Oh my goodness, friends! I’m so excited to share one of my absolute favorite weeknight dinners with you today. This Keto Hamburger and Broccoli Skillet has saved me on countless busy evenings when I need something quick, satisfying, and completely delicious without knocking me out of ketosis. The first time I made this for my family, they had no idea it was “diet food” β they just wolfed it down and asked for seconds! Trust me, this one-pan wonder has that magical combination of being super easy (hello, 30-minute meal!) while tasting like you spent hours in the kitchen. The savory ground beef, tender broccoli, and blanket of melty cheese create a comfort food experience that will have everyone at the table asking for the recipe!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s truly a one-pan wonder β less cleanup means more time to enjoy your evening!
- With less than 7g net carbs per serving, it’s perfectly keto-friendly while still being incredibly satisfying.
- The recipe is endlessly customizable with different seasonings and low-carb veggie options.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day β if there are any left!
Ingredients
For the Beef Base:
- Ground beef β opt for 80/20 for the best flavor while staying keto-friendly.
- Olive oil β just a touch to get things started in the pan.
- Onion β adds wonderful aromatic flavor without too many carbs when used moderately.
- Garlic β because almost everything tastes better with fresh garlic!
- Beef broth β creates a savory base without adding carbs.
For the Seasonings:
- Italian seasoning β a time-saving blend that adds depth of flavor.
- Smoked paprika β contributes a subtle smoky note that complements the beef.
- Red pepper flakes β optional, but adds a gentle heat that perks up the whole dish.
- Salt and pepper β the essentials that make all the other flavors pop.
For the Veggies and Cheese:
- Fresh broccoli β the perfect low-carb vegetable that holds up well during cooking.
- Cheddar cheese β the melty crown that brings everything together.
- Cream cheese β adds creaminess and helps bind everything together while adding healthy fats.
The full ingredient list with measurements will be available in the recipe card below.
How to Make Keto Hamburger Broccoli Skillet
- Prep your ingredients: Cut the broccoli into even, bite-sized florets so they’ll cook at the same rate. Dice your onion and mince your garlic. Having everything ready makes the cooking process so much smoother!
- Brown the beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Let it develop a nice brown crust before stirring too much β that’s where the flavor lives!
- Add aromatics: Once the beef is about 80% cooked through, add the diced onion to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion starts to soften and turn translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Season the mixture: Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir well to ensure the seasonings coat the meat evenly.
- Deglaze the pan: Pour in the beef broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. These little flavor bombs will make your sauce absolutely delicious!
- Add the broccoli: Stir in the broccoli florets, ensuring they’re well coated with the seasoned broth. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for about 5-7 minutes until the broccoli is bright green and just tender. We want it to still have a little bite!
- Create the creamy sauce: Cut the cream cheese into smaller pieces and drop them around the skillet. Allow them to melt for about a minute, then gently stir to create a creamy sauce that coats everything.
- Add the finishing touch: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Cover the skillet again for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and gooey.
- Serve it up: Remove from heat and let it rest for a minute before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley if you’re feeling fancy!
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
Don’t overcook the broccoli! It should still have a slight crunch when you add the cheese. It will continue cooking from the residual heat, and no one likes mushy broccoli.
For the deepest flavor, take your time when browning the beef. Let it develop a good crust before breaking it up too much β those caramelized bits are flavor gold!
If you’re watching sodium, you can use low-sodium beef broth and adjust the salt to taste at the end of cooking.
For an extra flavor boost, try using half ground beef and half Italian sausage with the casings removed. It adds wonderful depth without adding carbs.
How to Serve
This skillet is absolutely perfect on its own for a complete keto meal, but if you want to round things out, a simple side salad with a high-fat dressing makes a wonderful accompaniment.
For family members who aren’t following keto, you can serve theirs over cauliflower rice or with a slice of keto-friendly bread to soak up all that delicious sauce.
If you’re hosting a casual dinner, bring the entire skillet to the table on a trivet and let everyone serve themselves β the family-style presentation creates such a warm, inviting atmosphere!
For meal prep, portion into individual containers and refrigerate β it reheats beautifully for lunches throughout the week.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make ahead options: You can brown the beef and onions ahead of time, then refrigerate. When ready to cook, warm up the beef mixture and continue with the recipe from the broth step. This cuts your active cooking time in half!
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The flavors actually develop overnight, making day-two leftovers sometimes even better than day one!
Freezer: This dish freezes beautifully! Cool completely, then store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. The broccoli texture will soften slightly upon reheating, but the flavor remains delicious.
Reheating tip: For best results, reheat gently in a covered skillet over medium-low heat with a tablespoon of water or beef broth to prevent drying. If using a microwave, use 70% power and stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
FAQs
Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?
Absolutely! Frozen broccoli works wonderfully in this recipe and is often more economical. The key adjustment is to reduce the cooking time since frozen broccoli is partially cooked. Skip the covered simmer time in step 6 and instead add the frozen broccoli (no need to thaw) right before adding the cream cheese. Let it warm through for 2-3 minutes, then proceed with adding the cheeses. This prevents the broccoli from becoming too soft and maintains that perfect tender-crisp texture that makes this dish so satisfying.
Is there a dairy-free version of this recipe that’s still keto-friendly?
You can definitely make this dairy-free while keeping it keto! Replace the cream cheese with 1/4 cup coconut cream or 2 tablespoons of dairy-free cream cheese alternative. For the cheddar, use a dairy-free shredded cheese alternative made from coconut oil (check the label for carb counts). You might also consider adding 1-2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast for that cheesy flavor, plus it adds beneficial B vitamins! The texture will be slightly different, but you’ll still get that creamy, comforting quality that makes this dish such a winner.
How can I add more fat to this recipe to fit my keto macros?
Great question! There are several delicious ways to boost the fat content while keeping this dish incredibly tasty. Try using ground beef with a higher fat percentage (85/15 or even 80/20). Another option is stirring in a tablespoon or two of butter along with the cream cheese. You could also top each serving with sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, or a drizzle of olive oil. For cheese lovers, simply increasing the amount of cheddar or adding some crumbled full-fat feta or blue cheese to the top adds both flavor and healthy fats. These small additions can significantly change your fat-to-protein ratio without altering the core recipe.
My family isn’t keto. Can I adapt this for the non-keto eaters at my table?
This is one of those magical recipes that’s loved by keto and non-keto eaters alike! For family members who aren’t following a keto diet, you can easily serve this over rice, pasta, or baked potatoes. Another option is to have some dinner rolls or garlic bread on the side for them. The base recipe stays exactly the same β it’s just the accompaniments that change. This makes it perfect for mixed households where not everyone is following the same eating plan. I’ve served this countless times to guests who had no idea they were eating a “diet” meal until I told them β it’s that satisfying!
Keto Hamburger and Broccoli Skillet
Equipment
- Large Skillet with Lid
- Wooden spoon
- Knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
For the Beef Base
- 1 lb ground beef 80/20 preferred
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- salt and pepper
Veggies & Cheese
- 3 cups broccoli florets bite-sized
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese cut into chunks
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and brown it, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
- Once beef is about 80% cooked, add diced onion and cook 2β3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Season with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Deglaze skillet with beef broth, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in broccoli florets until coated.
- Cover skillet and simmer over medium-low heat for 5β7 minutes, until broccoli is tender-crisp.
- Add cream cheese in chunks around the skillet. Let melt for 1β2 minutes, then gently stir until creamy and combined.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top. Cover for 1β2 minutes until melted. Remove from heat and serve warm.