This Air Fryer Taco Casserole is a quick and easy meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. It's loaded with seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, and cheddar cheese, all topped with a creamy egg mixture that's cooked to perfection in the air fryer.
Serve with air fryer sweet plantains for a delicious meal.
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Check out my Instant Pot Low Carb Cheesecake and my Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers for more delicious dairy recipes!
Low Carb Casserole
Air fryer low carb taco casserole is a flavorful and healthy recipe that is perfect for anyone looking for a low carb, gluten free, and keto friendly meal. Using an air fryer to cook the casserole makes the process quick and easy, as it requires minimal prep and cook time. Plus, the air fryer produces crispy edges and a golden brown top that add to the texture and flavor of the dish.
This recipe is a great way to satisfy your taco cravings without the added carbs from traditional taco shells or tortillas. It's also a perfect dish to make ahead of time for meal prep or a family dinner. Serve it with your favorite toppings, such as fresh avocado, salsa, or sour cream, for a complete meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It's low carb and keto friendly. If you're following a low-carb or keto diet, this recipe is perfect for you. It's made without any high-carb ingredients like tortillas or rice, so you can enjoy a delicious taco casserole without the added carbs.
- It's gluten free. This recipe is also gluten-free, which means it's a great option for anyone with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance.
- It's easy to make. Using an air fryer makes this recipe quick and easy to prepare. Simply brown the ground beef, add the seasonings and diced tomatoes, layer everything in a pie dish, pour over the egg mixture, and air fry until it's cooked to perfection.
- It's a complete meal. With the ground beef, eggs, and cheese, this casserole is packed with protein and healthy fats, making it a satisfying and filling meal.
Ingredients You'll Need
- 93/7 Ground Beef: This lean cut of beef is high in protein and low in fat, making it a great choice for a low-carb and keto-friendly meal.
- Taco Seasoning: This blend of spices adds flavor and heat to the ground beef.
- Water: Adding water to the taco seasoning helps create a sauce that coats the ground beef.
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles: This canned ingredient adds a burst of flavor and a bit of heat to the casserole.
- Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese: This cheese adds a cheesy, creamy texture to the casserole, but with less fat than regular cheddar cheese.
- Eggs: The eggs form a creamy and custardy layer on top of the ground beef mixture.
- Danzeisen Heavy Cream: The heavy cream adds richness and creaminess to the egg mixture, creating a delicious and decadent topping.
- Daisy Light Sour Cream: The light sour cream adds tanginess and creaminess to the casserole, and is a great alternative to regular sour cream if you're looking to reduce fat and calories.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
Step 2: Add the taco seasoning, water, and diced tomatoes and green chiles to the skillet with the ground beef. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through.
Step 3: Spray a 9-inch pie dish or similar baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 4: Spread the ground beef mixture evenly in the bottom of the dish.
Step 5: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, light sour cream, and heavy cream until well combined.
Step 6: Pour the egg mixture over the ground beef mixture in the dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Step 7: Place the dish in the air fryer and cook at 300 °F for 15-20 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is lightly golden.
Step 8: Remove from the air fryer and let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Use lean ground beef. For a healthier and lower-fat casserole, use lean ground beef, such as 93/7 or 95/5. This will also help reduce excess grease and liquid in the casserole.
- Use a non-stick pie dish. To prevent sticking, use a non-stick pie dish or line the dish with parchment paper.
- Let the casserole cool before serving. Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving to allow the egg mixture to set and firm up.
Variations
- Chicken or Turkey Taco Casserole: Swap out the ground beef for ground chicken or turkey to create a lower-fat option that's still packed with protein.
- Vegetarian Taco Casserole: Omit the ground beef and replace it with a combination of sautéed vegetables, such as bell peppers, onions, zucchini, and mushrooms, seasoned with taco seasoning.
- Spicy Taco Casserole: Use a spicy taco seasoning mix, add diced jalapeños, or use a can of diced tomatoes with habanero peppers for added heat.
- Mexican Cheese Taco Casserole: Instead of using cheddar cheese, use a combination of shredded Mexican cheeses, such as Monterey Jack, cheddar, and queso blanco.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: You can store any leftover air fryer low carb taco casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, microwave a portion until heated through.
Freezing: Allow the casserole to cool completely before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and placing it in a freezer safe container. You can also portion out individual servings and wrap them separately for convenience. The casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating: To reheat, let the casserole thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, you can reheat it in the microwave, oven or air fryer until heated through. If using the air fryer, preheat it to 350 °F and place the casserole in the basket. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use ground chicken, turkey, or even pork instead of beef.
Yes, you can bake the casserole in a preheated oven at 375 °F for 25-30 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Yes, you can add any vegetables you like, such as chopped bell peppers, onions, or zucchini. Just be sure to cook them before adding them to the casserole.
Yes, this recipe is gluten free as long as you use a taco seasoning mix that is also gluten-free.
More Beef Recipes You'll Love
Air Fryer Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound 95/5 ground beef
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- ¼ cup water
- 10 ounce can diced tomatoes and green chiles undrained
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ cup Daisy® light sour cream
- ⅓ cup Danzeisen Dairy heavy cream
- ¼ cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the taco seasoning, water, and diced tomatoes and green chiles to the skillet with the ground beef. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through.
- Spray a 9-inch pie dish or similar baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread the ground beef mixture evenly in the bottom of the dish.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, light sour cream, and heavy cream until well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture over the ground beef mixture in the dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Place the dish in the air fryer and cook at 300°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is lightly golden.
- Remove from the air fryer and let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For a healthier and lower-fat casserole, use lean ground beef, such as 93/7 or 95/5. This will also help reduce excess grease and liquid in the casserole.
- To prevent sticking, use a non-stick pie dish or line the dish with parchment paper.
- Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving to allow the egg mixture to set and firm up.
- Storing: You can store any leftover air fryer low carb taco casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, microwave a portion until heated through.
- Freezing: Allow the casserole to cool completely before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and placing it in a freezer safe container. You can also portion out individual servings and wrap them separately for convenience. The casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
- Reheating: To reheat, let the casserole thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, you can reheat it in the microwave, oven or air fryer until heated through. If using the air fryer, preheat it to 350 °F and place the casserole in the basket. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Amanda
This turned out great! It was my first time to make a casserole in the air fryer, but I'm sold. I just loved the cheesy egg topping -- really made this casserole something special!
Nart at Cooking with Nart
These low-carb taco casserole looks so delicious and comforting. Can't believe it's low-carb! I have an air-fryer but it doesn't look like I could use this to make this recipe. Maybe mine's too old...hmmmmm.
simplylowcal
You might be able to! I had to buy a separate pan to make this casserole in and then put in the the air fryer basket. It should work with most air fryers. 🙂
Kay
We love our Air-fryer, and this recipe was amazing, we cooked this last night and the flavours was awesome, and even better knowing it was low carb, Big Bonus 🙂
Thank you sharing!!!
Nathan
This looks absolutely delicious, and I love the low-carb aspect!! Can't wait to try this one out 🙂
Shanna
This was so delicious. I never knew I could make something this good in an air fryer.
Monica
So good! Anything taco is a big hit in my house, and I love that this is a way to change it up and still enjoy those great flavors!
Alison
I love these easy air fryer recipes! I've mostly made veggies, and fries in mine, but I'm ready to make the leap to creating a whole meal! This one looks delicious!