Comfort food perfect for a cold evening!

A warm, creamy casserole is such a satisfying meal on a cold winter day. Unlike my husband who could live on steak and eggs, I crave comfort foods.

Life is busy, and it can be hard to find the time to cook each day. It helps me to make a casserole like this and then have the leftovers to eat for the next couple days.

This creamy and satisfying meal is something Lee and I both enjoy. If you aren't used to cooked cabbage I encourage you to give it a try! It's an affordable, low carb vegetable and it really is quite good.

The original recipe can be found here.

How I Make It

If Cajun seasoning is new to you, don't be intimidated. You can find something like this at your local grocery store, or you can mix up your own and keep it in your cupboard to have on hand for the next time you need it.

If you aren't familiar with xanthan gum, it's a thickener. A little goes a long way and it is easy to find at the store or online.

Ingredients

• 1/2-1 pound of bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1.5-2 pounds ground beef (I used 2 pounds because we like it meatier)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 TBLS cold butter, cut into thin slices
• 1 medium head of cabbage (I used one that was 3 pounds); core it and coarsely chop
• 1/2 tsp of salt (or to taste)

Sauce:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp xanthan gum
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• Dash of fresh ground pepper

Step-By-Step Instructions

Prep: 25 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 6

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook bacon in a skillet, drain, and crumble bacon.
3. In the same skillet, cook the ground beef with the diced onion until browned.
4. Place cabbage in a large microwave-safe dish with a cover. Sprinkle the salt over the cabbage and toss to stir, then microwave covered for 10 minutes. Remove from the microwave, stir, and then top with the butter slices. Cover and microwave for another 10 minutes.
5. Spray treat a 9x13 baking dish and layer half of the cabbage on the bottom of the dish.
6. Layer the beef and onion mixture followed by the bacon crumbles.
7. Place the remaining cabbage over the top.
8. Pour the white sauce (instructions below) over the casserole.
9. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until casserole is hot and bubbly.

Preparing the Sauce:

1. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a saucepan.
2. Add the heavy cream and water. Whisk in xanthan gum.
3. Cook over medium heat until the sauce is thickened.
4. Remove from heat and whisk in Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
5. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Giving Credit Where It's Due

I found the original recipe for this casserole on the blog Low Carb Yum. I changed it a bit to suit our preferences; feel free to do the same. This is a great place to find other keto friendly recipes and helpful tips for following a low carb lifestyle. I hope you give this easy and comforting casserole a try!