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.
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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.
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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
Could I prep this a day or two before then bake before we eat?
Sure! It might take a bit longer to bake since it will be cold from the fridge.
Would canned chicken in water work for this?
I’ve only made this recipe as is, but I would think it would work.
Dumb question but I’m counting daily calories…you have 409 calories for 12 servings. How many ounces in one serving? Thank you.
I don’t measure. I just eyeball it and divide the casserole into 12 equal sized servings.
Love this Recipe but would love to know the Weight per serving. Can you provide?
I don’t weigh or measure my food. THe number of servings is listed at the top of the recipe card. Using that number I divide the recipe evenly.
Let me tell you. My S.O. is newly keto (I am not. Nor my mother or child), so sometimes dinner can be a pain. Also I should note that my S.O. HATES veggies. I tried this about 2 weeks ago. THEY ATE ALLLLL OF IT and my 6 yo has asked for it every day since. I included some spinach in there as well with the broccoli. Top notch and will now be one of the number 1’s in rotation!
WOW!!! That is amazing. I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much! Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to rate the recipe.
This looks very similar to the Chicken Divan that I used to make many years ago…i like your cheese sauce better though. I used to substitute frozen (and thawed….though you could saute fresh spinach for this and use that instead too) Spinach instead of broccoli too for a Chicken Florentine (florentine meaning with spinach, anyway) type thing…….
Hey Sandy, so glad you loved it! Great idea with the spinach.
Where can I buy your Keto Cookbook’s ?
Hey Janese, right now I only have a low-carb casserole ebook available. Here is the link. https://easyketolowcarbrecipes.myshopify.com/products/keto-casserole-recipe-guide-ebook We will release more ebooks with delicious recipes and meal plans as the year progresses. Thanks so much!!
Need sodium content in order to try this
Hey, Cathy, I don’t usually plug in sodium levels on the recipe card. Most carb tracking apps will give that info to you if you input the ingredients. Hope this helps!
Made this tonight and it’s delicious. Will be making this again for sure. Even my family loved it.
So glad you and the fam loved it! Definitely hits the comfort food spot!!
Found this recipe today & made it for dinner. Had to substitute frozen green beans since I didn’t have broccoli. Family loved it! The cheese sauce makes this so yummy!
So glad you loved it! Thanks for the comment and rating.
Making tonight! Leaving broc out, Husband dislikes so I’m sautéing Mushrooms which he likes and subbing in place of green veggies just for him! For a family dish I would use spinach and mushrooms and top with Mac’s Pork Skins.
Thank you for sharing
This was amazing! I think your direction of cooking the sauce first is the difference that made this so good. I read a few others recipes that were like this one but yours stood out. So glad I found this. Thank you for sharing.
Awe, thanks! So glad you loved it!!
I’m making this ahead before company comes. Do I freeze the casserole assembled, but before baking?
Yes that is your best option. This will keep it creamy when you cook it. Just make sure to thaw it overnight in the fridge. Let me know how it turns out!
I have tried so many of your recipes and I really enjoy them. Iamnew to low carb cooking and always find a recipe my husband Rodger and i will love. Thank you so much
So glad to help! Good luck on your low-carb lifestyle. I hope you can find more recipes on my site that you and Rodger love!!
how much rotisserie chicken is 1 lb, ?
1 lb of rotisserie chicken would be 1 lb of chicken. Rotisserie chickens are all different sizes so it’s hard to say about how much of a chicken would equal 1 lb. If you have a scale just weigh it. If not, it’s fine to guess.