Unbelievably Tasty Keto Chicken Pizza Casserole That Will Change Your Dinner Game!

Craving pizza but trying to stick to a low-carb lifestyle? This keto chicken pizza casserole is the perfect solution! It delivers all the satisfying flavors of pizza without the carb-heavy crust. This recipe is easy to customize, family-friendly, and perfect for meal prepping.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Low Carb & Gluten-Free: Naturally low in carbs and free of gluten, making it suitable for various dietary needs.
Customizable: Adapt the toppings to suit your family's preferences.
Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, this casserole comes together quickly.
Family-Friendly: A great way to sneak in extra veggies for picky eaters.
Meal Prep Friendly: Prepare it in advance and enjoy it throughout the week.
Freezer-Friendly: Make a batch and freeze individual portions for easy meals later.

Ingredients

This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a flavorful and satisfying dish. Here's what you'll need:

Chicken: Cooked and diced or shredded chicken breast. Rotisserie chicken works great.
Cream Cheese: Softened for a creamy base.
Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and moisture.
Mayonnaise: Contributes to the creamy texture.
Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded, for that classic pizza cheese pull.
Parmesan Cheese: Shredded or grated, for a sharp, savory flavor.
Pizza Sauce: Choose a sugar-free or low-carb marinara sauce. Rao's is a popular option.
Pepperoni: Sliced, for that classic pizza topping.
Garlic Powder: Adds a savory note.
Salt & Pepper: To taste, for seasoning.
Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs for authentic Italian flavor.
Dried Oregano: Adds a classic Italian aroma and flavor.
Red Pepper Flakes: For a touch of heat (optional).
Olive Oil: For browning the chicken and sautéing vegetables.
Optional Toppings: Sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, jalapeños, chopped garlic, fresh parsley, fresh basil, diced tomatoes, etc.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here's how to make this delicious keto chicken pizza casserole:

Preparing the Chicken

Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Season the chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and half of the Italian seasoning (about 1 tablespoon).
Brown the chicken (optional): Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and brown for 3-4 minutes per side. The chicken doesn't need to be cooked through at this point. This step is optional but helps the chicken cook quicker and prevents the toppings from burning in the oven.

Assembling the Casserole

Place chicken in baking dish: Place the browned chicken breasts into the prepared baking dish.
Add pizza sauce: Spread pizza sauce evenly over the top of the chicken. Add any remaining sauce to the bottom of the dish around the chicken.
Sprinkle with seasoning: Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning over the sauce.
Add cheese and pepperoni: Cover each chicken breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese and evenly top with pepperoni.
Add cream cheese mixture: In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Dollop spoonfuls of the mixture over the chicken and spread it around.
Add vegetables (optional): If you want to add diced onions, peppers, mushrooms, or olives, just lay it over the chicken before adding the cream cheese layer.

Baking the Casserole

Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Recipe Variations

This recipe is incredibly versatile. Here are some ideas to customize it:

Different Meats: Use ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage instead of chicken breast. Brown the sausage in a skillet before adding it to the casserole.
Veggies Galore: Add your favorite pizza toppings, such as mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, jalapeños, chopped garlic, fresh parsley, fresh basil, or diced tomatoes.
Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce or sprinkle them on top of the casserole before baking.
Cheese Lovers: Experiment with different cheeses, such as provolone, cheddar, or a pizza blend.
Creamy Base Variation: Skip the pizza sauce and use a creamy Alfredo sauce instead.
Searing Chicken: For searing the chicken, using butter & olive oil adds extra fat and flavor. Don’t be afraid of seasonings such as Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Italian Seasonings, Parsley, Crushed Red Pepper, Salt, and Pepper. They can take a bland dish and change the taste completely.

Tips and Tricks

Browning the chicken: While optional, browning the chicken in a skillet before baking adds flavor and helps it cook more evenly.
Using pre-cooked chicken: Save time by using pre-cooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken.
Measuring with your heart: Don't be afraid to adjust the amount of pizza sauce and toppings to your liking.
Preventing watery sauce: Searing the chicken beforehand helps to prevent the juices from the chicken from making the sauce watery.
Thickening the sauce: If the sauce is a bit thin when you take the casserole out of the oven, let it sit for a few minutes to thicken up.

Serving Suggestions

This keto chicken pizza casserole is a complete meal on its own, but here are some side dish ideas:

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Salad: A simple green salad or chopped salad.
Green Vegetables: Steamed broccoli, asparagus, or green beans.
Buttered Noodles: For those who aren't strictly following a low-carb diet.

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave at 50% power or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through.
Freezing: This casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Omit the cheese until you are ready to eat it. Place in a freezer-friendly container and store up to three months. Due to the cream cheese layer, it could curdle during the thawing of the dish.

Is Pizza Without Crust Keto-Friendly?

Pizza toppings are largely keto-friendly. So, a pizza without the crust would keep the carbs low enough for most people to enjoy crustless pizza it stick to 20g of net carbs per day. When making this recipe or buying it, just be sure to choose low-carb vegetables and sauce-free meats. You’ll want to skip things like bbq chicken unless you are using a keto-friendly bbq sauce.

This crustless pizza has only 6 grams of net carbohydrates in a serving. And, what I love about it, is that nearly all of these carbs are from fresh vegetables! As a means of comparison, according to the USDA, a third of a traditional medium pizza (which is about 2 slices) is 53 grams of net carbs, most of which is from the dough.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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