Ground Beef with Cauliflower Rice (Print Version)

Hearty beef and cauliflower bake with creamy cheesy topping. Low-carb comfort food ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 4 cups cauliflower rice, fresh or frozen
05 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped

→ Dairy

07 - 1 cup sour cream
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Pantry

10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1 tsp dried basil
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
16 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and red bell pepper for 3-4 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking apart with a spatula. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in oregano, basil, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
06 - Add cauliflower rice and baby spinach. Cook for 4-5 minutes until cauliflower is tender and any liquid has evaporated.
07 - Remove skillet from heat. Stir in sour cream and half of the cheddar cheese until well combined and creamy.
08 - Spread mixture evenly into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
09 - Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese and all mozzarella cheese over the top in an even layer.
10 - Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
11 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cauliflower rice soaks up all those savory beef juices like a flavor sponge
  • Its one of those rare dinners that somehow tastes even better as leftovers the next day
  • Everything happens in one pan before baking which means minimal cleanup
02 -
  • Dont skip the draining step after browning the beef or youll end up with a greasy layer on top
  • Letting it rest for those 5 minutes is crucial because it helps the casserole set and makes serving much cleaner
  • If using frozen cauliflower rice, thaw and squeeze out excess moisture before adding to the pan
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded for the smoothest melt
  • Let the casserole cool slightly before cutting to get those picture-perfect squares

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