Keto Cheesy Chicken Recipes: Delicious and Easy Low-Carb Dinners

For those following a ketogenic diet, finding satisfying and flavorful meals that fit within the low-carb parameters can sometimes be a challenge. Chicken, being a versatile and protein-rich ingredient, becomes a staple in many keto recipes. This article explores several keto-friendly cheesy chicken recipes that are not only easy to prepare but also incredibly delicious and family-friendly. These recipes leverage the richness of cheese and creamy sauces to create comforting and satisfying meals that won't compromise your ketogenic lifestyle.

Keto Crack Chicken: A Weeknight Family Favorite

This keto crack chicken recipe is a weeknight family staple, known for its convenience and ease of customization. It features shredded chicken breasts, crispy bacon, and a creamy ranch sauce, all topped with melty cheese. The name "crack chicken" comes from the popular crack dip, as it uses the same irresistible ingredients with the addition of chicken, making it a dish you'll definitely want a second helping of!

Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets, pounded to ¼ inch thickness
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic powder
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Cream cheese
• Spice mix (onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill, dried parsley, salt, and mustard powder to make a mock ranch seasoning mix)
• Bacon, diced and cooked until crispy
• Shredded cheese

Instructions

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and set it aside.
2. Cook the meat: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add olive oil to a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon and keep the bacon grease in the pan. Add the butter, and when hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden. Only sear the chicken until golden; the oven will ensure the chicken is fully cooked without overcooking. Add a splash of chicken broth if the sauce becomes too thick.
3. Assemble: Transfer the chicken breasts into the baking dish and pour the pan juices over them. In a small bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and spices until combined. Evenly distribute the cream cheese mixture on top of each chicken breast. Sprinkle the cooked bacon on top, followed by the shredded cheese.
4. Bake: Bake for 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Alternative Cooking Methods

• Instant Pot Crack Chicken: Cook the bacon on the ‘Sauté’ setting. Set it aside, melt the butter, and sear the chicken. Once seared, pour the cream cheese mixture over the chicken, then sprinkle the bacon and shredded cheese.
• Slow Cooker Crack Chicken: Cook the bacon and chicken in a skillet on the stovetop, then add the chicken to the slow cooker. Top it with the cream cheese mixture and cook on ‘Low’ for 8 hours or ‘High’ for 4 hours. Turn off the slow cooker, remove the lid, and shred the chicken with two forks.

Tips for Reheating

Reheat the chicken at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or microwave single-servings for 45 seconds.

Variations

While chicken breasts are preferred, skinless chicken thighs can also be used.

Keto Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole: A Quick and Creamy Delight

This cheesy chicken broccoli casserole is a stunningly easy and delicious keto dinner recipe that comes together in just 25 minutes and has less than 5g net carbs per serving. It’s a comforting, simple-to-make, and family-friendly dish that's perfect for busy weeknights. The garlicky Alfredo sauce paired with tender chunks of chicken and sautéed broccoli is rich and flavorful, and the cheesy topping is simply mouthwatering!

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Key Features

• Easy to make: With pre-cooked chicken, this dish is ready in less than 25 minutes.
• Rich creamy flavor: The garlicky Alfredo sauce pairs exceptionally well with the chicken and broccoli.
• One-pan meal: No need for any sides or extras; this is a whole meal in a single pan.
• High protein recipe: Each serving boasts 32 grams of protein.
• Family-friendly: Even kids enjoy this meal.
• Great for meal prep: Make this a day or two ahead and enjoy it when you’re ready.
• Low carb and keto-friendly: With only 6.8 grams of carbs and 2.3 grams of fiber, this recipe is perfect for keto dieters.

Ingredients

• Cooked chicken (boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts)
• Fresh broccoli florets
• Heavy whipping cream
• Parmesan cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Butter
• Garlic
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Sauté the broccoli: Melt some of the butter in an oven-safe skillet, and then sauté the broccoli until bright green and just tender. Remove the broccoli to a bowl.
2. Make the sauce: Melt more butter in the pan, then sauté the garlic until fragrant. Add the cream and bring to a simmer, then cook until reduced and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. 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.
4. Combine and bake: Stir in the broccoli and the chicken and top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
5. Broil: Preheat the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Tips and Variations

• Use an ovenproof skillet: This recipe goes straight from stovetop to oven, so that you don’t have to transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
• Use plenty of broccoli: A full 16 ounces (about 3 cups chopped) ensures a generous serving of vegetables.
• 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.
• Chicken options: Use cooked boneless, skinless chicken for this casserole. Chicken thighs offer a richer flavor, but breasts work as well. Rotisserie chicken can also be used (remove the skin and bones).

Storing and Reheating

Store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It reheats well in the microwave or in the oven.

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.

Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Cauliflower Rice: A Flavorful Twist

This super easy Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Rice (or more accurately, cauliflower rice) is packed with flavor, texture, and cheesy, ranch-flavored goodness. The top of this keto cheesy ranch cauliflower rice gets a little crunchy and chewy, while the interior is fluffy and cheesy with a noticeable ranch flavor.

Ingredients

• Chicken parts (legs, thighs, or breasts)
• Cauliflower rice (or regular rice if not on keto)
• Butter
• Cream cheese
• Shredded cheese
• Hidden Valley Ranch dressing seasoning (or homemade ranch seasoning)

Instructions

1. Combine the butter, cream cheese, and 2 tablespoons of the ranch seasoning in a medium-sized bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir until well blended.
2. Add the cauliflower rice (or rice and water if not on keto) and shredded cheese and stir well.
3. Transfer to a 9 x 13 baking or casserole dish and spread out evenly over the surface of the pan.
4. Rub the remaining seasoning over the chicken parts and place them on top of the rice.
5. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the topping is golden brown.

Variations

If you’re not on keto, you can absolutely make these ranch chicken legs with regular rice instead of cauliflower rice. Simply replace the cauliflower with 2 cups of rice, and add 3 3/4 cups of water to the mix as well.

Keto Cheesy Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer: Quick and Juicy

This keto cheesy chicken breast made in the air fryer is a delicious dinner option for busy weeknights. The juicy pieces of chicken are topped with a luscious cream cheese topping and bits of broccoli, resulting in a flavorful and high-protein main dish.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Ingredients

• Skinless, boneless chicken breast
• Cream cheese, softened
• Cheddar cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Fresh broccoli, finely chopped
• Garlic, crushed
• Onion powder
• Salt and black pepper

Instructions

1. Get out a mixing bowl and add softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, crushed garlic, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix together to combine.
2. Chop the broccoli into very small pieces. Then mix into the cream cheese mixture.
3. Place the raw chicken breast on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut the top of the chicken in a crosshatch or diamond pattern. Make sure the slices don't go all the way through.
4. Divide the cheese mixture and spread evenly on the pieces of chicken. Make sure some of the cream cheese mixture gets into the crevices.
5. Spray the basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Gently lay the chicken inside and then set the air fryer to 370°F and bake for 15 minutes.
6. Once the cheese topping is golden brown and the internal temperature is 165°F, it's done. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Tips and Variations

• If you prefer bone-in chicken, you could use that too; however, ensure there is no skin.
• You can use frozen broccoli if you want.
• Other options for your topping are hot pepper flakes for some spice and heat.
• Consider grating parmesan cheese or asiago cheese.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these keto cheesy chicken breasts with a big green salad or a keto side dish. They also pair well with potatoes, pasta, or rice if you aren't concerned about carbs.

40-Minute Keto Chicken Casserole: Simple and Satisfying

A simple one-dish meal, this 40-minute keto chicken casserole is easy to assemble and practically bakes itself. It’s a filling and easy-to-make option, perfect for a satisfying keto dinner.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts
• Oil
• Salt and pepper
• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Dijon mustard
• Minced garlic
• Dried thyme
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Scallions, sliced
• Bacon bits

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking dish with foil and grease the foil.
2. Arrange the chicken breasts in the prepared pan. Spray them with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until cooked through, for about 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, grease a 2-quart casserole dish. In a large bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, pepper, dried thyme, paprika, cayenne, and ½ cup of shredded cheddar.
4. When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven but keep the oven on. Allow the chicken to slightly cool until it's easier to handle. Cut it into cubes or shred it.
5. Add the chicken cubes to the bowl with the mayonnaise-sour cream mixture and toss to coat. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
6. Sprinkle the casserole with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar. Bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, for about 10 minutes.
7. Sprinkle the casserole with sliced scallions and bacon bits. Serve immediately.

Tips and Variations

• You can use rotisserie chicken.
• While chicken breast is usually used, it's fine to use boneless chicken thighs.
• To make it a complete meal, lightly steam small broccoli florets and mix them into the casserole before the final stage of baking.
• If you plan to use cold leftover chicken, microwave it, covered, to warm it up before adding it to the casserole.
• To make it creamier, increase the amount of sour cream or mayonnaise.

Storing and Reheating

You can keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Gently reheat them, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.

General Tips for Keto Cooking

• Focus on healthy fats: Incorporate ingredients like avocado, olive oil, and nuts to meet your fat requirements.
• Choose low-carb vegetables: Opt for non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower.
• Read labels carefully: Be mindful of hidden carbs in sauces and dressings.
• Plan your meals: Preparing your meals in advance can help you stay on track with your keto diet.
• Nutritional information is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

tags: #keto #cheesy #chicken