Rotisserie chicken is a versatile and convenient ingredient for those following a ketogenic diet. It's pre-cooked, readily available, and can be used in a variety of dishes, making meal planning and preparation a breeze. This article explores a range of keto-friendly recipes that utilize rotisserie chicken, offering a plethora of options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even appetizers.
The Convenience of Rotisserie Chicken on a Keto Diet
Following a keto or low-carb diet can be challenging, especially with busy schedules. Rotisserie chicken offers a time-saving solution without compromising on flavor or nutritional value. It's a cost-effective way to add healthy protein to your meals. A single rotisserie chicken can yield approximately 4 cups of chopped white meat, sufficient for multiple recipes, and the remaining parts can be enjoyed as a separate meal. Even the bones can be used to make bone broth, maximizing the value of this single ingredient.
Maximizing Your Rotisserie Chicken: A Step-by-Step Approach
To make the most of your rotisserie chicken, follow these simple steps:
- Debone and Shred: Remove all the meat from the chicken, discarding the skin.
- Portion and Freeze: Divide the shredded chicken into baggies and freeze for future use in various recipes like soups, casseroles, and dips.
- Make Bone Broth: Place the chicken bones in a slow cooker to make bone broth, a nutrient-rich addition to your keto diet.
This process takes about 10 minutes and provides you with cooked, chopped chicken ready for a variety of recipes.
Keto Rotisserie Chicken Recipes: A Diverse Selection
Here's a selection of keto rotisserie chicken recipes, categorized for easy browsing:
Read also: Costco Keto Shopping
Salads
- Bacon Ranch Chicken & Broccoli Salad: A low-carb salad that combines chicken, bacon, ranch dressing, cheese, and broccoli. It's a filling lunch option with only 3.7g net carbs per serving.
- Keto Buffalo Chicken Salad Spread: A creamy and spicy salad perfect for using leftover chicken breast. It can be whipped up in minutes and enjoyed as a light meal.
- Low Carb Chicken Salad: A vibrant salad with a creamy base, perfect for a light yet filling meal. Serve in lettuce cups or with keto-friendly chips or crackers.
- Keto Cobb Salad: A classic Cobb salad with a creamy, savory homemade ranch dressing.
These salads are high in protein and relatively low in carbs, making them ideal for a keto diet.
Soups
- Easy Low Carb Chicken Pot Pie Soup: Uses a creamy cauliflower sauce instead of cream, offering a healthy and quick meal option.
- Keto Creamy Chicken Broccoli Soup: A flavorful soup with pureed cauliflower for a creamy texture, adding extra healthy veggies.
- Creamy Chicken Spinach Soup: A dairy-free option that uses cauliflower cream sauce, pairing well with chicken and spinach.
- Keto Chicken Soup: A hearty, healthy, and comforting low-carb spin on the classic recipe. You can also use leftover chicken or turkey if you have it on hand.
- Broccoli Chicken Bacon Cheese Soup: This Instant Pot chicken soup is quick and easy to prepare, resulting in an ultra-decadent and flavorful dish.
These soups are comforting and easy to customize with different vegetables and spices.
Casseroles
- Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole: A quick and easy keto dinner recipe that comes together in 25 minutes with less than 5g net carbs per serving. The garlicky Alfredo sauce, tender chicken, and sautéed broccoli make it a family-friendly meal.
- Easy Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole: A rich and tasty casserole with cheesy Mexican flavor, perfect for a cold day.
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole: Layers of ham, roasted cauliflower, and chicken in a creamy gruyère cheese sauce, topped with melted Swiss cheese.
- Keto Chicken Parmesan Casserole: A simple casserole made with cooked chicken and a few ingredients, ready in just 40 minutes.
- Keto Chicken Enchilada Casserole: A flavorful casserole using rotisserie chicken and low-carb tortillas.
- Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole: A low-carb casserole with gooey mozzarella cheese baked on top.
- Keto Chicken Cornbread Casserole: A Southern-inspired casserole with coconut flour instead of traditional cornbread mix.
- Easy Chicken Poblano Casserole: Made with fresh poblano peppers, this casserole is full of Mexican flavors.
- Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole: Full of cheesy Mexican flavor, you can throw this low carb dinner together in minutes and then just bake it.
- 40-Minute Keto Chicken Casserole: A simple one-dish meal that is easy to assemble and practically bakes itself.
These casseroles are easy to assemble and bake, making them perfect for busy weeknights.
Mexican-Inspired Dishes
- Keto Chicken Tacos: Uses low-carb taco shells made from cheese for a tasty and fun low-carb dinner or snack.
- Low Carb Chicken Enchiladas: Made with coconut tortillas and stuffed with chicken, cheese, and spices.
- Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers: A delicious and easy low-carb dinner.
- Keto Chicken Enchilada Bowl: A spicy, cheesy cauliflower rice base topped with rotisserie chicken and Mexican toppings.
- Chicken Tinga: A traditional Mexican dish made with shredded chicken, adobo sauce, onion, peppers, and spices.
- Keto Burrito Bowl: A great recipe for a quick dinner or lunch. Fill it with fresh ingredients for the best results.
These recipes allow you to enjoy Mexican flavors while staying within your keto macros.
Dips and Appetizers
- Easy Keto Cream Cheese Dip with Chicken: Full of Italian flavors like sun-dried tomatoes and Asiago cheese, perfect for parties.
- Microwave Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip for 1: A quick and tasty low-carb snack that can be made in minutes.
- Buffalo Chicken Keto Cheese Chips: A super tasty snack or appetizer made with just 3 ingredients.
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Chiles: A delicious low carb appetizer or dinner.
- Microwave Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip for 1: A quick and tasty low-carb snack that can be made in minutes.
These dips and appetizers are perfect for parties or a quick snack.
Read also: Costco Keto Essentials
Other Recipes
- Keto Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Noodles: A tasty summer dinner that can be made in about 20 minutes.
- Tomatoes Stuffed with Curry Chicken Salad: A delicious way to use fresh tomatoes, with a creamy and crunchy curry chicken salad filling.
- Mediterranean Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers: An easy and delicious low-carb dinner.
- Chicken Alfredo Pizza: A delicious keto dinner using a gluten-free, low-carb cauliflower crust.
- Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs: Made with simple, gluten-free, and keto-friendly ingredients.
- Chicken Shawarma: An easy meal option with a depth of flavor from shawarma spices.
- Chicken Roll-Ups: Addicting appetizers or snacks to keep in your refrigerator.
- Chicken Patties: Serve with a salad for a light dinner, or make smaller patties for appetizers or snacks.
These recipes offer a variety of flavors and cooking methods to keep your keto diet interesting.
A Detailed Recipe: Cheesy Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
This recipe exemplifies how easy and delicious keto cooking with rotisserie chicken can be.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 16 ounces broccoli, chopped (about 3 cups)
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Sauté the Broccoli: Set a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Once melted, add the broccoli and sauté until bright green and just tender, about 4 minutes. Remove the broccoli to a bowl.
- Make the Sauce: Melt the remaining butter in the pan and add the garlic, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cream and bring to a simmer, then cook until reduced and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the Cheese: Stir in 1/3 cup of the mozzarella and all of the Parmesan until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the broccoli and the chicken and top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Broil: Preheat the broiler. Place the skillet under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
Tips and Variations
- Use an ovenproof skillet: This recipe goes straight from stovetop to oven, so you don’t have to transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
- Subbing frozen broccoli: If you want to use frozen broccoli, you won’t even need to cook it. Let it thaw completely, then skip to Step 2 and make the sauce.
- What kind of chicken works best?: Use cooked boneless, skinless chicken for this casserole. I like to use chicken thighs for their richer flavor, but breasts work as well. If using rotisserie chicken, remove the skin and bones.
Nutritional Information
This keto chicken broccoli casserole recipe has 6.8g of carbs and 2.3g of fiber per serving, resulting in 4.5g net carbs per serving.
General Tips for Keto Cooking
- Read Labels Carefully: Many pre-packaged foods contain hidden carbs. Always check the nutrition labels to ensure they fit your keto macros.
- Embrace Healthy Fats: Incorporate healthy fats like avocados, olive oil, and nuts into your meals.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Plan Ahead: Meal planning can help you stay on track with your keto diet.
Read also: Low-carb shopping at Costco
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