Ground Beef & Green
Bean Casserole
A complete one-dish dinner — lean ground beef and green beans baked together in a creamy, savory sauce of cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and beef broth, topped with melted cheddar and finished under the broiler. Comfort food that's completely on plan and ready in 45 minutes.
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cans green beans, drained
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 tbsp garlic, minced
- 2 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup 2% cheddar or mozzarella, shredded
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1
Preheat & brown the beef
Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large oven-safe skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks. Add the diced onion and garlic halfway through and continue cooking until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened, about 8 minutes total. Drain any excess fat.
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2
Build the sauce
Reduce heat to medium. Add the softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy — about 3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
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3
Add the green beans & bake
Add the drained green beans and stir gently to combine with the beef and sauce. Transfer to a lightly sprayed 8x8 baking dish if not using an oven-safe skillet. Spread evenly and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes until bubbling around the edges.
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4
Top with cheese & broil
Remove from the oven and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Switch to the broiler on high and return for 2–3 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden. Watch closely — it can go from perfect to burnt in under a minute. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Greek yogurt over half and half: Greek yogurt creates the same creamy sauce texture with significantly more protein and fewer calories — add it off the heat or over reduced heat to prevent it from breaking.
- Worcestershire is the secret: Just a teaspoon adds a deep, savory umami note to the beef mixture that makes it taste like it cooked all day. Don't skip it.
- Broiler over oven for the cheese: Two minutes under a hot broiler gives you bubbly, golden cheese that looks and tastes far better than cheese melted in a moderate oven — the same upgrade we use throughout this collection.
- Fresh green beans work too: Blanch fresh green beans in boiling water for 3–4 minutes until just tender, then drain and use in place of canned. The texture is noticeably better if you have the time.
- Meal prep champion: This casserole reheats beautifully and keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 90 seconds or cover with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.