Introducing the Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole, a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for those following a keto or low-carb lifestyle. This recipe brings together the smoky taste of barbecue, crispy bacon, and cheddar cheese, all while remaining sugar-free. It’s a delicious and easy way to enjoy a comforting casserole without the guilt.
Why Casseroles are a Great Choice
Casseroles are a favorite in many households for a reason. They are inexpensive to make because the ingredients are common items. This BBQ chicken casserole won’t break the bank! There are less dirty dishes when making a one-pot or one-pan meal. You can even skip the bowl for mixing and combine the ingredients directly in the pan you are baking in. The options are endless. If there is one meal option out there that truly gives you endless possibilities, it’s casseroles. Everyone devours this bbq chicken casserole. It doesn’t matter if you are taking it to a friend's house for dinner or are just spending the night in, everyone gobbles up every last crumb. Casseroles are perfect for meal prepping. Whether you are an old pro at meal prepping or are just starting to get into it, making casseroles like this barbecue chicken casserole is a must. You get a lot of servings out of this casserole. Casseroles, in general, usually make a fair amount of food, and this one is no different.
Key Ingredients
- Cooked Chicken: It is a must to use already cooked chicken. If you make this with raw chicken it will release too much liquid resulting in a watery sauce. Cooked shredded chicken or cooked cubed chicken both work. This is a great way to use up leftover chicken. For keto BBQ chicken, it won’t matter too much which type of chicken you use. Breasts are the most common and easiest to use, but other cuts will work just as well if you prefer them. Chicken thighs will add fat to the recipe since breasts are a leaner cut.
- Cauliflower: Sneak some veggies into your casseroles. If you prefer to use another vegetable instead of cauliflower go for it.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Any shredded cheese will work but I think cheddar goes best with bbq flavors.
- Bacon: Use cured or uncured, but make sure there are no added sugars whichever brand of bacon you choose. You might see sugar as an ingredient, but it is generally used in the curing process.
- Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce: You can buy sugar-free BBQ sauce at the grocery store, but remember to check the ingredients for hidden sugars. Or use a homemade sugar-free BBQ sauce.
Making the Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole
This BBQ Keto Chicken Casserole Recipe is going to become a family favorite.
Ingredients:
- Cooked and shredded chicken breast
- Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce
- Grated Monterey Jack and Sharp Cheddar Cheeses
- Cooked Bacon
- Cauliflower
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Spices
Instructions:
- Cook the Chicken: Cook boneless skinless chicken in the slow cooker for six hours on low or three hours on high. (I always add garlic pepper seasoning and salt then cover with chicken broth or water, but feel free to season your favorite way or use a rotisserie chicken.) Or cook the boneless chicken breasts in a slow cooker for either six hours on the low setting or three hours on high. If you prefer, you can cook it in the instant pot for an hour. I like to add garlic, pepper, and salt with a little chicken broth. But you can season it however you prefer.
- Prepare the Oven and Dish: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 8×8 baking dish by greasing it. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an eight by eight baking dish.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, and all the spices. Then take the chicken out of the slow cooker or instant pot and chop it up. Place chicken in bottom of greased casserole dish and sprinkle garlic seasoning on top. Pour homemade sugar-free BBQ sauce on top of the chicken. Gently fold in the cooked chicken, cauliflower, 6 ounces of the cheese, and half of the bacon. You could also use your favorite store-bought variety.
- Add Toppings: Crumble the cooked bacon on top of the chicken and bbq sauce. Then, cover it with the cheeses. Cover with a mixture of Monterrey Jack and Cheddar cheese.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese has completely melted. Bake in a 350-degree oven for approx 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. You can place the casserole dish on the top rack for 2 minutes if you'd like the cheese to brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Take the casserole out of the oven and sprinkle parsley on top as a garnish.
Variations and Additions
Sometimes variations are my favorite part because they can really change the dish to make it taste like something totally different. Feel free to jazz up this delicious dish with a few additions.
- Broccoli: What goes better with cauliflower than broccoli? Use frozen, and be sure to thaw it and drain off any leftover liquid.
- Cayenne Pepper: Add a dash or two of cayenne pepper to give it a little bit of heat.
- Onions: You can add onions in a variety of ways. Sprinkle some chopped green onions on top, mix in some yellow onion into the barbecue chicken casserole, or saute some onions then add them to the dish. Any of those ways will work perfectly and give you some added flavor.
- BBQ Sauce Options: We like Primal Kitchen or Lillie's Q - ENC Barbeque Sauce for a sugar-free BBQ sauce.
- ***You can substitute your favorite BBQ rub to taste for these spices and herbs.
Serving Suggestions
Since this casserole includes both meat and a vegetable it can be served on its own. But if you want to add something extra on the side I normally choose a cold side dish. Some of our favorites to go with this are keto coleslaw, keto broccoli salad, and keto caesar salad. I roasted asparagus in the oven to go with our Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole, and it was such a delicious meal. It’s relatively easy to make and complementary of many of your favorite Keto sides. But it is also good as a stand-alone dish, especially if you need something to take to a potluck or bring-your-own-dish event. You can bake it ahead of time and know you have at least one great-tasting keto-friendly dish. Southern Green Beans is a nice side, or you could pair the Keto BBQ chicken casserole with other Keto-friendly vegetable side dishes such as air fryer broccoli.
Read also: Cheesy Keto Comfort Food
Storage and Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat: Warm-up leftovers (if you are fortunate enough that everyone didn’t eat them all) in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Check it and keep warming it up in 30-second intervals until it’s hot.
- To Freeze: Let the bbq chicken casserole cool to room temperature. Then pour the casserole into a freezer-safe container and add a lid. Cover your casserole tightly with plastic wrap and put it in a freezer-safe bag.
- Refrigerator Storage: First, let the leftover casserole cool down to room temperature. Then transfer it to an airtight container.
- Microwave: Place an individual portion of the casserole on a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a microwave-safe lid.
- Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cover the casserole in an oven-safe dish with foil to prevent drying.
Meal Prep Instructions
For meal prep, you can assemble this casserole and then freeze it. Thaw overnight and bake before dinner. Sure, preassemble the casserole ahead of time and place it in the fridge. When you are ready to bake it, take it out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking to give it time to come to room temperature. Prep Time: prepare the bbq casserole in advance and put in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake. This delicious chicken casserole is best for meal prepping.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The common mistake to avoid in this recipe is overcooking the casserole, which can lead to a dry chicken and overly melted cheese. Once it turns bubbly and golden, take it out of the oven immediately. And another thing: drain excess moisture from the coleslaw mix before using it.
Read also: Creamy Keto Recipe
Read also: Healthy Keto Chicken Recipe