Cheesy Low-Carb Chicken & Broccoli Casserole
This cheesy low-carb chicken casserole is creamy, comforting, and simple enough for a busy weeknight. Made with tender chicken, broccoli, and a rich homemade cheese sauce, it bakes into a hearty keto dinner the whole family will actually eat.
Everything comes together in one casserole dish, and you can have it in the oven super fast. Serve it on its own or with a simple salad for an easy, satisfying low-carb meal, or pair it with a keto-friendly side.
Want to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Why This Low-Carb Chicken Casserole Recipe Works
Here is why this recipe works and is on repeat in our home:
- Creamy cheese sauce that stays smooth when baked
- Family-friendly flavors with no unusual keto ingredients
- Easy to prep ahead or make with rotisserie chicken
- Naturally low-carb and keto-friendly
Personal Note:
This recipe has been on our dinner rotation for years because it actually works for real life. It’s one of those family-friendly keto meals I can throw together on a busy afternoon and know everyone will eat without complaints. That’s a win!!
Over time, I’ve tweaked the cheese sauce and shortcuts to make it easier and more reliable. This version is the one that comes out perfect every time, and I come back to it again and again.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
I am all about simple. Our home is busy with two kids in college and two younger ones. I need quick and easy ingredients that are in my fridge and pantry, which are super important. This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients:
- Cooked chicken: Shredded chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken both work well
- Broccoli: Fresh florets or steam-in-bag broccoli
- Cheese: A combination of shredded cheeses for flavor and melt
- Cream cheese: Creates an extra smooth, creamy sauce
- Simple pantry items
The exact measurements are listed on the recipe card below.
How to Prep the Chicken for this Easy Low Carb Chicken Casserole
There are a few different ways you can prepare the chicken for this recipe. Meal prepping works for me, so I like to make big batches of slow-cooked chicken. I store it in individual zippered bags, so I always have pre-cooked protein in the freezer.
Slow cooker: Cook the chicken breasts with broth, salt, and pepper until tender, then shred.
Shortcut option: Use rotisserie chicken to save time.
Expert quick tip: Either fresh broccoli or frozen steam-in-bag broccoli works great in this casserole.
Easy Keto Chicken Casserole Variations
Vegetable swaps: Cauliflower rice, green beans, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts
Cheese options: Cheddar, Mozzarella, Colby Jack, Gouda, or a mixed blend
Crunchy topping: Add crushed pork rinds or homemade cheese crisps before baking
About the Cheese Sauce
The cheese sauce is made with cream cheese so it stays extra smooth and creamy while it bakes. It coats the chicken and broccoli perfectly without separating and makes this casserole rich every time.
Step-by-Step: How to Make This Keto Chicken Casserole
Step 1: Prep the chicken.
Use shredded cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken to save time.
Step 2: Prepare the broccoli.
Fresh florets or steam-in-bag broccoli both work well.
Step 3: Make the cheese sauce.
Warm the cheese sauce ingredients just until smooth, then remove from the heat.
Step 4: Assemble.
Layer the shredded chicken and steamed broccoli in a casserole dish. Then pour the cheese sauce over the top.
Step 5: Bake.
Bake until hot and bubbly. Make sure to let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will help the flavors to come together.
Optional expert tip: Add crushed pork rinds or cheese crisps for a crunchy topping before baking.
How to Store and Reheat this Chicken & Broccoli Casserole
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days.
- Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Reheat gently in the microwave or oven to maintain the creamy texture. Try short warming bursts. This will keep the sauce from separating while reheating.
Other Low-Carb Chicken Casserole Recipes:
- Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole
- Keto Pizza Casserole
- Low Chicken Pot Pie
- Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- Chicken Cordon Bleu
Low Carb Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless/skinless chicken breasts
- 2 10 oz Steam bag of broccoli (you may also use fresh)
- 2 tb butter
- 6 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese
- 1 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 12 oz sharp shredded cheese
- 4 oz mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tb garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp parsley
- salt/pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken:Cook chicken breasts in a slow cooker with a little broth, salt, and pepper for 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. Shred once cooked.Shortcut: You may also use rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Prepare the broccoli:Steam fresh broccoli or microwave steam-in-bag broccoli according to package directions. Drain well.
- Preheat oven:Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Make the cheese sauce:In a saucepan over low–medium heat, melt butter with heavy cream, garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Whisk in softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Add cheeses:Stir in shredded cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan, reserving ¼ cup cheddar and ⅛ cup of the other cheeses for topping. Stir until fully melted and smooth.
- Assemble:Layer shredded chicken in the casserole dish, followed by broccoli. Pour cheese sauce evenly over the top.
- Top and bake:Sprinkle reserved cheese over the casserole, then add paprika, parsley, and remaining Italian seasoning.
- Bake:Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
- Serve:Let rest a few minutes before serving.
Want to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Video
Notes
- Slow cooker chicken: This recipe uses baked assembly, but the chicken can be cooked ahead of time in a slow cooker. Cook chicken breasts with a little broth, salt, and pepper for 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low, then shred before assembling the casserole.
- Shortcut option: Rotisserie chicken works well and saves time.
Do not cook fully in the slow cooker: The cheese sauce is best baked in the oven to maintain a creamy texture and prevent separation.
Nutrition
Have. You ever made this up the night before and just popped it in the oven and cooked it the next day? I’m having a potluck dinner tomorrow so I need something that I can just pop in the oven.
I’ve never prepared this the night before but I don’t see why you couldn’t. Enjoy your potluck dinner tomorrow!
How much garlic powder? It says “1 tb” is that tablespoon?
Yes
Thank you for your prompt response! 🙂
Hi how many portions does this make? 391 calls per portion but how many portions have i to split it i to please?
The portion size is at the top left of the recipe card.
Thanks
Hello Kasey, I have made this before and the family enjoyed it very much. Tonight added red bell pepper, onion, and a diced serrano (w/o seeds). This is a great menu item, all in one meal!
I’m really glad your family enjoyed it. It’s great how you can change up a meal with a few different veggies.
Made this for my family of five and every single one of us LOVED it! There were no leftovers. I cooked the chicken in the crock pot all day so it was ready to shred when I arrived at home from work. I can’t wait to make this again. Also, nice name!! 🙂
I’m glad your family loved it!!
I made this tonight and I found that the Italian seasoning over powered everything else, was it really supposed to be a tablespoon? I mean it was edible, but I’m seriously going to cut back on that Italian seasoning next time
The great thing about my recipes is you can adjust them to your liking.
It says 12 servings, what is the amount of the serving size that they usually tell you on a recipe such as how many ounces, etc. Thank you. Looks delish.
I don’t measure. I just divide it evenly. You can always refigure the serving size if you prefer larger servings.
Agree. I felt it was too much the first time. I have made this recipe so many times with our own adjustments. We love it!
Glad you love it!
It says 1.5 teaspoons. you use twice the amount of the recipe. No wonder it overwhelmed you.
12 oz of cheddar seems like overkill, I love cheese but when my casserole was done it was swimming in cheese grease. I would cut the cheese (ha) almost in half for a healthier option.
Actually, it is way more than 12 oz cheese. 12 oz cheddar, 4 oz mozza, 6 oz cream cheese and 1/2 cup parmesan.
It says TEASPOON not TABLESPOON
I made this recipe today, but could not get my cream sauce to thicken as much as yours. Although it is very tasty, it is harder to cut into individual servings. Any suggestions?
I wouldn’t say you can cut it, it isn’t that thick. It is a cheese sauce. I just spoon it out and eyeball even servings.
Hi Kasey,
Do have instructions for this recipe using an instant pot?
Thanks,
Tonna Cline
I don’t. Sorry.
I actually just cooked the chicken in the instant pot with some dry ranch seasoning. Shredded it, then put the cheese sauce on top. Omitted the Italian seasoning, and added some more ranch to chicken, and garlic powder and salt to cheese sauce. 🙂
I’m sure that was delicious!
Kasey, In the nutritional data did you miss printing fiber content?(Chicken and broccoli) Broccoli has a fiber content. Recipe looks so good cannot wait to try it. Thanks
It looks like the software missed the broccoli when calculating the nutritional info because it didn’t understand “steam bag” of broccoli. The info has been updated. There is 1g of fiber per serving.
Love it, thank you so much. Been on keto for awhile now, and this was the first real recipe that I have tried. So much flavor. <3 yum!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
It’s really good!! My family and I enjoyed it.
That’s awesome!
Tried making this tonight and it was delish! Very filling as well. I would use a little bit less heavy cream next time as my cheese sauce didn’t quite turn out as thick as the one in the video.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Very very good! Came out perfect! I see you have the nutritional information and it also says it makes 12 servings, but about how many ounces, cups … would a serving be. My husband and I definitely take different portions.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! With six in our family, we each get two servings but I haven’t measured out what a serving size is.
Thanks for your reply. My husband who is very thin and has hyper-metabolism, ate about 1/4 of the 9×13 inch casserole pan. So I really don’t know how many servings I would be able to get between the two of us. I measured out about 1/2 cup and that seemed enough for me but I don’t know if my calories and macros are correct. This ketogenic is quite new to me and I’m still trying to get things figured out.
I’m really glad you are starting your keto journey. This post may help you. https://kaseytrenum.com/guide-getting-started-keto/
This was so easy and delicious! Have you ever made this ahead and time and kept in the fridge? I was planning on eating this Friday night with some girlfriends, but need to make it ahead of time on Thursday night.
Hmmmmm….I’m not sure since I haven’t tried it personally.
This sounds wonderful! I like a little ‘kick’ in my food so will be trying this with pepper jack cheese in it; thinking that will put a little stronger flavor in it! YUM!
Great! Hope you enjoy it!