For those following a ketogenic diet, finding comforting and satisfying meals can sometimes be a challenge. Casseroles are a fantastic option for meal prepping, busy weeknights, and providing a family-friendly meal. This article explores a variety of keto shredded chicken casserole recipes, offering options from Mexican-inspired flavors to creamy broccoli and cheddar combinations. These recipes are generally low-carb, gluten-free, and easy to assemble, making them a perfect addition to your keto meal plan.
Why Choose Keto Chicken Casseroles?
Keto chicken casseroles offer several benefits:
- Low Carb: These recipes are designed to be low in carbohydrates, aligning with the ketogenic diet's principles.
- High Protein: Chicken is an excellent source of protein, which is essential for satiety and muscle maintenance.
- Versatile: You can easily customize these recipes with your favorite low-carb vegetables, cheeses, and spices.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Casseroles are ideal for meal prepping, as they can be made in advance and stored for easy reheating.
- Family-Friendly: These casseroles are often a hit with the whole family, even those not following a keto diet.
- Utilize Leftovers: Chicken casseroles are a great way to use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Most keto chicken casserole recipes share a few common ingredients, but there's plenty of room for customization.
- Chicken: Shredded chicken breast is a popular choice due to its lean protein content. Rotisserie chicken can also be used for added flavor and convenience. Boneless chicken thighs are another option.
- Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, zucchini, and bell peppers are all excellent low-carb vegetable choices. Frozen cauliflower rice is a convenient option, but fresh broccoli and cauliflower florets are generally preferred to avoid a mushy texture.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and Parmesan cheese are commonly used in keto casseroles. A Mexican cheese blend can add a zesty flavor.
- Creamy Base: Cream cheese, heavy cream, sour cream, and mayonnaise are often used to create a creamy sauce. You can adjust the ratios to achieve your desired level of creaminess.
- Seasonings: Garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper are commonly used to flavor keto casseroles. Dijon mustard can add a tangy flavor to the sauce.
- Salsa: Chunky salsa can add a Mexican-inspired flavor to casseroles. Be sure to choose a brand with low carb content.
Keto Shredded Chicken Casserole Recipes
1. Mexican Keto Chicken Casserole
This recipe is perfect for those who love Mexican food. It’s rich, cheesy, and full of chicken, making it a filling and comforting meal.
Ingredients:
- Cooked chicken breast (shredded or chopped)
- Cream cheese
- Cauliflower rice
- Chunky salsa (low carb)
- Shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Chili powder
- Cumin
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Soften the cream cheese by microwaving it in a microwave-safe bowl with salsa for a minute or two.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cauliflower rice, and half of the shredded cheese. Add the cream cheese mixture and stir well.
- Spoon the mixture into a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Recipe Tip: To add other vegetables than the cauliflower rice you can add broccoli rice or finely chopped broccoli florets or any low carb veggies you want.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
2. Creamy Keto Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
This casserole combines shredded chicken breasts and vegetables with a creamy sauce, covered in cheddar cheese.
Ingredients:
- Shredded chicken breast
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Fresh cauliflower florets
- Heavy whipping cream
- Cream cheese
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Other seasonings to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Steam the broccoli and cauliflower florets until fork-tender.
- In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, and seasonings. Microwave if needed to soften the cream cheese.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and shredded carrot.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables and stir well.
- Pour the mixture into a casserole dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Recipe Tip: For a richer flavor, use rotisserie chicken. You can also add a crunchy topping using crushed pork rinds or almond flour mixed with melted butter and seasonings.
3. Italian Chicken Meal Prep Casserole
This casserole features tender chicken, juicy tomatoes, spinach, and Italian seasoning.
Ingredients:
- Cooked chicken (shredded or cubed)
- Fresh cherry tomatoes, diced
- Spinach
- Zucchini, sliced
- Sour cream or mayonnaise
- Italian seasoning
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and oil a casserole dish.
- Toss the chicken in sour cream or mayonnaise and mix in Italian seasoning.
- Layer zucchini and spinach at the bottom of the casserole dish, saving extra spinach for the top.
- Spoon diced tomatoes on top of the chicken.
- If desired, add grated Parmesan to the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Recipe Tip: To avoid excess water in the casserole, lightly bake zucchini slices in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes before adding them to the casserole.
4. Keto Chicken Divan Casserole
A classic casserole made keto-friendly.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Ingredients:
- Cooked chicken (shredded or cubed)
- Broccoli florets
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Dijon mustard
- Minced garlic
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried thyme
- Paprika
- Cayenne
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Line a rimmed baking dish with foil and grease the foil.
- Arrange the chicken breasts in the prepared pan. Spray them with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake until cooked through, for about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, pepper, dried thyme, paprika, cayenne, and ½ cup of shredded cheddar.
- When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven but keep the oven on. Allow the chicken to slightly cool until it's easier to handle. Cut it into cubes or shred it.
- Add the chicken cubes to the bowl with the mayonnaise-sour cream mixture and toss to coat.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the casserole with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, for about 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle the casserole with sliced scallions and bacon bits. Serve immediately.
5. Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Ingredients:
- Chicken breast halves
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Cream cheese
- Shredded white cheddar cheese
- Bacon crumbles
- Ranch dressing (keto-friendly)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Place four chicken breast halves into a shallow baking dish.
- Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of garlic powder over top of the breasts, then season them with salt and pepper.
- Next, drizzle a bit of extra virgin olive oil over the chicken before you then spread the cream cheese over top.
- Sprinkle shredded white cheddar cheese and bacon crumbles over the cream cheese.
- Drizzle ranch dressing over the top.
- Bake until chicken is cooked through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Spicy Keto Chicken Casserole
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts
- Red bell peppers, chopped
- Jalapeno peppers, chopped
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Salsa (spicy or mild)
- Onion, finely chopped
- Dried oregano
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Cream cheese, softened
- Shredded white cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Place chicken breasts in a shallow baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine red bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, chili powder, ground cumin, salsa, onion, and dried oregano. Add one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and then pour the mixture over top of the chicken breasts in a shallow baking dish.
- Add in a bit of softened cream cheese and shredded white cheddar cheese for a topping to finish it all off.
- Bake until chicken is cooked through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Keto Casseroles
- Pre-cook Chicken: To ensure the chicken is cooked through and to avoid watery casseroles, pre-cook the chicken before adding it to the casserole.
- Don't Overcook Vegetables: When steaming or boiling vegetables, cook them until they are fork-tender but not mushy.
- Adjust Creaminess: Adjust the amount of cream cheese, sour cream, or mayonnaise to achieve your desired level of creaminess.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- Add a Crunchy Topping: For a crunchy topping, consider using crushed pork rinds, almond flour mixed with melted butter and seasonings, or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
- Use Low-Carb Salsa: When using salsa, choose a brand with low carb content to keep the casserole keto-friendly.
- Experiment with Cheese: Try different combinations of cheeses to create unique flavor profiles.
- Store Leftovers Properly: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Serving Suggestions
Keto chicken casseroles can be served as a main course. Consider these serving suggestions:
- As Is: Many keto chicken casseroles are satisfying enough to be enjoyed on their own.
- With a Side Salad: A simple side salad can add freshness and fiber to the meal.
- Over Cauliflower Rice: Serve the casserole over cauliflower rice for a complete and satisfying keto meal.
- With Low-Carb Toppings: Add toppings like sour cream, guacamole, black olives, or jalapenos for extra flavor and texture.
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