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    Home » Keto Dinner Ideas » Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    Published: Feb 26, 2019 · Modified: Jan 14, 2022 by Carolyn

    Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole

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    112.3K shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This cheesy chicken broccoli casserole is a stunningly easy and delicious keto dinner recipe. It comes together in 25 minutes and has less than 5g net carbs per serving!

    Close up shot of a serving of keto chicken broccoli casserole on a stack of blue plates.

    I don’t think I’ve ever craved casseroles the way I am craving them this winter. We’ve been enjoying smoked sausage casserole, ham and cauliflower casserole, and keto zucchini lasagna all winter.

    But this creamy, low-carb 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.

    And who doesn’t love a full keto meal that you bake in a single dish? The busier we get, the more important it is to cut down on excess dishes. If I can cook the full meal all in one pan, I am that much happier come dinner time.

    This keto chicken broccoli casserole checks all the boxes. It’s hearty and satisfying, it has protein, veggies, and healthy fats, and it goes from stovetop to oven in a single large skillet.

    Top down image of keto chicken broccoli casserole in a cast iron skillet.

    Easy chicken casserole recipe

    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 for the fact that it was made with 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?

    Of course, now I simply had to make a keto broccoli chicken casserole, with more of the good stuff and less of the carby fillers!

    Close up shot of keto chicken broccoli casserole in a cast iron skillet.

    Ingredients

    This easy keto meal takes ingredients you can find at any grocery store. You will need:

    • Cooked chicken
    • Broccoli florets
    • Butter
    • Heavy whipping cream
    • Mozzarella or cheddar cheese
    • Parmesan
    • Garlic
    • Salt and pepper
    A fork lifting low carb chicken and broccoli off the plate.

    How to make keto chicken broccoli casserole

    1. Use an ovenproof skillet: This is a recipe that goes straight from stovetop to oven, so that you don’t have to transfer the mixture to a casserole dish. The skillet does not have to be cast iron, although it’s always a good choice. 
    2. Use plenty of broccoli: 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. This makes the recipe a full one-pan meal. 
    3. Cook the broccoli: Chop the florets coarsely so it cooks through a little faster and more evenly. You want to sauté it until it’s bright green and just bareIy tender, as it will cook more in the oven. I don’t recommend frozen broccoli here as it will become overcooked and mushy very quickly. 
    4. Make the sauce: I made a basic keto alfredo sauce, with plenty of butter, cream, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. As long as you use heavy cream, you don’t need flour or cream cheese to thicken it. Just simmer a few minutes and keep your eye on it so that it doesn’t thicken too much.
    5. Add the broccoli and chicken: Any pre-cooked chicken will work here. I like to quickly cook some chicken thighs by simmering them in chicken broth for 15 minutes. But you can use use rotisserie chicken too. 
    6. Sprinkle with the cheese: I used mozzarella for that extra gooey factor, but you could try other cheeses such as cheddar or Gruyere.
    7. Broil the casserole: This melts the cheese and makes it deliciously golden brown on top.
    A collage of 4 photos showing how to make keto chicken broccoli casserole.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will frozen broccoli work in this recipe?

    I don’t really recommend it, but if that’s all you have, thaw it completely first. Then sauté it very briefly in the first step so it doesn’t overcook.

    How do I bake it instead of broiling it?

    Preheat your oven to 350ºF and bake the casserole for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

    Can I use a different cheese?

    Sure! Feel free to use any cheese that melts well, such as Gruyere, Fontina, or cheddar. It will be delicious with all of them.

    How do I make this dairy-free?

    This keto chicken broccoli casserole recipe is best made with dairy. You can sub coconut cream for the heavy cream, but it won’t thicken as nicely so I recommend whisking in a little xanthan gum or glucomannan. Then add your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese to the top.

    A wooden spoon lifting keto chicken broccoli casserole out of the skillet.
    Top down image of keto chicken broccoli casserole in a cast iron skillet.

    Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    This cheesy chicken broccoli casserole is a stunningly easy and delicious keto dinner recipe. It comes together in 25 minutes and has less than 5g net carbs per serving!
    4.97 from 83 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: keto chicken broccoli casserole
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 16 minutes
    Total Time: 21 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 493kcal

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup butter, divided
    • 12 ounces broccoli , coarsely chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella, divided
    • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • Salt and pepper
    • 3 cups cooked chopped chicken (about 1 ¼ lbs)
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Stir in ½ 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. 
    • 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 = ⅙th 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.
    112.3K shares

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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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      Recipe Rating




    1. Virginia Sanchez says

      March 22, 2023 at 5:00 pm

      5 stars
      Oh Carolyn, this was so delicious!!! Just so happened, I had all the ingredients on hand and had just bought a rotisserie chicken! Even the grandkids were lovin’ it…thank you for all these wonderful recipes!

      Reply
    2. Connie says

      March 07, 2023 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      Made this last night, it was perfect!! I used my smaller cast iron and it was super fast and easy. I did add more cream to thin it out because my husband prefers things “extra saucy”

      Reply
    3. Geannie says

      February 10, 2023 at 10:35 am

      I had frozen broccoli so I followed another commenter’s advice and skipped the pan sauté all together. Used cooked chicken, so it was just a matter of running water over broccoli a bit to thaw, then layering it with the cooked chicken. Went straight to sauce step, added it and the cheese, and right into the broiler. It was prefect and super quick.

      Reply
    4. Charmaine Wardrop says

      January 25, 2023 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      This is so good! I didn’t miss the pasta that much.
      I think next time I will sauté some mushrooms to add to it, but it is delicious as is.
      Thank you for all you do!

      Reply
    5. Linda Day says

      January 07, 2023 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      I usually get annoyed when people write a review and they changed the recipe, but this is such a great basis for so many variations. I didn’t have enough broccoli so I added some mushrooms & chopped zucchini. I didn’t have any chicken so I used 3 cans of tuna. It was delicious and very ‘comfort’ food satisfying. Thank you!

      Reply
    6. Diane says

      December 27, 2022 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      I made this and loved it! However, my sauce turned out very thick and gummy, not creamy. Not sure what I did wrong. Did I cook it too long?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        December 27, 2022 at 6:18 pm

        Sounds like maybe that’s the case.

        Reply
    7. Allison says

      December 19, 2022 at 9:00 pm

      5 stars
      We loved this, full of flavor and very filling. The fresh broccoli was delicious. This is an easy recipe that can be enhanced if one wants. We upped the chicken spice flavor with a couple of bullion cubes incorporated with the sautéing broccoli (with a bit of water in the pan). Had some green onions, fresh parsley, and black olives so added those on the top after the dish was out of the broiler.

      Reply
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