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    Home » Recipes » Main Course

    Spinach and Artichoke Ground Beef Casserole

    Modified: Mar 24, 2025 • Published: Jan 13, 2022 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • 2 Comments

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    Spinach and artichoke ground beef casserole Pinterest image

    This spinach and artichoke ground beef casserole is the ultimate healthy comfort food. With its rich and creamy sauce this casserole is always a crowd pleaser. It's perfect for meal prep and this recipe is also dairy free, gluten free, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.

    A pan of paleo spinach and artichoke casserole with a serving spoon in it.

    Healthy ground beef recipes like my meatloaf without breadcrumbs or ketchup are some of my favourite to make, which is why I am so excited for you to try the ground beef casserole I am sharing with you today.

    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love this recipe:
    • Ingredients and substitutions:
    • How to make (step-by-step):
    • Top Tip:
    • Recipe variations and add ins:
    • How to serve:
    • How to store:
    • Frequently asked questions:
    • Other recipes you will love:
    • Recipe

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • This healthy spinach and artichoke ground beef casserole is so delicious! It has a rich and creamy sauce that will have you coming back for seconds or even thirds!
    • It's quick and easy to make and is a healthy, complete meal.
    • This casserole makes great leftovers and freezes really well so it's perfect for meal prep.
    • Not only is this creamy casserole so delicious, but it’s healthy, paleo, Whole30 compliant, dairy free and gluten free! But don't worry, it tastes so good that you will never be able to tell.
    • You can prepare this casserole the day before to make your meal prep even easier. 

    Ingredients and substitutions:

    You should be able to find all of these simple ingredients at your local grocery store. For the exact measurements refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    • Lean ground beef: I went with ground beef in this dairy free casserole because its flavour and texture work perfectly with the rest of the ingredients. I prefer to use grass fed and grass finished ground beef but you can use any type of ground beef that you prefer. You could also use ground turkey instead. 
    • Raw cashews: raw cashews are a great alternative to heavy cream or milk for making rich and creamy dairy-free sauces. Be sure to use raw cashews and not roasted cashews for this casserole recipe.
    • Coconut milk: paired with the raw cashews, coconut milk is the perfect addition to give the sauce the perfect thick and creamy texture. I recommend using full fat coconut milk and not low fat coconut milk which is more watery.
    • Avocado oil: to help give this casserole that perfect creamy texture. You could swap this for olive oil too.
    • Fresh lemon juice: to give the sauce some acidity and balance out the flavour profile.
    • Onion: onion helps add even more flavour to this paleo casserole. You can use white onion, yellow onion or sweet onion.
    • Garlic cloves: to deliver a deep, well rounded aroma and flavour to the dish. If you don't tolerate fresh garlic you can use a bit of garlic infused olive oil instead.
    • Nutritional yeast: a great dairy free option for achieving a cheesy texture in recipes, without using any cheese!
    • Canned artichoke hearts: the star of the show! Artichokes have a unique flavour and when combined with spinach make for the most delicious casserole with an amazing texture.
    • Spinach: spinach and artichoke is an iconic duo! They make a beautiful pair, especially when topped with the luscious cream sauce. You can use either fresh spinach or frozen spinach for making this gluten-free casserole.
    • Seasonings and spices: sea salt and ground black pepper are the only spices you need for this casserole.

    How to make (step-by-step):

    Step one:

    First you will preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Step two:

    Next you will place a large pan or large skillet on the stove on medium heat. Then add the oil and ground beef and cook the beef until it's browned, stirring frequently to break it apart. Once the beef is cooked, transfer it to a 9" x 13" baking dish and set it aside.

    Step three:

    While the beef is cooking, make the cream sauce by placing the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blending until they are smooth. Then set the sauce aside.

    Step four:

    Using the same pan that you did to cook the beef, add the oil and chopped onion. Cook the onion for a few minutes until it's translucent.

    Step five:

    Add the chopped artichoke hearts and spinach to the pan with the cooked onion. Cook these until the spinach is wilted or no longer frozen.

    Step six:

    Add the sauce to the pan with the veggies and stir everything well to combine.

    Step seven:

    Transfer the sauce to the casserole dish with the cooked ground beef and stir everything together to combine. Bake uncovered in the oven for 10-15 minutes and then enjoy!

    Step by step directions for making a spinach and artichoke ground beef casserole.

    Top Tip:

    To prepare this casserole ahead of time simply prepare it and assemble it, then cover it in foil and store it in the fridge overnight. Then when you want to eat it, heat it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, until it's warmed through.

    Recipe variations and add ins:

    • You can easily add more vegetables to this recipe, I recommend mushrooms or green beans. 
    • If you want to make a meatless casserole, simply omit the ground beef or add more vegetables.
    • If you prefer a casserole with noodles, stir in some cooked noodles to the dish before heating it in the oven. If you are gluten free just be sure to use gluten-free pasta noodles.
    • You could also substitute the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken. 

    How to serve:

    This casserole is delicious served as is but you could serve it over cooked noodles or rice to make the dish even more filling and turn it into more of a classic casserole.

    If you are on a paleo diet serve this casserole over cooked cassava noodles, spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, other vegetable noodles, or cauliflower rice.

    If you are on a Whole30 diet, serve it over cooked spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles or other vegetable noodles.

    How to store:

    Store any leftover casserole in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. 

    This casserole also freezes really well for up to 3 months.

    A casserole dish filled with a cooked spinach and artichoke casserole.

    Frequently asked questions:

    What can I use instead of cashews?

    While cashews are the best option for this recipe, macadamia nuts or pine nuts could be a good substitute for cashews.

    Can I use fresh artichokes for this casserole?

    You could definitely use fresh artichokes for this recipe, just be sure to steam them first.

    Can I make this casserole vegan?

    For sure! Just omit the beef and/or substitute for something like mushrooms. Also be sure to check out my Vegan Spinach and Artichoke Dip recipe!

    Can I freeze this casserole? 

    Yes! This paleo ground beef casserole freezes really well. 

    Is this casserole keto?

    No, this is not a low carb or keto casserole recipe.

    Other recipes you will love:

    • Gluten Free Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli
    • Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken and Spinach
    • Chicken Meatloaf
    • Pan Fried Oyster Mushrooms
    • Bacon and Vegetable Egg Casserole
    • Whole30 Stuffed Peppers

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Recipe

    Paleo Spinach and Artichoke Ground Beef Casserole

    Spinach and Artichoke Ground Beef Casserole

    This spinach and artichoke ground beef casserole is the perfect comfort food. Rich and creamy this healthy dinner will be a hit with the whole family.
    4.92 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Meat
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 705kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Skillet or pan
    • 9" x 13" baking dish

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon avocado oil (or other cooking oil of choice)
    • 2 lbs ground beef

    Cream Sauce Ingredients

    • 2 cups raw cashews
    • 1 1/4 cups coconut milk
    • 1/4 cup avocado oil
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 small white or yellow onion, chopped
    • 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (more or less to taste)
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (more or less to taste)

    Spinach and Artichoke Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoon avocado oil (or other cooking oil of choice)
    • 1/2 onion, chopped
    • 1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (24 ounces)
    • 300 grams fresh or frozen chopped spinach (10 ounces)

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 350F.
    • Place a large pan on the stove on medium heat, add the avocado oil and ground beef and cook the beef until browned, stirring frequently to break up the beef. Once the beef is done cooking, transfer it to a 9" x 13" casserole or baking dish and set it aside.
    • While the beef is cooking, make the cream sauce by placing all the ingredients into your high speed blender and blending until smooth. Set the sauce aside.
    • Using the same pan that you used to cook the beef, add the avocado oil and onion, and cook the onion for a few minutes on medium heat until it's translucent.
    • Add the chopped artichoke hearts and spinach to the pan with the onion and cook for a few more minutes, until the spinach is wilted or no longer frozen (depending on if you are using fresh or frozen spinach).
    • Add the sauce to the pan and stir all the ingredients well to combine.
    • Transfer the sauce to the casserole dish with the ground beef and stir everything well to combine. Bake the dish in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until warmed throughout.

    Notes

    1. Nutritional information is calculated using an online calculator and is an estimate. The values will vary depending on the specific ingredients you use and your serving size.
    2. Store this casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 705kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 29g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 662mg | Potassium: 876mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3518IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 7mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Justin

      April 02, 2025 at 2:44 pm

      did you not find that the coconut milk overwhelmed the whole dish and kind of ruined the savory flavoring?

      Reply
      • Dr. Erin Carter

        April 10, 2025 at 9:10 am

        Hi! No I didn't find that.

        Reply

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    A photo of Dr. Erin Carter wearing a floral dress in her kitchen.

    Hi everyone!

    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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