Simple & Savory Easy Keto Taco Bake (Low-Carb & Family Favorite!)
Satisfy your taco cravings with this incredibly easy and delicious Keto Taco Bake! Seasoned ground beef (or turkey) is mixed with creamy cottage cheese, zesty salsa, and melty cheese, then layered over low-carb tortillas and baked to bubbly perfection. It’s a fantastic low-carb, high-protein, and gluten-free (with appropriate tortilla choice) meal that the whole family will love!
Yields: 6-8 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 20-25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds ground beef or turkey (80/20 beef for more flavor, or lean ground turkey for lighter; or 93% lean beef)
- 1 (16-ounce) container full-fat cottage cheese (ensure it’s regular fat, not low-fat or fat-free)
- 8 low-carb tortillas (e.g., almond flour, mission carb balance; check for keto-friendly brands)
- 1 cup chunky salsa (KETO NOTE: Choose a low-carb, no-sugar-added variety)
- 2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning (KETO NOTE: Ensure it’s sugar-free)
- 1 ¾ cups shredded Mexican style cheese blend (or a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack), divided
Optional Garnishes (Keto-Friendly):
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Diced avocado or guacamole
- Sour cream
- Diced red onion or green onions
- Sliced jalapeños
Equipment:
- 9×13 inch casserole dish
- Large skillet or frying pan
- Colander (for draining meat)
- Large mixing bowl
- Spoon or spatula
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until it is thoroughly browned and cooked through.
- Drain any excess grease from the cooked meat using a colander.
- Drain Cottage Cheese: While the meat cooks, open the container of cottage cheese. Many brands have excess liquid; drain it thoroughly. You can press it gently in a fine-mesh sieve or colander to remove more liquid.
- Prepare Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained cottage cheese, salsa, sugar-free taco seasoning, and ¾ cup of the shredded Mexican style cheese blend. Stir well until thoroughly combined.
- Add the cooked and drained ground meat to the cottage cheese mixture. Stir again until everything is well incorporated.
- Assemble Taco Bake: Line the bottom of your 9×13 inch casserole dish with 4 of the low-carb tortillas, overlapping them slightly to cover the entire bottom. You may need to cut or tear some to fit.
- Pour the entire meat and cottage cheese mixture evenly over the tortillas in the casserole dish. Spread it out with a spatula.
- Place the remaining 4 low-carb tortillas over the filling as the top layer, overlapping as needed.
- Top with Cheese: Evenly sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded Mexican style cheese blend over the top layer of tortillas.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the mixture is heated through, the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top tortillas are lightly golden.
- Serve & Enjoy! Remove from the oven. Let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with optional toppings if desired.
Tips for Success:
- Low-Carb Tortillas: Ensure your chosen tortillas are explicitly low-carb or keto-friendly. Brands like Mission Carb Balance or various almond/coconut flour tortillas are good options.
- Salsa & Taco Seasoning: Always check labels to ensure your salsa is no-sugar-added and your taco seasoning is sugar-free. Hidden sugars are common.
- Cottage Cheese: Draining the cottage cheese well helps prevent the casserole from becoming watery.
- Don’t Skimp on Fat: Using full-fat cottage cheese and 80/20 ground beef contributes to better flavor and satisfaction on a keto diet.
- Customization: Feel free to add diced green chilies to the meat mixture for extra flavor, or a layer of cream cheese (softened) under the meat mixture.
Storage: Store any leftover Easy Keto Taco Bake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Recipe Analysis & Dietary Classification
- High Protein: Yes, this recipe is very high in protein from the ground meat, cottage cheese, and shredded cheese.
- Low-Carb: Yes, this recipe is very low-carb, primarily due to the use of low-carb tortillas and specified sugar-free ingredients.
- Keto: Yes, this recipe is keto-friendly, provided the following crucial ingredient checks are made:
- Low-Carb Tortillas: Absolutely essential. Regular tortillas are high in carbs.
- Full-Fat Cottage Cheese: Essential to maximize fat content and avoid added sugars/starches often found in low-fat versions.
- Chunky Salsa: Must be a low-carb, no-sugar-added variety.
- Taco Seasoning: Must be sugar-free. Many commercial blends contain sugar or maltodextrin.
- Gluten-Free: Potentially. This depends entirely on whether the chosen low-carb tortillas are certified gluten-free, and if the taco seasoning and salsa are verified gluten-free.
Read on how to prepare Sausage and Egg Cups.