For those following a ketogenic diet, finding convenient and flavorful recipes can sometimes be a challenge. Slow cookers, also known as crockpots, offer an excellent solution for creating delicious, low-carb meals with minimal effort. Chicken, being a versatile and protein-rich ingredient, is a perfect fit for slow cooker keto recipes. This article explores a variety of slow-cooked keto chicken recipes, providing detailed instructions, helpful tips, and serving suggestions to make your ketogenic journey both enjoyable and sustainable.
Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
This slow cooker balsamic chicken recipe is a high-protein, low-carb, and naturally gluten-free dinner option. It is a dump-and-go recipe, requiring minimal effort to prepare.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts
- Onions, thinly sliced
- Canned tomatoes
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
- Italian herbs
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Spray the crockpot with nonstick spray.
- Add the sliced onions to the bottom of the crockpot.
- Place the chicken breasts on top of the onions.
- Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Add the canned tomatoes and seasonings.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Tips and Variations:
- Use chicken thighs for a juicier result, especially if cooking longer than 4 hours.
- Add bell peppers or mushrooms for extra vegetables.
- Stir in parmesan cheese or a splash of cream at the end for a richer sauce.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve over rice, pasta, or mashed cauliflower.
- Pair with roasted vegetables and crusty bread.
- Shred and use in wraps, sandwiches, or grain bowls.
Storage and Reheating:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a splash of broth if the sauce has thickened too much.
Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
This keto chicken bacon ranch casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and flavorful dish that can be easily made in the slow cooker. With just a few ingredients, you can create a satisfying and low-carb meal.
Ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Ranch seasoning mix
- Cooked bacon, crumbled
- Green onion, finely chopped
- Cream cheese, cubed
- Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions:
- Spray the crock of your slow cooker with a nonstick cooking spray.
- Add the chicken breasts to the crockpot and season with salt and black pepper.
- Cut up the cream cheese into cubes and spread evenly over the chicken.
- Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix and most of the green onions, saving some for garnish.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese over the chicken mixture.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- When the chicken is very tender, take two forks and shred the chicken in the crock.
- Mix it well with the cream cheese mixture, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top of the chicken mixture, then garnish with the remaining green onion and crumbled crispy bacon.
- Wait for the heat from the casserole to melt the cheese and then serve.
Serving Suggestions:
- Eat as is.
- Serve over cauliflower rice.
- Serve in low-carb buns as a sandwich.
- Serve in a wrap with low-carb tortillas or mixed with veggie noodles.
Storage and Reheating:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Freeze for a quick keto lunch.
Keto Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken with Green Beans
This recipe combines the convenience of a slow cooker with the delicious flavors of honey and garlic, all while keeping it low-carb. The chicken turns out juicy and tender, and the green beans soak up the flavors of the sauce.
Ingredients:
- Chicken tenders (or chicken breasts, trimmed)
- Frozen green beans
- Chicken broth
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
- Low-carb honey substitute
- Dried ginger
- Minced garlic
- Onion powder
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Place the chicken tenders in the bottom of the crockpot.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, sesame oil, apple cider vinegar, low-carb honey substitute, dried ginger, minced garlic, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Pour the mixture over the chicken.
- Add the frozen green beans to the crockpot and gently stir to coat them in the sauce.
- Cover the crockpot and cook for 5 hours on LOW or 2.5 hours on HIGH.
- Continue cooking for 1 more hour on LOW or 30 more minutes on HIGH, until the chicken is fully cooked and the green beans are tender.
- (Optional) If you’d like a thicker sauce, you have two options: Whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water to make a quick slurry and stir it into the crockpot. Or, for a low-carb option, lightly sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum over the sauce while whisking.
- Cover and cook for another 15-30 minutes, until the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if desired.
Tips and Variations:
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less red pepper flakes.
- Use fresh green beans, but adjust the cooking time accordingly (6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH).
- Canned green beans can be used, but add them during the last 30-45 minutes of cook time.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve as is.
- Serve over cauliflower rice.
Nutritional Information:
- Each serving has approximately 174 calories, 19g of protein, 7g of fat, 2g of fiber, and 9g of carbs (7g net carbs).
Storage and Reheating:
- Freeze leftovers in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
- Warm the chicken and green beans in the microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.
Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken with Broccoli and Bacon
This keto crockpot meal combines the comforting flavors of cream cheese and bacon with the nutritional benefits of chicken and broccoli. It’s a one-dish meal that’s easy to prepare and satisfying to eat.
Read also: Weight Loss with Cabbage Soup
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs or breasts
- Cream cheese
- Onion and chive cream cheese
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Broccoli florets
- Bacon, cooked and chopped
- Cauliflower rice
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Place chicken, cream cheese, onion and chive cream cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in the Crockpot.
- Add the broccoli to the slow cooker about 15 minutes before serving.
- 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.
- To serve, dish up about 3/4 cup of cauliflower rice and top with about 1 cup chicken broccoli mixture.
- Sprinkle with bacon and 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve over cauliflower rice.
Keto Slow Cooker Zesty Ranch Chicken
This keto slow cooker zesty ranch chicken is a versatile and flavorful dish that requires minimal effort. It’s perfect for tacos, sandwiches, salads, and more.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
- Cream cheese
- Ranch dressing mix
- Pepperoncini peppers
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in your slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until chicken is easily shredded.
- Shred the chicken with two forks.
Tips and Variations:
- Adjust the spice level by adding or removing pepperoncini peppers.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve in tacos, sandwiches, wraps, sliders, or burritos.
- Serve on salads, rice, or pasta.
Storage and Reheating:
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze in an airtight container for up to 4 months.
- Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until hot.
Crock Pot Creamy Keto Tuscan Chicken
This creamy keto Tuscan chicken is a comforting and flavorful dish that’s easy to make in the crockpot. It features tender chicken thighs in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and basil.
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Basil
- Garlic
- Chicken broth
- Heavy whipping cream
- Konjac root powder (optional, for thickening)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Layer half of the chicken thighs in the bottom of the crock pot.
- Sprinkle half of the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and garlic on top of the chicken.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, if you like.
- Repeat with the remaining chicken thighs, tomatoes, basil, and garlic.
- Pour the chicken broth into the side of the pot, being careful not to disturb the chicken and seasonings.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 4 1/2 hours on low.
- Open the lid and pour in the heavy whipping cream.
- If you like a thicker sauce, carefully sprinkle the konjac root powder in an even layer on top of the liquids. Stir the liquid gently with a fork, without moving the chicken. Omit the konjac root powder if you like your sauce thinner.
- Close the lid and cook for 20 more minutes.
- Turn off slow cooker and serve.
Tips and Variations:
- Use chicken breasts instead of thighs if desired.
- Add a little bone broth for extra health benefits.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes without oil, soaking them in water or olive oil to plump them up.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve over keto pasta or riced cauliflower.
- Serve by itself with a side of salad.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil before serving.
Storage and Reheating:
- Store leftovers in a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat in the microwave to your desired warmth.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in fridge overnight and then microwave.
Easy Crockpot Chicken Stew Recipe (Low Carb, Keto)
This thick and creamy low carb, keto chicken stew is made right in the crockpot. It’s a dump-and-go recipe that requires no sautéing of the chicken or onions.
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs, diced
- Chicken stock
- Carrots, chopped
- Celery, chopped
- Onion, chopped
- Rosemary
- Garlic
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Xanthan gum (for thickening)
- Morton Lite salt for seasoning
Instructions:
- Place the chicken stock, carrots, celery, onion, chicken thighs, rosemary, garlic, thyme, and oregano into a 3-quart crockpot or larger.
- Sprinkle and thicken with xantham gum to desired thickness starting at ⅛th teaspoon.
Low Carb Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
This low carb slow cooker Greek chicken makes for an easy and tasty dinner for busy weeknights. Full of lemon, spices and garlic to create tender and juicy chicken you can eat this over cauliflower rice for tasty keto dinner.
Ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Fresh cloves of garlic
- Fresh lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh lemons, sliced
Instructions:
- Spray crock of slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the chicken breasts down in the crock.
- In a medium bowl add the crushed garlic, spices, olive oil, lemon and lemon zest. Whisk to combine then pour over the chicken pieces.
- Slice the remaining lemon and place on top.
- Put the lid on and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Cooking time may vary but you know it's done when the chicken is tender. The internal temperature shoudl be 165°F when using a meat thermometer.
- When done spoon and pour into a big serving bowl and even garnish with herbs like fresh parsley if you want. The cooked lemons are actually edible but you can throw them away though.
Tips and Variations:
- You can use bone in chicken breast or evern thighs if you prefer but don't make sure that it is skinless.
- You can also shred the meat if you prefer.
Serving Suggestions:
- Use the sauce over cauliflower rice for a low carb meal or use regular white rice.
- Leftovers make great lemon chicken salad.
Read also: Understanding the Slow-Carb Diet
Read also: Delicious Slow Carb Breakfast Recipes