This keto million dollar chicken casserole recipe will make you feel like a million bucks! It's a family-friendly, low-carb casserole that everyone will love. Who doesn’t enjoy cheesy and creamy chicken topped with crunchy toppings? This recipe is super-mild, which is good news for anyone that doesn’t like spicy foods.
Why is it Called "Million Dollar Chicken"?
While the exact origin of the name "Million Dollar Chicken" is elusive, the general consensus is that it signifies a dish that tastes incredibly rich and luxurious, despite being made with simple, readily available ingredients. The original million dollar chicken was a new twist on chicken and waffles, made with peach preserves and Worcestershire sauce. Since then, food bloggers have tweaked and changed it.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses just a handful of simple ingredients, many of which you probably already have in your pantry.
- Family-Friendly: The mild flavor and creamy texture make it a hit with both kids and adults.
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: Perfect for those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and baked later, or even frozen for a quick and easy meal.
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to create this delectable dish:
- Chicken: 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly cut or pounded. You can save time by using a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Shred the chicken and it's ready to go! You'll need about 3-4 cups of cooked/shredded/diced chicken.
- Cream Cheese: 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- Mayonnaise: 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- Bacon: 1/2 cup crispy bacon, crumbled (about 8 slices)
- Green Onions: 1/2 cup green onions, chopped (about 4 onions)
- Colby Jack Cheese: 1.5 cups colby jack cheese, shredded
- Optional Seasoning: Salt, pepper to taste, Dan-O's Seasoning. If you don't have Dan-O's Red Pepper Cheesoning or Original seasoning, use ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon grated parmesan and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning instead.
Keto-Friendly Topping Options:
- Pork Rinds: Crushed pork rinds provide a delightful crunch without the carbs.
- Cheese Crisps: Simply bake shredded cheese until crispy for a cheesy and crunchy topping.
Variations and Substitutions:
- Spicy: Add a dash of cayenne pepper or additional red pepper flakes for a kick.
- Turkey Bacon: Use regular crispy bacon if needed.
- Cheese: Mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, or gouda would be delicious.
- Skinny Million Dollar Chicken Bake: Substitute light cream cheese, light mayo and reduce the colby jack cheese mixed in by 1/2 cup.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350˚F (175°C).
- Prepare the chicken: Place chicken breasts into your casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season on both sides with the Dan-O's seasonings. Use your hands or paper towels to evenly coat.
- Combine the ingredients: In a medium sized bowl, mix cream cheese, mayo, half of the bacon crumbles, half of the green onion and half of the cheddar cheese together until combined. For the best results, ensure the cream cheese is very soft so it gets fully incorporated into the casserole.
- Assemble the casserole: Spread the cheese mixture over the chicken. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temperature). Chicken breast should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165˚F. The best way to get perfect chicken is to use a food thermometer. If you prefer a lighter, more melted cheese rather than a crisp cheese on top, you can cover the chicken bake for part or all of the cooking time. When the chicken bake is cooked covered, it will often take longer to cook, so cooking time may be increased. Also, it will retain more liquid, so you may see more juices in the pan.
- Broil (Optional): Broil for 1-2 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with additional bacon and green onions and serve hot!
Serving Suggestions
This Million Dollar Chicken Bake is simple as promised! This dish is packed with flavor and pretty rich in its own right so I like to pair it with side dishes that are lighter generally.
- Vegetables: Low-carb green beans and bacon, keto loaded ranch roasted cauliflower, steamed vegetables, side salad.
- Other: Million Dollar Chicken Rice (or Cauli Rice) Bowls, Million Dollar Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes.
Tips for the Perfect Casserole
- Use thin chicken breasts: Try to use thin chicken breast, or cut them in half (butterfly) or pound them out. This allows the chicken to come to the temperature more quickly.
- Don't overcook the chicken: Only cook the chicken bake to done, 165˚F internal temp. As it continues to cook it will lose more liquid and become dry and chewy.
- Drain excess liquid: Drain any excess fat or liquid from the pan to prevent a watery casserole.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the dish repeatedly and adjust the spices if necessary to suit your taste.
- Pre-cook bacon: You can make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer, or buy precooked bacon.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions
- Make-Ahead: You can assemble the million-dollar chicken bake ahead of time, wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and freeze before baking. Let thaw in the fridge overnight before placing in a preheated oven.
- Freezing: Add the ingredients to a freezer-safe casserole pan (I like to use the disposable aluminum casserole pans that come with foil lids). Seal it really tightly to keep any cold air out. When you are ready to eat it, just bake it like normal. You can freeze it tightly covered and sealed for 2-3 months.
Reheating Instructions
- Air Fryer: Use the air fryer for 5-6 minutes to get that crispy top again.
- Oven: Reheat at 350 degrees until the casserole is warm and the topping is crisp.
- Microwave: You can also use the oven or microwave for a quick heat-up.
What to Do with Leftovers
If you have any of this delicious chicken bake leftover, then you are in luck!
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Million Dollar Chicken Grilled Sandwiches: Slice the leftover chicken and place between to slices of good white bread. Spread the creamy topping on one side of the bread, add fresh spinach leaves and close the sandwich.
- Baked Chicken Stuffed Peppers: Chop the leftovers of the millionaire chicken. Mix equal parts chicken with prepared rice. Stuff the mixture into bell pepper halves with the seeds and ribs removed. Top with extra cheese.
Nutritional Information (Approximate)
One chicken breast has 284 calories in a 3.5 ounce (100 g) serving. In this recipe including the toppings there approximately 493 calories per serving (1/6th of recipe). This low carb chicken dinner is a great option for balancing blood sugar thanks to the high protein content and healthy fats. Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Other Million Dollar Recipes to Try
After this recipe becoming one of loved chicken recipes I have ever created, I decided to try my hand at a few other Million Dollar recipes. They all live up to their name, make sure to try our Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, Million Dollar Bacon, Million Dollar Baked Pork Chops, Million Dollar Spaghetti, and this Million Dollar Chicken Salad, which tastes a lot like this recipe, but is perfect for a quick lunch, a great low carb option, or on the go meal for kids or adults!
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