Philly Cheesesteak Casserole – Whole30, Dairy-Free

This content originally appeared here. Republished with permission.

If you’re craving classic Philadelphia flavors, make this easy Philly cheesesteak casserole! This keto casserole recipe is made with ground beef and is very budget friendly. You can have it ready in under 30 minutes too! You’re going to love this super simple casserole.

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe

If you’ve ever had an authentic Philly cheesesteak, you know how incredible the flavors are. Gooey cheese, juicy steak, onions, and sautéed bell peppers all stuffed into a fluffy hoagie roll. Insanely good, but not neccesarily the healthiest thing either.

But what if you could have all the yummy flavors of the classic sandwich, with way less calories. This Philly cheese steak casserole recipe is just that! With flavorful ground beef and a delightfully creamy sauce, you can have your favorite sandwich in a healthier form.

This super easy recipe makes plenty of servings, so whole family will get a hearty serving. It’s a great dinner recipe for busy weeknights too. A super filling meal that takes about a half hour to get onto the table.

Pair this low-carb philly cheesesteak casserole with some Instant Pot mashed cauliflower and you’ve got a quick meal the entire family will enjoy. Not to mention, this is a great meal prep recipe. Make a big casserole at the beginning of the week and eat on it for the rest of the week!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Not only is this recipe a keto and low carb casserole, but it is also Whole30 compatible and dairy. Healthy recipes don’t have to be boring!
This simple casserole does not require too much prep. So even if you aren’t very experienced in the kitchen, you can make a tasty dinner that is keto friendly.
Philly cheesesteak casserole is loaded with protein. It is sure to keep you full! Though going back for seconds is never frowned upon.

Ingredients

Grab these few simple ingredients on your next trip to the grocery store. You won’t need much to make this delicious low carb Philly cheesesteak recipe:

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Filling

ground beef
bell pepper
white or yellow onion
italian seasoning
beef broth
coconut cream

“Cheese” Sauce

mayo
nutritional yeast
lemon juice
coconut aminos
onion powder

Substitutions and Variations

If you do not need to stay dairy-free, use slices of provolone cheese on top of this casserole for extra gooey goodness. You could also make the a more tangy cream sauce by using some sour cream. There are even dairy-free sour cream options out there if you want to give it a shot.

Green bell peppers are most often used in a traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwich, but if you can’t find them you can use red bell peppers in its place.

White onions and yellow onions have a more mild flavor, so I do not recommend subbing red onion.

Low sodium soy sauce is a good replacement for coconut aminos, but it is not Whole 30 approved. You could also use Worcestershire sauce if you are not sticking to any dietary restrictions.

How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

In a large skillet, cook ground beef until no pink remains. Then add sliced white onions and green bell pepper to the ground beef and stir.

Pour beef broth and coconut cream into the ground beef mixture and let it simmer on low for a bit.

While the meat mixture simmer, whisk together the cheese sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

Then, transfer the meat mixture to a baking dish and spread the cheese sauce over the top.

Bake at 350° Fahrenheit for 15 minutes until the casserole is bubbly.

Garnish with fresh green onions and serve!

If you can’t get enough of these Philly flavors, try our Keto Philly Cheesesteak Zucchini Boats, too!

How to Store Leftover Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

Place leftovers into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. You could try freezing it, but the sauce may not thaw well. To reheat, pop back into the oven until warmed through.

Tips for Success

Use lean ground beef (we love Porter Road’s dry aged ground beef!) so that this cheesy casserole is not greasy. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken if you’d like to make it more lean!
Make sure you are using a Whole 30 Compliant mayo if you are sticking to that diet. You’ll want a mayo that has no added sugar.
Don’t overcook the onions and green pepper when sautéing them in the skillet. They will finish cooking completely once they go into the oven.

What to Serve with Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

If you need an extra side dish, try one of our favorite veggie side dishes!

Air Fryer Roasted Green Beans
Easy Air Fryer Broccoli
Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms
Air Fryer Zucchini

FAQ

What cut of meat is good for Philly cheesesteak?

Ribeye steak is most commonly used in a good Philly cheesesteak. However, you could also use skirt steak or sirloin steak. The most important thing is that you have tender and juicy steak for your sandwich. In this casserole, you won’t have to slice steak though! This recipe uses ground beef instead, but if you’re adventurous you could use shaved steak in its place.

What cheese was originally on a Philly cheesesteak?

The original Philly cheesesteak uses Provolone cheese slices. Now, Philly cheesesteaks are made with anything from American cheese to Cheese whiz.

More Favorite Keto Recipes

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Casserole
Pesto Chicken Salad
Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash
Italian Sausage Zucchini Rolls