Low Carb Chicken Broccoli Casserole {Gluten-Free Option}

My kids’ taste in food is one of life’s great mysteries. One day they love something, and the next day, they hate it. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Fortunately, it’s super easy to prepare a warm and comforting low-carb chicken broccoli casserole even the pickiest eaters cannot resist!

This recipe uses cream of chicken soup to make a keto version of a family favorite -the chicken and broccoli casserole. This dish comes together in under an hour for a delicious weeknight dinner. You can even assemble the casserole in advance and bake it when you’re ready.

Many chicken broccoli casseroles are baked with rice or pasta. This casserole does not have either, yet it is just as filling and satisfying. Not to mention, it is DELICIOUS. Low carb chicken broccoli casserole is the kind of dish that will have everyone going in for seconds!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s rich, creamy and loaded with KID and KETO-friendly chicken, broccoli and cheese.
• Broccoli-loaded. 1 cup of broccoli is about 3 grams of net carbs.
• It’s easy to make ahead -the entire dish can be assembled a day in advance and baked when you’re ready.
• You can mix and match the veggies and add-ins to make this casserole your own!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Extra Virgin Oil Oil: You will need a bit of EVOO to cook the chicken and garlic. Feel free to use a different cooking oil like avocado or canola.
• Garlic (minced): is cooked with the chicken before going into the casserole. It adds great flavor, so don’t be shy about throwing an extra minced clove or two in. In a pinch, you can use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (cut into 1″ cubes): I used chicken breasts for this casserole. However, if you’d rather use boneless, skinless thighs -that works too; just keep in mind thighs have a more intense poultry flavor.
• Can of Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup (undiluted): Thick and condensed cream soups are a great way to thicken casseroles and add rich, savory flavor. That said, you can also use cream of mushroom soup. For a gluten-free organic option, I love Pacific Foods cream of chicken soup as an alternative.
• Half & Half: helps dilute the condensed soup and thins out the casserole a bit, so it’s creamy and delicious.
• Melted Butter: builds on the flavor of the casserole -adding a pleasant richness and deepening the creamy consistency of the dish.
• Sherry Cooking Wine: A small amount of sherry goes a long way in this dish. The alcohol cooks off in the oven, leaving a pleasant, subtly sweet taste in the food. For similar results, you can use dry white wine or Marsala cooking wine.
• Broccoli Crowns – You can use fresh or frozen broccoli crown here. Before making the casserole, you will need to boil or steam the broccoli until crisp-tender. As the casserole bakes, the broccoli will continue to soften.
• Parmesan Cheese: Using freshly grated parmesan makes a world of difference -it melts much better than pre-grated. For a less intense cheesy flavor, white cheddar works excellent here.
• Sea Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper: balances all flavors and enhances the warm, comforting savory notes.

How To Make Low Carb Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare the casserole dish.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and grease a casserole dish with butter (or cooking spray). Set the dish aside.

Step 2: Heat oil.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking.

Step 3: Cook chicken & garlic.

Add the chicken and garlic to the skillet and cook, frequently stirring, until the chicken is no longer pink (6 to 8 minutes). Drain off any excess liquid, and then add the chicken and garlic to a large bowl.

Step 4: Stir in the remaining ingredients.

Add the can of soup, half and half, melted butter, sherry, broccoli, HALF of the cheese, and salt and pepper to the same bowl. Stir everything together well.

Step 5: Assemble casserole.

Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.

Step 6: Bake.

Transfer the casserole dish to your preheated oven and bake until the cheese melts and the casserole is hot and bubbly (about 30 minutes).

Recipe Tips

• Steam or boil the broccoli for just a few minutes (or until it becomes vibrant green) and then toss it in an ice bath to stop further cooking. You want the broccoli to be crisp-tender as it will soften a bit more once it gets baked in the casserole.
• Instead of one or the other, use parmesan and white cheddar cheese for a rich, nutty, and ultra cheesy casserole. Sharp cheddar and mozzarella are also good here.
• Feel free to make rice, pasta or roasted potatoes to serve on the side for the non-keto eaters and the kids.
• To make this casserole gluten-free, you can use Pacific Foods Organic cream of chicken soup.

Make-Ahead

Low carb chicken broccoli casserole is a great recipe to prep 1 to 2 days in advance. Refrigerate the assembled dish until you’re ready to bake it; cover and refrigerate until you’re ready. To finish, add 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time and enjoy!

Variations

This quick and easy keto casserole is perfect for customizing. Try one of these tasty variations:

• Cauliflower – with only about 2 grams of net carbs per cup, cauliflower is perfect for this low-carb recipe. Feel free to use it in place of broccoli or use a healthy blend of both.
• Bacon – because everything is better with bacon (and it’s inherently low carb). Add cooked, chopped bacon to the cream sauce and as a topping.
• Precooked/Rotisserie Chicken – This recipe is even easier if you have leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breasts on hand. Shred or cube the cooked chicken and stir it straight into the dish before baking.

Storing & Freezing

• Storing: Let the casserole cool completely to room temperature and cover with plastic wrap or a tight-fitted lid. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
• Freezing: Let the casserole cool, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and a layer of foil and then freeze for 2 to 3 months. To reheat from frozen, thaw the casserole in the fridge and then heat at 350 degrees F until it is warmed through and the cheese is melted.

More Low Carb Casserole Recipes

Squash Cauliflower Rice Casserole

Baked Cabbage Casserole

Spaghetti Squash Meatball Casserole

Chicken Butternut Squash Casserole

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