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Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole – Keto Recipe

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Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole baked in a cast iron skillet. This simple and delicious keto dinner comes together in 25 minutes or less. Rich and hearty and only 6g total carbs.

Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole in a cast iron skillet

I don’t think I’ve ever craved casseroles the way I am craving them this winter. And this creamy, cheesy (and easy!) Chicken Broccoli Casserole just shot to the top of the list for me. It’s the best kind of keto comfort food. Rich, hearty, and full of flavour and good fats.

I also love casseroles cooked or baked in a skillet. The busier I get, the more important it is to cut down on excess dishes. So if I can cook the full meal all in one pan, I am that much happier come dinner time.

And you want me happy, trust me. Just ask my kids. When mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.

So besides being creamy and hearty and cheesy, this Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole is also an easy one pan meal. And you’re going to thank me for it.

Sprinkling mozzarella cheese over chicken and broccoli in a skillet

Chicken and Broccoli Skillet Inspiration

Chicken and broccoli is not an unusual combination in any way, but I found my inspiration for this skillet dinner standing in line at the grocery store check out. There it was, staring me in the face, on the front of Cast Iron Cooking or some such magazine.

Oh my it looked good. And the drizzly cold rain in Portland made it look even better.

Except as many such chicken casseroles are, it was made with… you guessed it… pasta.

Um, no thanks. Why can’t the chicken and broccoli be enough? Why water down the nutrition in the good stuff with all the unnecessary carbs?

That was, of course, my call to make a keto version with plenty of chicken and broccoli and no fillers.

Close up spoonful of Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole

How To Make Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Right, so the pasta had to go. Bye bye, pasta, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

But many casseroles like this are also thickened with flour and we simply couldn’t have that either. But if you use heavy cream, thickeners are almost entirely unnecessary.

I essentially made the sauce in a very similar fashion to keto alfredo sauce. Just butter, garlic, cream, and Parmesan, plus some salt and pepper. When you bring cream to a simmer for a few minutes, it thickens up remarkably well. Sometimes a bit too well, and I find myself having to add a little water to thin it out.

I increased the amount of broccoli to up the nutritional quotient. Several conventional recipes I referenced had a scant cup of broccoli for the whole casserole. Why skimp on that? I put in a full 12 ounces, which is closer to 3 cups chopped.

I would recommend fresh broccoli here for the best flavor but you could certainly use frozen. Just warm it through in the pan but don’t cook it too long as the freezing and thawing process already makes frozen broccoli break down a little more easily.

For the chicken, I use boneless skinless chicken thighs. I simply place them in some broth and simmer them for 15 minutes until cooked through, and then I chop them. But to make things even easier, you can use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken.

Then top the whole skillet with some shredded mozzarella, broil it for a few minutes and voila! Easy Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole.

It’s a fabulous meal on a cold dreary winter day. I could use some right now, actually!

A scoopful of easy Chicken Broccoli Casserole on a wooden spoon

More Keto Casserole Recipes

Cheeseburger Casserole with Spaghetti Squash

Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

One Pan Pizza Chicken

Tuna Casserole

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole

5 from 31 votes
Close up spoonful of Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Print
Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
16 mins
Total Time
21 mins
 

Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole baked in a cast iron skillet. This simple and delicious keto dinner comes together in 25 minutes or less. Rich and hearty and only 6g total carbs.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken and broccoli, chicken broccoli casserole
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 493 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter, divided
  • 12 ounces broccoli , coarsely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper
  • 3 cups cooked chopped chicken (about 1 1/4 lbs)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Set a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of the butter. Once melted, add the broccoli and sauté until bright green and just tender, about 4 minutes. Remove the broccoli to a bowl.

  2. Melt the remaining butter in the pan and add the garlic, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cream and bring to a simmer, then cook until reduced by about half, 3 to 5 minutes.

  3. Stir in 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and all of the Parmesan until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the broccoli and the chicken and top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. 

  4. Preheat the broiler. Set the pan about 6 inches from the heat and broil until the cheese is beginning to brown, 2 to 5 minutes (depends on how intense your broiler is!).

Nutrition Facts
Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Amount Per Serving (1 serving = 1/6th of recipe)
Calories 493 Calories from Fat 312
% Daily Value*
Fat 34.7g53%
Carbohydrates 6.1g2%
Fiber 1.5g6%
Protein 27.2g54%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

  3. I made this tonight and it was a hit with the family!! And I have a confession. I was out of shredded mozzarella so I used string cheese. We do what we must-it turned out yummy-like all of Carolyn’s recipes. Thanks for another keto winner winner chicken dinner!

    Reply

  5. Oh my, that looks so good! I would make it right now if I had chicken but, too much snow on the ground to go out right now. guess I will soon as I can! Thank you so much for all you do for us. You have sat at our table many times now. Blessings, Lisa

    Reply

  6. I have canned chicken, frozen broccoli and some jarred alfredo sauce, and a ton of mozz cheese. I am going to make this either tonight or tomorrow! Thanks. I am baking the Rhubarb Coffee Cake right now. Can’t wait! Will be my lunch per se. I am so much like you a carnivore with a sweet tooth, so I love all of your recipes and you don’t use too much avocado, as I don’t like it, and I am allergic to olives and mushrooms and shellfish, so almost every recipe I can make and love! You are the BEST!
    Thanks, you make this so much easier. I did purchase some low carb bread, but come to find out each slice is 22grams of carbs. That went in the freezer. I now have some that is 12grams per slice. I had a sunflower nut and SF raspberry jam on 1 slice for breakfast!

    Reply

  7. 5 stars
    This. Was. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I did use frozen broccoli, and doubled a lot of the ingredients (only because I have a family of 6 and I try to make enough for leftovers). It was Soooo good! Hardly any left for my lunches for the week!
    If using frozen, I did end up using 32 oz of frozen broccoli florets, which seemed like just the right amount. I also used 1.7 lbs of chicken breasts, which I pan fried in an iron skillet with Olive oil. I think I used about 2 cups of cream, and I NEVER measure the garlic, I ALWAYS throw in at least double if not triple the amount called for… we LOVE garlic.

    This is a GREAT fish though and it will def make it into our monthly rotation…

    Reply

  8. I’m thinking of adding riced cauliflower to this to make it more like the traditional Chicken, Broccoli and Rice casserole. Should I use more liquid? If so, how much do you think I should add? TIA

    Reply

  9. 5 stars
    This was excellent – thank you!! No leftovers, which made me sad for lunch tomorrow. Guess I’ll have to cook up another of your recipes for that!

    Reply

  12. 5 stars
    Chicken & broccoli is such a classic & comforting dish!! I love the combination! I can’t wait to try this!

    Reply

  14. Can this be made with just mozzarella cheese as my husband is on a low potassium diet so hard cheeses are not allowed.

    Reply

  16. 5 stars
    This was very tasty, we had this just tonight after seeing so many people on Facebook making it! I used my 12” cast iron skillet, so made 1.5x the recipe which fit nicely. I started out just sautéing the cut up chicken, then removed it from the pan and continued the recipe as listed. It initially didn’t look like as many servings as I expected, but it is so very rich that you don’t need a huge amount. I had my serving with a salad, but it would be nice on mashed or riced cauliflower. (Non-Keto family members had a starchy side) I might reduce the Parmesan mixed into the sauce, as I found that it thickened it a little too much, perhaps just use some on top with the mozzarella for the flavour. This seems quite customizable should one wish to use Mexican seasonings and spicy cheese, or Greek oregano and some feta? Thanks so much!

    Reply

  17. My husband and I are following the keto diet…I see this recipe is for 6 servings so how do you
    figure out equal serving sizes? TIA

    Reply

  18. This recipe is AMAZING!!! YOU ROCK! THANK YOU for all the delicious recipes! I LOVE your books! Do you know of an app similar to my fitness pal ( recipe part) where you can add ingredients showing macros… yet simpler than my fitness pal?
    thanks!
    Jackie

    Reply

  20. 5 stars
    Excellent recipe! Followed it exactly and my whole family loved it and wants it as part of our regular rotation. It’s so easy to make, too! Thank you!!

    Reply

  21. 5 stars
    Carolyn, is this recipe in your Keto Dinners book?
    Yesterday, I ordered Keto Breakfasts, Keto Dinners, and Keto Desserts. Two of the books will be delivered on Thursday; I can hardly wait to begin trying some new Keto recipes.

    Reply

    • Hi Sharon… it’s not. While there is some crossover between my books and my blog, publishers like to see NEW recipes for books. So what you will get in those books is mostly fresh new recipes you haven’t seen here. Thank you so much for your support!

      Reply

  23. 5 stars
    Such a tasty and easy recipe. Thank you! Your Dessert cookbook will be at my house tomorrow! I know what I’m doing with my long weekend. 🙂

    Reply

  25. 5 stars
    We just made this tonight, and love it! We made one change and used Monterey Jack cheese instead of mozzarella. It turned out amazing! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  26. 5 stars
    Excellent recipe!! I used a rotisserie chicken and cheddar blend cheese and it came out absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing such an easy and great recipe!

    Reply

  27. 5 stars
    This recipe was delicious!! I also ran out of mozzarella, so like Amy, I used string cheese (chopped) and some monterey jack. We served it over Cauliflower rice and ate almost all of it for dinner. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!!

    Reply

  28. 5 stars
    This recipe is so easy and delicious! My husband and I both loved it. I didn’t realize until I was putting everything away and it was in the oven that I forgot the parmesan cheese but it was still outstanding!
    Thanks for another great recipe!

    Reply

    • Well in this case, I just used rotisserie chicken. But a good way to cook chicken for shredding… Place boneless thighs in a pot and cover with broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook 15 minutes or so. Remove, cool, and shred. And the broth can be re-used for soup!

      Reply

  34. 5 stars
    A fabulous casserole for a hungry family of four! I added spinach for a little extra in the pan and wow, so yummy!
    Thanks, Carolyn. You keep the kids coming back to the table. Considering they’re 23 and 19 I may have to quit trying your awesome recipes or the may never move out!

    Reply

  36. 5 stars
    THIS IS AMAZING!!

    My mom recently switched to a low/no carb diet so I’ve been treating her by making dinners every night. This is definitely being added to the book of favourites! I add in about two tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley and two teaspoons of herbes de provance. Sooo good! My mom and brother love it as well as I!

    Reply

  37. 5 stars
    I am not a cook but your recipes are so easy to follow and yummy that you make me look good!! Thank you! My family loved this – it was fabulous and easy!

    Reply

  38. Run through you mr recioes in a daily basis, this is dinner tonight. Going to add in some mushrooms and cauliflower rice . There may be leftovers if I do that. Thanks for all your great recipes.

    Reply

  40. This is not just one of the best recipes of 2019, we think it’s one of the best of the decade! Makes Keto so easy.

    Reply

  42. This was too good….I made it just like the recipe…but then I ate 13 ounces of it all by myself!!…Not even gonna try and figure my macros today…I just won’t eat anything else today…This stuff is dangerously good! Thank you.

    Reply

  43. 5 stars
    Easy, cheesy, savory, and of course keto friendly for the no carb/sugar enthusiasts out there.
    The only thing I would do different is to cook the chicken in the pan after the broccoli, remove, and then de-glaze the pan while making the cheese sauce. A little heat such as some red pepper when cooking the broccoli, and/or adding some onion in with the garlic, or some cayenne into the the cheese sauce really works with the recipe for some extra flavor.

    Reply

  45. 5 stars
    Since moving back to the Midwest, I have craved a good casserole. I wasn’t sure I’d get another one on Keto. Thank you! This was so easy to make and it tastes amazing! I had to stop myself from going for seconds 🙂

    Reply

  47. 5 stars
    Great recipe. Baked and shredded the chicken (used garlic powder, pepper, and salt to season) and doubled the heavy whipping cream and cheese!

    Reply

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