Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Recipes: A Comprehensive Guide

Keto garlic butter chicken recipes offer a delightful and convenient way to enjoy a flavorful, low-carb meal. These recipes often combine the richness of butter and garlic with the versatility of chicken, creating dishes that are both satisfying and easy to prepare. Whether you're a seasoned keto dieter or simply looking for a quick and delicious dinner option, there's a keto garlic butter chicken recipe to suit your needs.

Quick and Easy Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Skillet with Broccoli

This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, offering a healthy and delicious meal in under 30 minutes. It utilizes frozen broccoli for convenience and chicken thighs for optimal juiciness.

Ingredients Overview

• Chicken thighs: Chicken thigh pieces stay nice and juicy, but you can also use chicken breasts.
• Avocado oil: Used for searing the chicken.
• Frozen broccoli: Frozen broccoli has been blanched prior, so it cooks quicker than fresh broccoli.
• Minced garlic: Adds a pungent and savory flavor.
• Butter: Contributes to the richness of the sauce.
• Chicken broth: Deglazes the pan and adds depth of flavor.
• Red wine vinegar: Provides a touch of acidity to balance the richness.
• Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and parsley: These add tons of flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add the avocado oil to warm up.
2. Add the diced chicken and brown it, turning occasionally so that all sides get a nice even browning.
3. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
4. Add two tablespoons of butter to the skillet and allow it to melt, then add in the frozen broccoli.
5. Add the chicken back into the skillet, then pour in the broth, garlic, Italian seasoning, red wine vinegar, onion powder, salt, and the rest of the butter.
6. Continue to cook for a few minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the broccoli is tender.

Tips and Variations

• Fresh broccoli: If you want to use fresh broccoli, you’re going to need to blanch it first so that it’s finished on time.
• Chicken breast: You can use chicken breasts, but they may dry out quicker than chicken thighs. Thawing the broccoli first can help keep the chicken juicy.
• Other vegetables: Frozen vegetables like brussels sprouts, green beans, and asparagus also work great in this recipe.

Storage and Reheating

This dish is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat it in a skillet, microwave, or air fryer. Be mindful that microwaving may make the broccoli mushy, and air frying could dry out the dish.

Keto Butter Chicken: An Indian-Inspired Delight

This recipe offers a simplified take on traditional Indian butter chicken, making it easy to prepare on any weeknight.

Key Ingredients

• Chicken: Cut into bite-sized chunks.
• Turmeric, ginger, salt, chili powder, and cinnamon: Used to marinate the chicken.
• Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the sauce.
• Onion and garlic: Provide an aromatic base for the curry.
• Heavy whipping cream: Creates a creamy and luscious sauce.
• Tomato paste: Adds depth of flavor and color.

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks and generously coat them in the turmeric, ginger, salt, chili powder, and cinnamon. Set aside in a bowl.
2. Heat a skillet to medium heat and add the butter. As the butter melts dice the onion and garlic and add it to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
3. Increase the pan heat to medium-high and add the chicken. Cook it almost entirely through - the outside should be white and this will take about 3-5 minutes.
4. Once the chicken looks almost fully cooked add in the heavy whipping cream and tomato paste. Using a spatula mix in the tomato paste so it runs smooth through the heavy whipping cream. It should be an orange color at this point.
5. Turn the heat to medium-low and cover with a lid for 5-7 minutes.
6. Remove lid and combine. The chicken is fully cooked and you should be able to eat it. However, if you like a thicker curry sauce allow it to reduce with the lid off until it reaches the consistency you like.
7. Serve with low carb naan or over cauliflower rice. Enjoy!

Tips and Serving Suggestions

• This butter chicken can be stored in a sealed container for up to 10 days in the fridge and 2 months in the freezer.
• For a vegetarian option, substitute paneer for chicken.

One-Pan Keto Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus

This one-pan recipe combines tender chicken bites with crisp asparagus in a flavorful garlic-butter sauce, making it a complete and easy keto meal.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients

• Chicken breast: Boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Butter: I used salted butter. If using unsalted, add a pinch more to taste at the end.
• Olive oil: Or avocado oil.
• Paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper: For seasoning the chicken.
• Garlic: Fresh is best!
• Chicken broth: Use low or no-sodium added chicken broth or make your own.
• Asparagus: Fresh asparagus.

Cooking Steps

1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and oregano.
2. Melt half the butter and the olive oil in a skillet, and when hot, sautee the chicken until brown. It doesn’t have to be cooked through.
3. Scoop out the chicken and set it aside. Saute garlic in the remaining oil, then deglaze the pan with the chicken broth.
4. Simmer the chicken broth until reduced by half.
5. Meanwhile, blanch the asparagus, then drain and set aside.
6. Return the chicken (and any juices) to one side of the skillet and add the asparagus to the other side.
7. Reduce the chicken broth but add more if you over-reduce it and there’s too little left. Adding butter at the end to the hot skillet is a chef’s trick for creating velvety sauces.

Serving and Storage

• Serve with cauliflower rice or another simple vegetable side.
• This dish is best eaten fresh, as asparagus does not freeze well.

Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken

This recipe features juicy, seared chicken baked with a garlic lemon butter sauce and fresh lemon slices, offering a zesty and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts: Pounded to an even thickness.
• Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning: For seasoning the chicken.
• Oil: For searing the chicken.
• Lemon juice, melted butter, garlic, and lemon zest: For the lemon butter sauce.
• Lemon slices: For topping the chicken.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. While the oven preheats, pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness and season on both sides with the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
3. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium high heat and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and sear on both sides for 2-3 minutes until browned. Do not cook the chicken through at this point. Remove from the heat. If you don't have a skillet large enough for all 4 breasts, work in batches and place seared chicken in a 9×13 baking dish.
4. Add the lemon juice, melted butter, garlic, and lemon zest to a small bowl and stir to combine. The butter will start to harden in the lemon juice as you stir.
5. Pour the lemon butter over the chicken in the skillet or baking dish. Flip the chicken over so that both sides are coated in the lemon butter.
6. Arrange the lemon slices over the top of each piece of chicken and place chicken in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Tips for Success

• Sear the chicken first for added flavor.
• Use an oven-safe skillet for easy transfer from stovetop to oven.
• Bake just until the internal temperature hits 165°F to ensure juicy chicken.
• Rest the chicken before slicing.
• Using fresh squeezed lemon juice will provide the best flavor.

15-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken

This quick and easy recipe features chicken breasts cooked in a fragrant garlic butter cilantro sauce, perfect for a fast weeknight dinner.

Key Ingredients

• Chicken breasts: Cut in half to make thin fillets.
• Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper: For seasoning the chicken.
• Olive oil: For searing the chicken.
• Butter: The base of the sauce.
• Garlic: Adds a pungent flavor.
• Fresh cilantro: Both stems and leaves.

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut chicken breasts in half to make 4 thin chicken fillets. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook 3-4 minutes per side or until golden and crispy. Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Reduce heat to low-medium and add 2 tablespoons butter to the pan along with the garlic, fresh herbs, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Stir the garlic and herbs into the melted butter.
4. Return chicken to pan and drizzle sauce on chicken. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the garlic is golden and fragrant.

General Tips for Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Recipes

• Choose the Right Chicken: Chicken thighs are generally more forgiving and stay juicier than chicken breasts, but both can be used depending on your preference.
• Don't Overcook the Chicken: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked through but not dry. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
• Adjust Seasonings to Taste: Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic, herbs, and spices to suit your personal preferences.
• Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh garlic and herbs will provide the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted if necessary.
• Control the Heat: Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can become bitter. Reduce the heat if necessary.
• Deglaze the Pan: Deglazing the pan with chicken broth or wine helps to loosen any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom and adds depth to the sauce.
• Add a Touch of Acidity: A squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar can help to balance the richness of the butter and garlic.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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