This keto ground beef and green bean skillet is ready in about 30 minutes and delivers cozy, satisfying flavor with minimal fuss.
This skillet combines browned ground beef and crisp-tender fresh green beans in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It’s quick to prepare, family-friendly, and perfect for a weeknight meal that still feels indulgent.
Why green beans work well on keto
Green beans are an excellent low-carb vegetable. One cup contains roughly 4 net grams of carbs, making them a sensible choice for keto meals. They’re low in calories and provide fiber plus vitamins and minerals. Green beans are versatile — you can steam, boil, roast, sauté, or grill them, and you can cook them to the texture you prefer, from crisp-tender to fork-tender. In this recipe they add a fresh, slightly crunchy contrast to the rich beef and creamy sauce.
Tips for a perfect skillet
To save time and ensure even cooking, brown the ground beef and onions while you steam or boil the green beans. Drain excess grease from the beef before adding the sauce ingredients. Use cubed, softened cream cheese so it melts evenly into the sauce. This recipe relies on simmering rather than thickeners, so let the mixture simmer for about five minutes to achieve a creamy texture. Shredding your own cheddar from a block gives better melt and cleaner flavor than pre-shredded cheese.
Serving ideas
This skillet is hearty enough to serve on its own as a main dish. For a complete low-carb meal, pair it with a fresh green salad or a simple side of sautéed or roasted vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, or spinach. It also reheats well, so leftovers make a convenient lunch or dinner the next day.
Other keto skillet recipes to try
If you like one-pan meals, try other savory keto skillets featuring ground meats, sausage, or chicken combined with low-carb vegetables and creamy sauces for fast, satisfying dinners.
Helpful hints
You can steam or boil the green beans for this recipe depending on preference. The dish reheats well in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Main kitchen equipment
- Large skillet
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
Recipe
Yield: 8 servings • Prep time: 15 minutes • Cook time: 15 minutes • Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- ½ cup diced onions
- 12 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
- ½ cup beef broth
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons tamari
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onions until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
- While the beef cooks, steam or boil the green beans until fork-tender, then drain.
- Add the cubed cream cheese, beef broth, heavy cream, tamari, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to the cooked beef. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a brief boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-high and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to help thicken the sauce.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar and the cooked green beans. Simmer until the cheese melts and the green beans are heated through. Serve warm.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories: 397 • Total fat: 27g • Saturated fat: 12g • Trans fat: 1g • Unsaturated fat: 10g • Cholesterol: 135mg • Sodium: 383mg • Carbohydrates: 5.5g • Net carbohydrates: 4g • Fiber: 1.5g • Sugar: 3g • Protein: 32g
Nutritional information is approximate and provided as an estimate. Values vary with ingredient brands and preparation methods.
Did you make this recipe?
Share a comment or photo if you try it — I’d love to hear how it turned out.