This easy and tasty keto chicken broccoli casserole is a dish that brings together the best of both worlds – it’s good for you and it tastes great.
If you’re following a keto diet, or just trying to cut down on carbs, this recipe is a real winner. It’s packed with protein from the chicken and has plenty of healthy fats to keep you feeling full and satisfied.
Making this casserole is pretty straightforward. You’ll start by cooking the broccoli until it’s just tender, then mix it with shredded chicken. The sauce is made with cream cheese, heavy cream, and a few simple seasonings that give it lots of flavor.
Once everything is mixed together, you just top it with cheddar cheese and bake until it’s hot and bubbly.
This casserole is also great for meal prep. You can make a big batch on Sunday and have easy, keto-friendly meals ready for the week ahead. It reheats well, so you can take it to work for lunch or have a quick dinner ready on busy evenings.
👍 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Protein-Packed: With chicken as the main ingredient, this casserole is loaded with protein. Protein is super important on the keto diet because it helps keep you feeling full and satisfied.
Veggie Goodness: Broccoli is the star vegetable in this dish, and it’s a great choice for keto dieters. It’s low in carbs but high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Nutrient-Dense: This casserole isn’t just low-carb, it’s also packed with nutrients. The chicken provides protein, the broccoli offers vitamins and fiber, and the dairy products add calcium and other important minerals.
Budget-Friendly: The ingredients for this casserole are pretty basic and affordable. You don’t need any fancy or expensive “keto” products to make it. It’s a great option for anyone trying to stick to a keto diet while also watching their budget.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded) – I recommend this cheese (amazon)
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- 1 pound Broccoli (florets)
- 1 Chicken Meat (1 rotisserie shredded)
- 1/4 cup Basil (chopped)
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Almond Milk (unsweetened)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard (I recommend this one – amazon)
- 3/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
👨🍳 How To Make
Follow this easy recipe:
Step 1
Start by preheating the oven to 400°F and placing a saucepan with water over high heat.
Step 2
Add the broccoli florets to the saucepan and boil for about 3-4 minutes.
Step 3
Drain the water and add the broccoli to a large mixing bowl along with the shredded chicken.
Step 4
Place a small saucepan over low heat. Add the heavy cream, cream cheese, almond milk, garlic powder, mustard, pepper, and salt. Whisk until the sauce is very smooth.
Step 5
Pour the sauce into the broccoli and chicken mixture, and add basil. Mix well to combine.
Step 6
Pour the mixture into a casserole dish. Top with the shredded cheddar cheese and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until warm and the cheese browns. Serve and enjoy!
💡Tips
1. The Cheese Sauce
The cheese sauce is key to this casserole, so take your time with it. Start with the cream cheese at room temperature – it’ll melt more smoothly.
When you’re heating the cream, cream cheese, and almond milk, keep the heat low. If the heat’s too high, the sauce might separate or become grainy.
Whisk constantly until everything is smooth. Don’t rush this step – it might take a few minutes, but patience will give you a silky-smooth sauce.
2. Watch that oven temp
I baked at 400°F, but ovens can vary. If you know your oven runs hot, you might want to reduce the temperature to 375°F. Keep an eye on the casserole as it bakes.
You want the cheese on top to be melted and starting to brown, but not burnt. If it’s browning too quickly, cover the dish with aluminum foil.
On the flip side, if your cheese isn’t browning enough, you can switch to the broiler for the last minute or two.
3. Make it your own
While this recipe is great as is, don’t be afraid to experiment. You could try different types of cheese – pepper jack adds a nice kick, or a mix of cheddar and mozzarella gives a great stretch.
For extra flavor, try adding some cooked, crumbled bacon on top before baking. If you want more vegetables, spinach or cauliflower work well in this dish.
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FAQ
1. Can I freeze this casserole?
Yes, this casserole freezes well. Let it cool completely first. The casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bake until heated through.
2. Can I use other vegetables instead of broccoli?
Absolutely! While broccoli works great in this recipe, you can swap it out for other low-carb vegetables. Cauliflower is a great alternative and behaves similarly to broccoli in this dish. You could also try spinach, kale, or Brussels sprouts.
3. What can I serve with this casserole to make it a complete meal?
This casserole is pretty hearty on its own, but if you want to round out the meal, consider adding a simple side salad with a high-fat dressing like ranch or blue cheese. A few slices of avocado would also complement the dish nicely and add some healthy fats.
Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded –I recommend this cheese (amazon)
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- 1 pound Broccoli florets
- 1 Chicken Meat 1 rotisserie shredded
- 1/4 cup Basil chopped
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Almond Milk unsweetened
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard (I recommend this one – amazon)
- 3/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 400°F and placing a saucepan with water over high heat.
- Add the broccoli florets to the saucepan and boil for about 3-4 minutes.
- Drain the water and add the broccoli to a large mixing bowl along with the shredded chicken.
- Place a small saucepan over low heat. Add the heavy cream, cream cheese, almond milk, garlic powder, mustard, pepper, and salt. Whisk until the sauce is very smooth.
- Pour the sauce into the broccoli and chicken mixture, and add basil. Mix well to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a casserole dish. Top with the shredded cheddar cheese and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until warm and the cheese browns. Serve and enjoy!