Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole: Paleo & Whole30

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Many casserole recipes may not be an option when following an elimination diet. This savory ground beef casserole is a Paleo and Whole30 friendly recipe! This quick meal makes the perfect comfort food, creating a nutrient-packed and easy dinner for the whole family. 

Ground Beef to the Rescue!

When following a nutrient dense and whole foods diet, some of your favorite meals may not be a great option. The good news is, ground beef is a versatile meat that can be used in a variety of different healthy eating diets! It’s rich in nutrients, cheap, quick to thaw, and makes an easy meal!

​What’s in This Beef Taco Casserole? 

Ground Beef: full of nutrition and healthy fats, ground beef recipes are my go-to when I know I need a nutrient-dense, hearty meal. 

Potatoes: a delicious and healthy carbohydrate! Feel free to swap out for sweet potatoes if you prefer, for a slightly different flavor. 

Bell Peppers: the bell peppers in this recipe add so much flavor and texture! I prefer to use well-ripened orange or red bell peppers, as green peppers may be higher in plant toxins (they also taste bitter to me!)

Tomatoes: one of my favorite fruits to use in savory dishes- particularly homegrown tomatoes! Roma or cherry tomatoes work well in this recipe.

Onion and Garlic: these alliums will add a rich flavor to this dish, but make sure to sauté them beforehand! Boiled onions and garlic don’t always have a very good flavor. 

Avocado: please don’t skip this ingredient! It is one of my favorite toppings in tex-mex beef dishes. The rich fats in avocados create a melt-in-your mouth, cheese-like flavor and consistency. 

Cilantro: one of my favorite fresh toppings! I like to grow a little cilantro in a pot near the kitchen, so I always have some on hand!

Lime: lime will round out this dish with the perfect acidity. Acidity is so important in cooking…when you feel like a dish is missing something, it may very well be an acidic element!

Spices: feel free to adjust the spices to your taste. My goal in this recipe was to create a delicious but simple combination of spices, using garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and paprika. Add and take away as you wish!

What is the Whole30 Diet?

The Whole30 diet is an elimination diet that aims to reduce inflammation and other negative health issues by removing processed foods from the diet. It focuses on eating “whole foods” or foods in their natural, unprocessed form. This diet also focuses on eliminating common allergens such as dairy from the diet. 

Everything in this recipe is Whole30 friendly!

What is the Paleo Diet?

The Paleo diet focuses on eating foods that our ancestors may have eaten as hunter-gatherers. Since this was before farming, dairy is excluded from the Paleo diet. If you are following this diet, this recipe will work for you!

Can I Make this Recipe Low Carb?

Simply swap out the potatoes for any kind of squash for a low-carb version! 

Can I Make This Recipe AIP?

To make this recipe Auto-Immune-Protocol (AIP) friendly, you will need to make few swaps. This recipe includes nightshades like potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. Feel free to swap these out with sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, or other non-nightshade vegetables! 

Can I make this Recipe Animal-Based?

While the Animal-Based diet is somewhat flexible, there are many foods in this recipe that are not recommended when following an Animal-Based diet. These would include nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers) and alliums (onions and garlic). You can exchange these ingredients for savory fruits like spaghetti squash, butternut squash, or zucchini. You will probably need to adjust the cooking time, since the ingredients will be very different from the original recipe. The good news is, you can add delicious dairy ingredients like sour cream and cheese on top when following an Animal-Based diet!

What Kind of Ground Beef to Use?

It is best to purchase grass fed and grass finished beef whenever possible. I prefer a higher fat ground beef of 85/15 over a lean ground beef for this recipe. You could also use ground elk or bison instead!

​Swapping Out Meats

Feel free to swap out the ground beef for shredded or ground turkey, or chicken! Purchase pasture raised and/or organic meat when possible. 

How to Store This Casserole

This taco casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Make sure to allow the casserole to cool completely before transferring to the storage container. 

How to Make Ground Beef Taco Casserole

Brown ground beef in a large skillet, then set aside. 

In a medium sized skillet, sauté diced onions until translucent. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, stirring frequently. Make sure to remove from the heat before the garlic burns!

Add onion and garlic mixture to ground beef mixture.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Add bell peppers, diced potatoes, and half of diced tomatoes to ground beef mixture. Combine well with a wooden spoon or other mixing utensil. 

Add eggs, tomato paste, water, spices, and salt to a small bowl. Whisk until will combined.

Pour egg mixture into beef mixture and combine well.

Transfer beef mixture to a casserole dish and spread into an even layer. 

Cover, and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until potatoes are soft. 

When done baking, remove lid and add lime juice, avocado slices, cilantro, and the rest of the diced tomatoes on top. 

Scoop into serving dishes with a large serving spoon.

Enjoy!

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