Keto Chicken Casserole

Low Carb Chicken Casserole Recipe

This gooey, cheesy cauliflower rice based casserole is tasty and healthy with broccoli florets and diced chicken. This keto broccoli cheese casserole is flavored with sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and just a hint of cayenne pepper for a little extra spice. The keto casserole is topped with a cheesy, buttery keto breadcrumb mixture made from pork panko and parmesan cheese. Pork panko is our crunchy and delicious keto substitute for bread crumbs. This casserole is also a great dish to make ahead for dinner, so you can meal prep easily. You can even freeze it for a quick meal later on. Or enjoy the low carb casserole now since it only takes about 30 minutes to make!

Cheese makes every casserole better

Cheese is an irresistible addition that simply makes every casserole better. Plus, it is keto-friendly! In this keto chicken broccoli casserole, we add sharp cheddar cheese because it adds a lot of flavor to the dish. It will even help cover the taste of cauliflower rice if you are not a fan. The best cheddar cheese for this dish is sharp cheddar since it has a more intense flavor than mild or medium cheddar. You should add a minimum of 4 oz of shredded sharp cheddar, but you can add up to 8 oz for maximum yumminess. The cream cheese also helps combine all of the ingredients to make the keto chicken casserole gooey and creamy.

How to prepare broccoli for the casserole

If you want to save time on food prep, you can buy bagged and washed broccoli florets. Although pre-bagged broccoli florets are usually more expensive than cutting up broccoli yourself, it is an excellent option if you are busy throughout the day. You can cook the broccoli by steaming it in the microwave or steaming it over the stove-top. To steam it in the microwave, place the florets in a bowl with a few tablespoons of water and cover it with a plastic wrap. Microwave the broccoli for about 2-4 minutes or until the broccoli is tender. Make sure you remove as much water from the broccoli before adding it to your casserole so that your casserole isn’t watery.

Chopping up broccoli ahead of time into bite sized pieces is a great way to meal prep some of the ingredients ahead of time so you can save time and money. Frozen broccoli is also a quick option for this broccoli chicken casserole.

Make-ahead instructions

Keto chicken casserole is the perfect make-ahead meal. Just assemble the casserole as written above, but don’t bake it. Make sure to cover the casserole with a freezer-safe lid. Then you can freeze the casserole for 1-2 months or store it in the fridge for a maximum of 3-4 days. To reheat the casserole, bake it from frozen for 45 minutes or until it is cooked entirely through.

Another way to make this keto casserole even easier is to use pre-cooked shredded chicken. I like to make up a bunch of shredded chicken in the instant pot and freeze it for easy low carb dinners throughout the week. A rotisserie chicken will also work if you are in need of pre-cooked chicken.