Description
This Keto Jalapeño Popper Casserole is a rich and flavorful low-carb dish combining crispy bacon, seasoned ground meat, creamy cheeses, and spicy jalapeños. Perfectly baked to a bubbly finish, it’s an ideal main course for anyone following a keto or gluten-free diet looking for a spicy, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Bacon
- 6 slices of bacon, chopped
- 1 pound ground chicken or ground beef
Spices & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup diced pickled jalapeños (or 2–3 fresh jalapeños, finely chopped)
Dairy
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the skillet for added flavor.
- Cook Ground Meat: Add the ground chicken or beef to the skillet with the bacon grease and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Season Meat: Season the browned meat with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir in diced jalapeños and cook for another minute to meld the flavors.
- Add Creamy Ingredients: Turn off the heat. Stir in cream cheese and sour cream until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the meat mixture to a greased 8×8-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the top of the meat mixture.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes until it is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle the cooked bacon and chopped green onions over the top if using, and serve warm.
Notes
- Adjust the spice level by increasing or decreasing the amount of jalapeños or switching between pickled and fresh for different flavor profiles.
- You can substitute ground turkey or shredded chicken for the ground beef or chicken to vary the protein.
- For a crispier cheese topping, place the casserole under the broiler for the last 2–3 minutes of baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
