goes :-)
Kat says
This is delicious!! I made it as indicated and used sharp cheddar cheese….. it’s so satisfying for those of us who need to be lower carb! Total comfort food.
Elana says
Kat, thanks for letting me know this is delicious! We love it too :-)
Nancy says
Hi Elana,
Have you tried replacing the eggs for flax or chia seeds before? If no, do you think it would work? Thanks!!
Elana says
Nancy, I haven’t tried that so not sure. Here’s a link to my Egg-Free Recipes page for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/egg-free/
Enjoy!
Elana
QueenJellyBean says
Please post if you did try this with a flax egg, or other substitute for the egg and dairy? I’m also interested in making this vegan. Maybe coconut milk and flax egg?
Elana says
QueenJellyBean, here’s a link to my Egg-Free Recipes page for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/egg-free/
Enjoy!
Elana
Linda says
Hi Elana, I live alone and eat very little. Can this be frozen in portions?
Elana says
Linda, I haven’t tried that :-)
Linda DuFresne says
I froze a few pieces to see if we liked it after it was frozen. Tastes just as good if not better. Love all of the recipes I have sampled. I especially love how you cook your spaghetti squash. We are still using the squash that we grew last season, 50 squash, so I have had a lot of practice using your recipe. Delish!!!!!!!!
Elana says
Linda, thanks so much for letting me know this freezes well and that it is delish!
Alison says
Too salty!!!!! A whole teaspoon with all of the sodium from cheeses made it too much. Will halve salt next time. Otherwise, was creamy, cheesy and kids loved it!!!!
Elana says
Alison, thanks for your comment! We think this amount is perfect given that this dish contains more than 8 cups of food in it, but feel free to adjust to your liking :-)
Sara says
Not sure what happened to my dish. I followed the recipe making no substitutions or exclusions and it was super bland and not cheesy at all.
Elana says
Sara, thanks for your comment! We find that with 2.5 cups cheese this dish is incredibly cheesy! The dish will taste bland if you use mild cheddar instead of the sharp cheddar recommended in the recipe :-)
Hope says
You use regular cheese on the Paleo diet?
Elana says
Hope, most people do not consider cheese to be a paleo food and this recipe is not categorized as a paleo diet food on my website. For my paleo recipes page please go here:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/paleo/
Enjoy!
Elana
Lisa says
Hi Elana,
First, I just want you to know how much I appreciate all the tremendous work and dedication you put into your craft and the generosity of sharing it with others. Thank you!
This recipe looks so good and I really want to try it, but I’ve never tried Spaghetti squash and nobody says what it tastes like. I’ve read the variuos ways people use it to replace certain foods but never how the squash itself tastes. Is is similar to Acorn or butternut, or more like zucchini or yellow squash or maybe simliar in taste to some other food? Thanks so much for your time.
Elana says
Lisa, thanks for your wonderfully kind words, they mean so much to me! Spaghetti squash is a hard winter squash that tastes like acorn or butternut, though sometimes not quite as sweet. It’s really one of my favorites! After you try it I hope you’ll stop back by and let me know your thoughts about this wonderful squash!
Gail DeVine says
Hi Elana,
What is the nutritional value for your mac & cheese?
Thanks
Gail
Elana says
Gail, for more on that please go here:
https://elanaspantry.com/nutrition-information/
Have a wonderful day!
Elana
Lana Whitaker says
any idea how many carbs per serving that this would be? It looks awesome yummy, but I’m trying to ‘count’ carbs each day…. just wondering. Thanks!
Lana Whitaker says
P.S. I’ve JUST decided I can’t take it anymore -with my weight problem (it’s not like I’m grossly obese, but I definately need to lose about 30-35 pounds, and pronto)- so I have decided to try a keto diet. Not sure how to go about it since I’m a vegetarian. I use to be be vegan, but my love of cheese caused me to cave after about 5 months. I can do without any other dairy tho.
Anyway, If I could get down to my body to go into ketosis, I think I might come out a winner. :-) I just today stumbled upon your website, and recipes, and I’m so happy to have discovered you!
Elana says
Lana, thanks for sharing so much of yourself and your health journey here. What a lovely and inspiring comment! Have you seen my Keto Diet Recipes page? I hope it will be helpful in your healing!
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/keto/
Enjoy!
Elana
Elana says
Lana, thanks for your comment. For more on that please go here:
https://elanaspantry.com/nutrition-information/
Have a wonderful day!
Elana