Aleka, Author at Kasey Trenum

Keto Baked Chicken Thighs (w/ BBQ Sauce)

These Keto Baked Chicken Thighs are a simple, healthy, and delicious keto dinner idea. Seasoned well and smothered in a delicious keto BBQ sauce, you’re family will be licking their fingers! Serve alongside my keto coleslaw recipe!

Who doesn’t love smothered chicken? These keto BBQ chicken thighs are perfect this time of year, whether eating inside or outside! I love to pair these thighs with my Low Carb Roasted Cauliflower or my Southern Green Beans for a super low carb, filling dinner. Using bone-in chicken thighs ensures you will have moist and juicy chicken every time. I love a good BBQ sauce, so I decided to smother my chicken with my homemade keto BBQ sauce, which adds a ton of flavor and moisture to the dish!

Ingredients:

Bone-in chicken thighs– You can use bone-in or boneless chicken thighs, however bone-in yields a juicier chicken.
Seasoning– The seasoning includes garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasonings, so your chicken is anything but lacking flavor.
Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce– The BBQ sauce is what makes these chicken thighs so delectable. You can make my homemade keto version or use your favorite low carb store-bought brand if you prefer.

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How To Make Crockpot Shredded Chicken

Shared by Aleka 2 Comments

This method for making crockpot shredded chicken is fast, easy, and flavorful! Whether you are using boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or frozen chicken, you will love how tender and juicy it will be. This chicken is perfect to make ahead of time to meal prep for later, or for a recipe you need right away.

How to make slow cooker shredded chicken

Many recipes list pulled chicken as an ingredient. However, they don’t always tell you exactly HOW to make it. These step-by-step photos will show you my favorite way to prepare it. I prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you can use any cut you prefer! Using crockpot shredded chicken in recipes can greatly reduce time spent in the kitchen.

Step 1: Add salt and pepper to the chicken, place it in the slow-cooker, and add just enough chicken broth or stock to cover the chicken breasts. If you do not have chicken broth on hand, you can also use veggie or bone broth: cover and cook. Cooking time will vary depending on what setting you use for your slow cooker.

Step Two: Remove the chicken from your pot, and make sure that it is done. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If the chicken is slightly underdone at 160 degrees, you can still remove it from the pot and let it continue to cook while resting on a cutting board. Just make sure it reaches 165 degrees before shredding.

Step 3: On a cutting board, shred the chicken using two forks. To do this, firmly press the chicken down with one of the forks and with the other, pull in the opposite direction. It will be the easiest when the chicken is hot, but allowing your chicken to rest for a few minutes will help maintain its moisture. Continue until all the chicken is shredded.

Are there other ways to cook shredded chicken?

Poach it in water – In a saucepan, bring the chicken to a boil then gently simmer it until it is cooked all the way through.
Bake in the oven – Place chicken on a baking pan and bake at 400 degrees for 22-26 minutes until cooked through.
Saute on the stove – In a skillet, add olive oil and saute chicken breasts on each side for 4-7 minutes until done.

In my opinion, using the slow cooker to make shredded chicken is the best way since its simple and keeps the chicken moist and flavorful!

The BEST methods for shredding your chicken

A stand mixer – Remove any bones if needed, and place the cooked chicken in a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment. Turn on low and mix until it reaches the desired texture. Be careful not to over shred! If you prefer super juicy chicken, add a little of your broth to the bowl when shredding it.
A hand mixer – Remove any bones if needed and set the chicken in a large bowl. Press the beaters into the chicken breasts and turn on low mix thoroughly until fully shredded.
By hand – You can go the old fashioned way and pull the chicken by hand. This way, you can easily control how large you want your chunks of chicken to be while carefully removing any bones or tendons. Just make sure to let the chicken cool enough so that it does not burn your hands while shredding.

Is shredded chicken in the slow cooker healthy?

Yes! Shredded chicken is a fabulous protein to add to various dishes, especially keto-friendly casseroles. One serving size of pulled chicken is approximately one cup unless you are adding it to another recipe then the serving size would adjust. It also has ZERO carbs, making it a delicious and filling ingredient to any of your favorite low carb meals.

How do I store shredded chicken?

Making shredded chicken ahead of time is a fantastic way to meal prep! You can prepare several pounds at once and store in an airtight container for 2-3 months in the freezer and thaw anytime you need chicken for a recipe. I would suggest dividing into 1 pound storage containers or plastic bags to freeze to make it easier to thaw for casseroles. Or you can refrigerate it for 3-4 days.

How to thaw frozen chicken

There are a couple of different ways to thaw shredded chicken! Here are some of the easiest:

Place the frozen chicken in the fridge overnight, and it will be ready to go by the morning.
Submerge the airtight container or bag in cold water for 2-3 hours. You can also use warm water to make it faster.
Microwave the chicken for a couple of minutes on the defrost setting or at half power. The chicken does not have to come to room temperature; you just don’t want large chunks frozen solid.

What to make with shredded chicken

Whether you’re making a chicken sandwich on a chaffle, using leftovers, or you’re looking for a quick and easy low carb recipe for dinner, crock-pot shredded chicken is the way to go! It is so versatile, giving you endless options!

Best Low Carb Mexican Shredded Chicken

BBQ Keto Chicken Casserole Recipe

Low Carb Chicken Casserole

Shredded Chicken Tacos (Eat on a low carb tortilla or lettuce to make it keto-friendly)

3 Ingredient Buffalo Chicken

Don’t miss out!

If you aren’t already following my easy keto/low carb recipe page on Facebook, where I post all my new recipes, I’d love for you to join us! Also, make sure to follow me on Pinterest.

If you are just getting started following a keto diet and would like more information, there are tons of fantastic resources. Amazon has several great books you may want to check out here.

How To Make Crockpot Shredded Chicken:

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Crockpot Shredded Chicken

This method for making shredding chicken in the crockpot is so fast, easy, and flavorful! Whether you are using boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or frozen chicken, you will love how tender and juicy your chicken will be. This chicken is prefect to make ahead of time and meal prep for later, or for a recipe you need right away.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 10 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, casual

Keyword: Crock-Pot Shredded Chicken

Servings: servings

Calories: 133kcal

Author: Kasey Trenum

Equipment

Slow Cooker

Ingredients

1 lb raw chicken (thighs or breasts)
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

Season the chicken, then place in slow cooker.
Add chicken broth, and turn on. Cook for 2-3 hours on high and 4-5 hours on low heat.
Remove from your crockpot and shred using a mixer or two forks.
Enjoy!

Notes

The BEST methods for shredding your chicken

A stand mixer - Remove any bones if needed, and place the cooked chicken in a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment. Turn on low and mix until it reaches the desired texture. Be careful not to over shred! If you prefer super juicy chicken, add a little of your broth to the bowl when shredding it.
A hand mixer - Remove any bones if needed and set the chicken in a large bowl. Press the beaters into the chicken breasts and turn on low mix thoroughly until fully shredded.
By hand - You can go the old fashioned way and pull the chicken by hand. This way, you can easily control how large you want your chunks of chicken to be while carefully removing any bones or tendons. Just make sure to let the chicken cool enough so that it does not burn your hands while shredding.

Nutrition

Cheesy Bell Pepper Keto Nachos (Low Carb)

Shared by Aleka 5 Comments

These Cheesy Bell Pepper Keto Nachos are a delicious low carb snack or meal that you’ll completely devour! This recipe uses colorful bell peppers in place of the tortilla chips, making them the ultimate keto nacho recipe that takes no time to prepare!

How to make keto nachos without chips

Making cheesy nachos delicious but also keto-friendly isn’t tough to do. You just need to have the right nacho “base.” And in this case, because layers of tortilla chips would add layers of carbs to our nachos, I nixed the chips and went for sliced bell peppers instead. The colors are so beautiful, and they serve as a fun and flavorful vessel. I baked the peppers a bit, but they will still maintain a crunch after being baked that will mimic those nacho chips.

This low carb nacho recipe is the best way to get in all those delicious nacho flavors without feeling guilty. I used ground beef in this recipe, but you can use any meat you desire. And if you need to have some sort of a crunchy chip, you still can. Keep reading.continue reading…

Easy Marinated Keto Coleslaw (No Mayo)

Shared by Aleka 2 Comments

This homemade Marinated Keto Coleslaw recipe is light, tangy, and slightly sweet. It is the perfect low carb side dish for any keto meal.

This keto coleslaw, or “keto slaw,” recipe is made without mayo and is instead marinated in a tangy, dressing that is sweetened using a sugar-free sweetener. I love serving it alongside my BBQ Keto Chicken Casserole Recipe or my Keto Slow Cooker Pork Roast. I also really love it with Keto Pulled Pork. It is crunchy and bright, making it a delicious way to get in your veggies!

Keto coleslaw ingredients:

Cabbage: This is the main ingredient and can be purchase as a whole head or pre-chopped!
Pickles, apple cider vinegar: Pickles and vinegar adds acidity and a tang, which is needed in coleslaw.
Onion, green pepper: These veggies add a crunch and extra flavor.
Sugar-free sweetener: I like Besti Monk Fruit with Allulose sweetener best. You can also use Swerve Granulated or Lakanto Monkfruit Classic in this recipe. The measurement would be the same.

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Keto Peanut Butter Balls (with Chocolate Chips)

Shared by Aleka 5 Comments

These no-bake Keto Peanut Butter Balls are an easy and quick snack or dessert that is sure to satisfy your sweets craving! They are made with coconut flour, sugar-free sweeteners, chocolate chips, and of course, peanut butter! You will want multiples of these!

How to make keto peanut butter balls

These low carb peanut butter balls are made with sugar-free chocolate chips and crunchy peanut butter, making them the best of both worlds, peanut butter, and chocolate! They are a delicious fat bomb that will help you stave off hunger while satisfying your sweet tooth! If you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, you have to try my Chocolate Keto Fat Bombs (with Walnuts & Peanut Butter).

These protein balls have a few simple ingredients, and best of all, no baking is required! They are creamy and full of healthy fats, making them perfect for the ketogenic diet. They remind me of Reese’s peanut butter cups! I like to mix a large batch of these and roll them out before freezing them. They are so delicious frozen, but if you want, you can store them in the fridge too!continue reading…

Keto Chicken Salad (Quick & Easy)

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A deliciously healthy lunch or light dinner, this homemade Keto Chicken Salad recipe is quick, easy and can be made ahead of time! Serve as lettuce wraps, on top of a salad, or as a chicken salad chaffle!

How to make keto chicken salad

Keto lunches can be tricky and, at times, become monotonous. However, this keto chicken salad recipe is based on your classic chicken salad, which, is naturally lower in carbs! As you know, I am not a huge mayonnaise fan. However, chicken salad is the perfect keto lunch or light dinner option if you’re looking to get your protein and fat while keeping carbs low.

I am sure you’ve noticed that many keto meals lack crunch, so I love how chicken salad has a crunchy bite from both the pecans and celery. My favorite thing about this keto chicken salad is the fact that it is made from scratch AND can be assembled in less than 10 minutes (assuming your chicken is already shredded). You can store it in the fridge until you’re ready, making it ideal for last-minute meals.continue reading…

Keto Taco Salad (with Creamy Dressing)

Shared by Aleka 7 Comments

A healthy and filling Keto Taco Salad that’s perfect for lunch or dinner! This low carb salad is made with ground beef, keto-friendly veggies, cheese and is drizzled with a deliciously creamy taco dressing!

How to make a taco salad keto-friendly

If you love Mexican food, you’ll love this taco salad. It is basically your standard taco converted into a tortilla free version. A salad, without a taco shell, can still be delicious and just as filling as having multiple tacos without all the carbs! This version is simple but flavorful and can easily be a quick dinner or lunch option when you don’t have the time to cook. You can even prepare the taco meat in advance and have it read-to-go in the fridge to make an already quick meal even quicker!

Keto Taco Salad Ingredients:

Ground beef: Beef has the most flavor and also carries a good amount of fat. If you wish, you can swap out the beef for ground chicken, pork, or turkey!
Taco seasoning: The spices are what make this salad a TACO salad. To keep this recipe 100% keto-friendly, you can use my homemade taco seasoning.
Beef broth: Broth adds moisture and flavor to your taco meat. You can use chicken or veggie broth if you don’t have beef broth on hand.
Lettuce, Avocado, Red onion, Grape Tomato, Bell pepper: Every salad is all about the veggies! They add nutrients, fiber, and flavor to your salad.
Sharp cheddar cheese: Freshly shredded cheddar cheeses add fat and even more flavor to your salad!

Steps for how to make keto taco salad:

Step 1: In a medium skillet, brown ground beef then drain. Add the taco seasoning to the ground beef with ⅓ cup of beef broth and simmer on medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until the liquid is reduced and the meat mixture thickens.

Step 2: In a large bowl, add the lettuce first. Then, top the chopped lettuce with the taco meat mixture, shredded cheese, and the rest of your toppings leaving out the avocado.

Step 3: In a small bowl, mix salsa, ranch dressing, and fresh lime juice until thoroughly combined to make the dressing for the keto taco salad.

Step 4: Drizzle ¼ of the dressing on the top of the taco salad reserving the rest for individual servings. Garnish with jalapeno slices, avocado, and freshly chopped cilantro.

Can this keto taco salad recipe be made ahead?

Yes, the taco meat can be made ahead. For convenience, the veggies can be washed and chopped up to a day ahead. When it is time to put everything together, first reheat the taco meat. While it is reheating, add the lettuce to a large salad bowl along with the veggies. Once the meat is ready, add the ground beef to the top. I would not recommend putting the salad together until right before serving. The taco salad dressing can also be prepared a day in advance.

Taco salad dressing

This dressing is deliciously creamy and rich with flavor! The salsa adds more of those traditional taco flavors and is paired with a creamy ranch dressing that everyone will love. If you’d like to make homemade ranch dressing for this recipe, give this keto version a try. Finishing the taco dressing with some freshly squeezed lime juice adds brightness and acidity that goes perfectly with those bold taco flavors.

Tip: If you don’t love ranch dressing, you could use sour cream instead. Salsa and sour cream also make a delicious low carb dressing.

Choosing the right salsa

Salsa is sometimes just not worth the extra effort to make, especially if you don’t have the time. However, if you DO want to make your own, try this easy keto salsa. If you choose to purchase a store-bought brand, just make sure you read the labels! Some brands add sugars and other ingredients you may be surprised to find that are not keto-friendly.

If you want to keep your keto taco salad more on the mild side, stick with a mild salsa. If you like a little kick, use a medium or hot salsa. There are many different varieties, so feel free to play around with different dressing flavors.

Other keto-friendly taco salad toppings

You can have fun with adding different toppings to your low carb taco salad or simply swap out some I used in this recipe. You can leave out what you don’t like or add other toppings that may not be so traditional. It’s your salad, so you choose what goes on top! Here are some other low carb topping suggestions:

Bacon
Sour Cream
Scallions
Black Olives
Shredded Chicken/Pork
Roasted Peppers
Diced Chilies

You can also serve your taco salad with these keto tortilla chips if you like some added crunch!

Other Keto Mexican Recipes You May Like:

Cheesy Keto Nachos with Bell Peppers

Cheesy Mexican Taco Casserole (Low Carb)

Keto Mexican Cheesy Chicken Skillet

Easy Mexican Pot Roast Crock Pot Recipe {Keto}

Keto Stuffed Peppers (Mexican Style)

Keto Low Carb Taco Cups

Don’t miss out!

If you aren’t already following my easy keto/low carb recipe page on Facebook, where I post all my new recipes, I’d love for you to join us! Also, make sure to follow me on Pinterest.

If you are just getting started following a keto diet and would like more information, there are tons of fantastic resources. Amazon has several great books you may want to check out here.

More Keto Salad recipes:

Keto Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Easy Keto Sandwich Bowl

Keto Chicken Salad

Keto Mixed Green Salad

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Recipe for Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe:

healthy keto taco salad recipe in a bowl with tomatoes, lettuce, ground beef, and cheese

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Keto Taco Salad

A healthy and filling Keto Taco Salad that's perfect for lunch or dinner! This low carb salad is made with ground beef, keto-friendly veggies, cheese, and is drizzled with a deliciously creamy taco dressing!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Dinner, lunch, Salad

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

Calories: 526kcal

Author: Kasey Trenum