Keto Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli: A Cheesy, Low-Carb Delight

Tender broccoli, juicy chicken, and a cheesy creamy sauce combine to create a meal that’s hearty, delicious, and low carb. This Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole is an easy crowd-pleaser! This article explores a variety of keto crockpot chicken and broccoli recipes, offering options for different preferences and dietary needs.

Why Keto Chicken and Broccoli?

For those following a ketogenic diet, finding satisfying and convenient meals can sometimes be a challenge. Keto Chicken and Broccoli recipes offer a solution by combining protein-rich chicken with nutrient-dense broccoli in a flavorful, low-carb sauce. Fat is our friend on keto, which is why we use butter. These recipes are often easy to prepare, making them ideal for busy weeknights or meal prepping.

Here's why this combination works:

• Low Carb: Broccoli is a non-starchy vegetable that fits well into a keto diet.
• High Protein: Chicken provides a good source of protein, essential for satiety and muscle maintenance.
• Versatile: The flavors can be easily adapted with different cheeses, spices, and additions like bacon.
• Family-Friendly: Even those not on a keto diet can enjoy this creamy and comforting dish.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Most keto chicken and broccoli recipes share a few core ingredients:

• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are commonly used. Rotisserie chicken is easy to use, but you can also cook your own chicken breasts and shred them yourself.
• Broccoli: Fresh or frozen broccoli florets both work well. Avoid broccoli that has florets that are starting to turn yellow or brown. The stalks are quite flavorful and can be chopped and used in most recipes, including this Keto Chicken And Broccoli.
• Cheese: Cheddar, mozzarella, Gruyere, and parmesan are popular choices. Feel free to swap cheddar cheese with your favorite type of cheese, such as mozzarella cheese. You could even do a mixture or top with grated parmesan cheese for more flavor. For the shredded cheese, I recommend buying block of real cheddar cheese and grating your own. Packaged shredded cheese often contains starches and other additives to keep it from sticking together in the bag.
• Creamy Sauce Base: Heavy cream, cream cheese, and butter are often used to create a rich and creamy sauce.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

• Almond Milk: We use unsweetened almond milk in many of our recipes because it is extremely low in carbs, even more so than regular dairy milk. For comparison, 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk has less than 2g net carbs, while 1 cup of 1% milk contains 12g net carbs. That being said, you are welcome to use dairy milk or simply use more heavy whipping cream in place of the almond milk.
• Almond Flour: Use almond flour, not almond meal.
• Mayonnaise: Did you know that some brands have sugar?
• Heavy Cream: As long as you use heavy cream, you don’t need flour or cream cheese to thicken the sauce. If you are low carb and not keto, you can use half and half.
• Cheese Variations: Keto cheesy chicken broccoli casserole isn't particularly fussy, so feel free to play with it a bit. Cauliflower would work in place of broccoli, and almost any cheese will do.

Keto Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli Recipe Variations

Basic Keto Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

This recipe is a great starting point and can be customized to your liking.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients:

• 30 oz of Chicken
• Broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
• Butter
• Chopped onion
• Garlic
• Heavy cream
• Unsweetened almond milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite)

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then stir the chopped onions and cook until they begin to soften.
2. Mix in the garlic, and saute for 30 seconds, then pour in the heavy cream and almond milk. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer until the mixture thickens.
3. Add the broccoli, chicken, and green onions to slow cooker.
4. Prepare the cream sauce as described in the original recipe and pour into the casserole dish.
5. Top with cheese and cook on low for about 4 hours.

Crock Pot Bacon Broccoli Chicken (Low Carb)

This one pot casserole is a family and long time reader favorite!

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs (or other cuts of chicken)
• Broccoli florets
• Bacon
• Cheddar Cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove and chop.
2. Place chicken in the crockpot.
3. Top with broccoli and cooked bacon.
4. Pour sauce over chicken and broccoli
5. Cook on low for specified time.
6. Top with cheddar cheese before serving.

Keto Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken and Broccoli

This keto Crockpot meal is truly phenomenal.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs or breasts
• Cream cheese
• Onion and chive cream cheese
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Broccoli florets
• Bacon
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Place chicken, cream cheese, onion and chive cream cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in the Crockpot.
2. Add the broccoli to the slow cooker about 15 minutes before serving.
3. While the broccoli is cooking in the slow cooker, pan fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Once crispy, remove the bacon from the skillet and chop.
4. To serve, dish up about 3/4 cup of cauliflower rice and top with about 1 cup chicken broccoli mixture.
5. Sprinkle with bacon and 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese.

Tips for Perfect Keto Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli

• Don't Overcook: Chicken can become dry if cooked for too long in a slow cooker. Keep an eye on it and adjust cooking times as needed. All slow cookers cook differently, so cooking times are always a basic guideline.
• Add Broccoli Later: To prevent mushy broccoli, add it to the slow cooker during the last 30-60 minutes of cooking time or start with frozen broccoli. One of the benefits to using a slow cooker is that you can start with frozen broccoli and it will cook completely and evenly.
• Thicken the Sauce (If Needed): If the sauce is too thin, you can thicken it by mixing a tablespoon of almond flour or cornstarch with a little cold water and stirring it into the sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Combine the cornstarch and water, then add the slurry to the slow cooker.
• Customize the Cheese: Experiment with different cheeses to find your favorite flavor combination.
• Add Spices and Seasonings: Don't be afraid to add your favorite spices and seasonings to enhance the flavor. Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper are all great options.
• Crispy Topping: To give the recipe some difference in textures, add some crispy toppings on top.

Serving and Storing

This keto chicken and broccoli casserole makes a lot of food, as it is designed to provided a family-sized dinner and be a complete meal. Based on 8 servings, each serving will have about 7 grams net carbohydrates. When you take into account that this is a full meal, with protein and vegetables, 7 grams net carbs is quite low and can easily fit into even a fairly strict keto diet.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve as a main course.
• Pair with a side salad or other low-carb vegetables.

Storing Leftovers:

• 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.
• Place your cooked casserole in a freezer-safe food storage bag and keep it in the freezer for up to six months.

Reheating:

Gently rewarm leftovers in a large skillet on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through.

Additional Recipe Ideas

• Alfredo Chicken Bake: Looking for a super-easy weeknight recipe that has all the flavors of traditional Chicken Parm? This Keto Alfredo Chicken Bake is pure comfort food.
• Chicken Pot Pie: Keto chicken casseroles don't get any better than this Keto Chicken Pot Pie!

Adapting the Recipe for Other Cooking Methods

While this article focuses on crockpot recipes, keto chicken and broccoli can also be made in the oven or Instant Pot.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Oven Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place broccoli and chicken in a large baking pan and pour the sauce over.
3. Top with cheese.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, until bubbly and cooked through.

Instant Pot Instructions

1. Set your Instant Pot to saute. Melt butter and add almond flour. Cook for 1 minutes, whisking constantly. Stir in cream and broth and bring to a simmer. Add garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Add cooked chicken and broccoli to the pot and toss.
3. Set to high pressure for 1 minutes. Do a quick release. Stir in cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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