Easy Low Carb Chicken Casserole

Are you on the hunt for a truly comforting meal that soothes the soul without straying from your low-carb goals? A cosy, delicious dish that the entire family, including the pickiest of eaters, will adore? We completely understand. Finding recipes that tick the boxes for both flavour and health can be tricky. That’s why we’re delighted to present our definitive Low Carb Chicken Casserole. It’s wonderfully rich, creamy, and flavourful, yet astonishingly easy to prepare on any given weeknight.

This dish captures everything we adore about classic casseroles—succulent chicken, a velvety sauce, and a golden, bubbling cheese topping—all presented in one beautifully healthy meal. It’s a genuine one-pan marvel that delivers exceptional taste without compromising your wellness objectives. Let’s get started!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

A Breeze to Make: This recipe is a saviour on busy evenings. With straightforward prep and common ingredients, you can serve up a dinner that tastes like you’ve been cooking for hours, with minimal effort. It really is a “set and forget” kind of meal.
Wonderfully Adaptable: Not keen on broccoli? Try swapping it for spinach or green beans. Fancy a little heat? A dash of cayenne pepper will do the trick. We truly hope you’ll have fun personalising this dish!
A Hit with Everyone: The combination of tender chicken and a creamy, cheesy sauce is a winning formula for all ages. It’s a brilliant way to gather everyone around the table for a wholesome, home-cooked meal together.
Ideal for Planning Ahead: This casserole is one of those magic dishes that tastes even more delicious the following day. It keeps perfectly in the fridge, making it a superb option for your weekly meal prep routine. Simply portion it out for quick lunches or dinners.
Keto-Friendly Perfection: Brimming with protein and healthy fats while being exceptionally low in carbohydrates, this dish is a fantastic fit for a keto or low-carb lifestyle. It’s a Healthy chicken bake that leaves you feeling wonderfully full and content.

Ingredients for Your Cheesy Chicken Casserole Low Carb Delight

To bring this comforting dish to life, we use a selection of simple, wholesome ingredients. Chances are, you already have most of them to hand. We find this particular blend yields the perfect harmony of taste and texture.

For the Casserole Filling:

700g boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cooked and shredded or cubed
400g broccoli florets, fresh or frozen (thawed if frozen)
200g cauliflower, cut into small florets or riced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Creamy Cheese Sauce:

225g full-fat cream cheese, softened
120ml double cream
60ml chicken broth or stock
100g mature cheddar cheese, grated
50g mozzarella cheese, grated
1 tbsp Dijon mustard

For the Topping:

75g mature cheddar cheese, grated
50g mozzarella cheese, grated
A sprinkle of paprika (optional, for colour)

Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Low Carb Chicken Casserole

Ready to work some culinary magic? Just follow our straightforward steps for a perfect casserole every time. We promise, it’s much simpler than it looks!

Prepare Your Oven and Dish: To begin, preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4). Give a 2-litre (or 9×13 inch) baking dish a light coating of grease and put it to one side.
Get the Chicken and Veg Ready: If your chicken isn’t already cooked, you can boil, bake, or pan-sear it before shredding or dicing it. For fresh broccoli and cauliflower, a quick steam for 3-4 minutes will make them tender-crisp. This little step prevents them from getting overcooked in the oven.
Whisk Up the Creamy Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, place the softened cream cheese, double cream, chicken broth, 100g of the cheddar, 50g of the mozzarella, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, onion powder, and dried parsley. Whisk it all together until the sauce is lovely and smooth. Season well with salt and pepper to your liking.
Bring It All Together: Tip the cooked chicken, broccoli, and cauliflower into the bowl containing the cheese sauce. Stir gently to ensure every piece is generously coated in that rich, creamy goodness. This is the essence of our Creamy chicken vegetable casserole.
Assemble Your Casserole: Carefully pour the entire mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it out into an even layer.
Finish with the Cheesy Topping: In a separate small bowl, toss together the remaining 75g of cheddar and 50g of mozzarella. Scatter this cheese blend evenly across the top of the casserole. For a beautiful finish, a light dusting of paprika works wonders.
Bake Until Golden: Pop the dish into your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the top is a gorgeous golden-brown and the sauce is bubbling merrily at the edges.
Rest and Serve: After taking it out of the oven, allow the casserole to stand for 5-10 minutes. This helps the sauce to set up a bit, making it easier to serve. Garnish with a little fresh parsley if you like, and enjoy every bite!

Top Tips for an Unforgettable Healthy Chicken Bake

Having prepared this dish more times than we can count, we’ve learned a few things. Here are our essential tips to guarantee your casserole is a resounding success:

Take a Shortcut with Rotisserie Chicken: For an incredibly quick and flavourful version, a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from the supermarket is a brilliant time-saver. Simply shred the meat and you’re good to go!
Avoid Overcooking Your Vegetables: A light, initial steaming of the broccoli and cauliflower is the secret. If they are boiled for too long, they can release water and thin out the creamy sauce.
Grate Your Cheese by Hand: While pre-grated cheese is very handy, it often includes additives to prevent caking, which can affect the texture of your sauce. For the creamiest, most luxurious melt, we always suggest grating your own from a block.
Play with Flavours: Don’t hesitate to add other low-carb veg, such as mushrooms, spinach, or green beans. A little smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne in the sauce can introduce a lovely new dimension of flavour. If you’re a fan of our other flavourful creations like the Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe, you will enjoy making this your own.

Delicious Variations to Try

What we love most about this recipe is how easily you can tweak it. Here are a few of our favourite variations to make this the ideal Keto chicken casserole for your family’s palate.

- Bacon and Ranch: For a tangy and smoky flavour, add 4-5 rashers of cooked, crumbled bacon and a tablespoon of keto-friendly ranch seasoning into the sauce.

–Spicy Buffalo Chicken: For a fiery kick, incorporate 60ml of your preferred low-carb buffalo or hot sauce into the cream cheese base. A little drizzle of blue cheese dressing over the top just before serving is absolutely divine.

Mushroom and Swiss: For a rich, earthy taste, sauté 200g of sliced mushrooms in butter until they are golden brown. Swap the cheddar for grated Swiss or Gruyère cheese. Similar to our Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls, this version provides a uniquely satisfying dining experience.

As noted in research from The Association of UK Dietitians, adopting a low-carb diet can be a valuable strategy for managing health, and having delightful recipes like this one makes it both a sustainable and pleasurable way of life.

FAQ

Q: Can I make this low carb chicken casserole ahead of time?

A: Yes, most certainly! Feel free to assemble the whole casserole, cover it well, and pop it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just remember you might need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the cooking time when baking from chilled.

Q: How do I store and reheat leftovers?

A: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can reheat single servings in the microwave, or put the entire dish back into a 160°C (140°C Fan) oven until it’s heated all the way through.

Q: Can I freeze this cheesy chicken casserole low carb recipe?

A: Absolutely, this casserole freezes beautifully. Our advice is to freeze it fully assembled but before it has been baked. Wrap the dish securely in cling film, followed by a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to three months. To prepare, let it thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake according to the instructions.

Q: What can I serve with this casserole?

A: To ensure the meal remains low-carb, we adore serving it with a crisp side salad dressed in a simple vinaigrette, some steamed green beans, or a portion of creamy cauliflower mash.

Your New Favourite Comfort Meal Awaits

And there we are – a truly satisfying, flavour-packed, and wonderfully simple low carb chicken casserole that makes no compromises on taste. This recipe is proof that you can indulge in hearty, comforting meals while maintaining a healthy, low-carbohydrate lifestyle. It’s a dish designed to bring warmth and happiness to your dinner table, and we’re sure it will quickly earn a permanent spot in your recipe collection.

We are so excited for you to give this recipe a try! Make it this week and see for yourself just how delightful healthy comfort food can be. Please do leave a comment below to share how it went, or tag us in your pictures on social media. Happy cooking!

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Easy Low Carb Chicken Casserole

Why You’ll Love This Recipe