Delicious and Easy Keto Chicken Skillet Recipes

For those following a ketogenic diet, finding quick, easy, and delicious meals can sometimes be challenging. Skillet recipes are a great solution, offering the convenience of one-pan cooking with minimal cleanup. Chicken, being a versatile and keto-friendly protein, is a perfect base for these recipes. This article explores a variety of keto chicken skillet recipes, each packed with flavor and designed to fit seamlessly into your low-carb lifestyle.

Keto Lemon Chicken Skillet

This recipe is a burst of flavor, perfect for busy weeknights. It utilizes simple ingredients that are often readily available, making it a go-to option when time is short.

Ingredients and Preparation

The base of this dish involves sautéing chicken and vegetables. The magic happens when you "sizzle up" herbs, garlic, lemon, olives, capers, and anchovies, creating a symphony of flavors.

1. Sauté Chicken and Vegetables: Heat half the olive oil in a non-stick large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken (salt and pepper) and cook for about 5 minutes until almost cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F). Add broccoli, zucchini, and peppers to the pan with a little water (3-4 tablespoons) and sauté for about 4 minutes until al dente. Set chicken and vegetables aside.
2. Flavor Infusion: Heat the remaining olive oil with butter in the pan. Add garlic, herbs, capers, anchovies, and olives, cooking for about 3 minutes until softened.
3. Combine: Return the chicken and vegetables to the skillet and toss to combine all ingredients.

This dish is not only quick to prepare (under 30 minutes for prep and cook time) but also offers easy cleanup, as everything is cooked in one pan.

Keto Chicken & Mushrooms

Chicken and mushrooms are a classic pairing, and this recipe brings them together in a keto-friendly way. It’s quick, easy, and made with healthy, whole food ingredients. Moreover, it is dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, keto, Paleo, and even Whole 30 approved with minor adjustments.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Cooking Instructions

1. Sear the Chicken: Sear the chicken thighs on both sides until golden brown - about three or four minutes per side.
2. Add Flavor: Add the remaining butter to the pan and melt. Stir in the fresh herbs and let it sit for five minutes before serving.

Keto Portuguese Style Chicken

This one-pan meal is bursting with flavors from spices and citrus accents in the marinade.

Marinating and Cooking

1. Marinate: Place all marinade ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until blended. Add chicken thighs to the marinade and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
2. Brown Chicken: Preheat oven to 400° F (204° C). Heat avocado oil in a cast iron grill skillet or an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to the skillet and brown both sides until golden brown (about 4 minutes on each side). Once browned, turn off heat.
3. Add Vegetables: Add zucchini and red peppers to the skillet arranged around the chicken.

One Skillet Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken

This recipe creates a whole meal in one skillet, featuring tender chicken thighs and riced cauliflower in a creamy garlic sauce. It's perfect for those on low-carb, keto, Atkins, diabetic, or Banting diets.

Recipe Details

1. Brown the Chicken: Start by browning both sides of the chicken pieces to add flavor to the dish.
2. Create the Sauce: Cook garlic, then deglaze the pan with vinegar followed by white wine (or chicken broth).
3. Cook Cauliflower: Cook riced cauliflower in the sauce to absorb the flavors.
4. Add Creaminess: Incorporate heavy cream and parmesan cheese for a creamy texture. Thyme adds an herbaceous touch.
5. Bake: Blanket with parmesan cheese and bake until golden.

Choosing the Right Pan

For this recipe, a pan that can be used on the stovetop and in the oven is essential. While cast iron pans are often used, stainless steel is preferred due to the high acid content from vinegar and white wine, which can react with cast iron.

Dark Meat vs. White Meat

Both chicken thighs and breasts work well in this recipe. Chicken thighs are less expensive, dark meat, and have more fat and flavor. Chicken breasts are more expensive, white meat, and have less fat with a milder flavor. If using chicken breasts, cutting them in half or using chicken tenders is recommended for even cooking.

Serving Suggestions

While this dish is a complete meal on its own, adding a salad of spinach or steamed green beans can provide additional nutrients and textural contrast.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Keto Chicken Skillet with Bacon Cream Sauce

This recipe is a perfect weeknight meal, ready in just 30 minutes. It involves searing the chicken to create a delicious exterior, then baking it in a flavorful sauce packed with shallots and bacon.

Cooking Steps

1. Season and Sear: Season the chicken and sear on each side until golden brown.
2. Cook Bacon: Brown the bacon until crispy, drain off the grease (except 1 tablespoon).
3. Make the Sauce: Sauté garlic and shallot in bacon grease, then add white wine, cream, and parmesan. Add the bacon to the sauce.
4. Bake: Place the chicken in the cream sauce and bake.

Tips for the Best Results

• Avoid chicken cuts with skin, as they tend to get soggy in the cream sauce.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.

Meal Prep and Freezing

This dish is meal-prep friendly and can be made up to 3 days in advance. It can also be frozen for up to 3-4 months, although the cream sauce may separate during freezing.

Serving Suggestions

Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, radishes, or broccoli, or garlic butter mashed cauliflower complement the chicken beautifully.

Keto Mexican Cheesy Chicken Skillet

This recipe is a flavorful and simple one-pan meal that brings the taste of Mexican cuisine to your keto diet. By using riced cauliflower as a substitute for rice and omitting flour or corn tortillas, this dish offers a low-carb alternative with only 4g net carbs per serving.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook Chicken and Sauté Vegetables: Slow cook the chicken in chicken broth with salt and pepper. Sauté onion, green bell pepper, and garlic in butter.
2. Add Flavor and Riced Cauliflower: Add Rotel and steamed riced cauliflower to the pan.
3. Combine and Simmer: Cook on medium/low until extra liquid is absorbed.
4. Add Chicken and Cheese: Add shredded chicken and top with shredded cheese (cheddar and Monterey Jack recommended).

Tips and Variations

• Slow Cooker or Instant Pot: Cook the chicken in a slow cooker or Instant Pot to reduce cooking time.
• Substitute Ground Beef: Use ground beef and beef broth instead of chicken for a variation.
• Garnish Options: There are many options to garnish Keto Cheesy Mexican Skillet Chicken.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions

Follow the steps up to adding the cheese, then pour into a casserole dish, cover with foil, and refrigerate for 1-2 days or freeze. Bake in a 350-degree oven until hot and bubbly.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

Easy Buffalo Chicken Skillet

This one-pan dish is a cheesy bacon cream cheese delight, reminiscent of a casserole but much faster to prepare on the stovetop.

Ingredients

The key ingredients include chicken breast chunks, bacon, cheese, and buffalo sauce. Buffalo sauce typically consists of hot sauce, vinegar, and butter, making it generally keto-friendly.

Cooking Instructions

1. Sauté Chicken and Bacon: Preheat a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, bacon, and ranch seasoning; sauté until golden and crispy. Drain grease and set aside.
2. Create Cheese Sauce: Reduce heat to low, return the skillet to the burner, and add butter, cream cheese, and almond milk. Whisk until melted and fully combined. Stir in half the cheese and whisk until melted.
3. Combine and Simmer: Gradually increase heat until the cheese sauce bubbles. Reduce to simmer, add chicken and bacon, drizzle buffalo wing sauce, and top with more cheese or parmesan. Cover and let simmer for about 5 minutes.

Tips and Variations

• Chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breast for a higher fat content.
• For a zero-carb meal, use sugar-free buffalo sauce.

Keto Chicken and Broccoli Skillet

This easy recipe is a family favorite, featuring creamy and cheesy chicken tenders with broccoli.

Ingredients

Key ingredients include chicken tenders, cream cheese, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, ham, garlic salt, and broccoli florets.

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook Chicken: Spray a skillet and heat with medium-high heat. Place chicken tenders in the pan and sprinkle with garlic salt. Cook until almost cooked.
2. Add Sauce Ingredients: Add the rest of the sauce ingredients (everything except the broccoli) to the skillet.
3. Combine and Serve: Cover and reduce to low heat. Cook for five minutes, then stir. Add broccoli and top with cheddar cheese before serving.

Tips and Variations

• Add onions, garlic, cauliflower, or mushrooms for variations.
• Swap cheese for any cheese that melts well.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet

This one-pan meal combines juicy chicken with a savory sauce, mushrooms, and grape tomatoes, infused with Italian seasonings.

Ingredients

Key ingredients include chicken breast or thighs, oregano, rosemary, fresh garlic, heavy whipping cream, chicken broth, fresh spinach, grape tomatoes, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese.

Cooking Instructions

1. Sear Chicken: Season chicken with spices and sear in the pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken after it is fully cooked.
2. Sauté Vegetables: Melt butter in the same skillet and sauté garlic, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Add spinach and stir until it wilts.
3. Create Sauce: Stir in chicken broth, parmesan cheese, and heavy whipping cream.
4. Combine and Simmer: Add the chicken back to the skillet and simmer until the sauce is thickened.

Tips and Variations

• Use coconut cream instead of heavy whipping cream for a dairy-free option.
• Add red pepper flakes and peppers for a spicy version.
• Mix pesto into the sauce for added flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with mashed turnips or low-carb keto cheddar biscuits. A spinach strawberry salad also complements the dish.

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