Cheeseburger Casserole (keto optional)
Hosting the big game and trying to find a way to please all dietary restrictions without making two separate meals?! This is a great solution to make two varieties with minimal added work!
Versatility is key! I’ve definitely been in the position before of hosting a crowd that brings the entire representation of dietary restrictions from vegan to Adkins. It’s taken me a bit of understanding of the underlying restrictions to fully cater to each, but the more comfortable I feel, the easier it is to make fewer dishes that please everyone, making for a happy crowd and a happy dishwasher! With this simple burger casserole, it is a fairly unnoticeable swap to use no sugar added ketchup and pickles, as they are condiments mixed in and don’t have much change in flavor already. If you have further picky eaters, by making the base casserole friendly to a variety of diets, you could also place the toppings ‘salad bar’ style for your guests to dress their own burger!
The perfect timing. While it may seem obvious, I’ll admit, I made the mistake of putting both of these in the oven at the same time. Logically, the beef is already cooked, so the keto version will just need to be baked to come together and melt the cheese-much less time than its counter part that will follow the directions for crispy tots. If you are making both versions for your party, I would suggest putting your tator tot version in, chopping and assembling all toppings while you wait, then adding the keto pan to the oven. A great way to utilize the interim timing and have these come out together, ready to be dressed!
How do you cater to a crowd of mixed dietary preferences? I’d love to hear your easy methods! Please comment below!
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Enjoy!
Cheeseburger Casserole (keto optional)
Equipment
- Casserole Dish or Pie Tin
- Kitchen knife
- Small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
- 1 medium Yellow Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
- Salt and Pepper
- 1/2 cup No Sugar Added Ketchup
- 1/2 cup Mayonaisse
- 1/3 cup Mustard
- 2 cups Chopped Iceberg Lettuce
- 1/2 cup Chopped Pickles (no sugar added)
- 1/2 cup Chopped Tomato
- 2/3 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 2 cups Tator Tots (optional)
Instructions
- In a skillet, start to brown beef. When the beef is about halfway done, add in the onions and garlic. Drain the liquid as the beef becomes cooked through.
- Add in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper and mix well.
- Stir in about 2/3 of the ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Mix together and turn heat down.
- Preheat oven to 350. Scoop beef into baking pan. If using tator tots, spread a layer over the beef and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes until the tots are crispy. If keto, omit the tots, and simply sprinkle the beef with about half of the cheese. Cook until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.
- Remove the baking pan from the oven and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine remaining mayo, mustard and ketchup to form the burner sauce. Set aside.
- To serve, top the casserole with chopped lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickles, and drizzle the burger sauce on top. Enjoy!When cooking for a crowd, I often double this recipe and make one version with the tator tots and one without, making something to satisfy dietary restrictions without additional work!
