Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole is a delicious fusion of tangy BBQ sauce, creamy cheese, and the crunch of bacon. This isn't just another dish; it's a unique blend of taste and keto friendly cuisine.
Embracing the keto diet doesn't mean sacrificing taste or convenience.
If you are looking for other easy, delicious keto weeknight meals try our Low Carb Meatloaf or Instant Pot Crack Chicken.
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Why you'll love this recipe
One Pot, Less Cleanup: With everything cooked in a single casserole dish, you'll spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your meal.
Leftover Chicken Reimagined: Got some leftover rotisserie or roasted chicken in the fridge? Give it new life with tangy BBQ, cheese, and bacon!
Meal Prep Champion: Prepare this casserole in advance and enjoy hassle-free meals throughout the week.
Serve with our creamy keto coleslaw or sugar free broccoli salad at your next family gathering.
Key ingredients
Low-Carb BBQ Sauce: Pick a sugar-free BBQ sauce that's low in carbs to match your keto diet, or make your own by following our homemade low carb BBQ sauce recipe. This sauce gives a smoky, tangy taste. If you don't want to make your own, G Huges Sugar Free Hickory and Original BBQ sauces are highly rated.
Ranch Dressing Mix: The ranch dressing mix is like a secret spice mix that brings out awesome flavors. For an organic. low carb option try this Ranch Dressing Seasoning.
Cooked Chicken Breast or Thighs: We're adding pieces of cooked boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs. You can use leftover chicken or cook your own and cube it or shred it.
Cooked Bacon: We use chopped pieces of uncured bacon already cooked. Crisp bacon brings a smoky taste and a crunchy bite.
If you have any questions about the ingredients, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you.
Our Instant pot shredded chicken works well in casseroles.
Variations to try
Here are a few ways to customize your casserole:
- Mediterranean Delight: Enhance the dish with black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and crumbled feta for a Mediterranean flair.
- Sliced Avocado: Serve with slices of keto friendly avocado.
- Veggies: Add any keto vegetables like spinach, broccoli, or cauliflower.
- Spice it Up: Add jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or red chili flakes for a fiery kick.
- Experiment with different cheeses: to infuse unique flavors and textures that take your casserole to new heights.
For chicken with a crunch, give our crispy keto fried chicken recipe a try.
How to make a keto BBQ chicken casserole
Step 1: Combine softened cream cheese, low-carb BBQ sauce, ranch dressing mix, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mix these ingredients well until they form a creamy base.
Step 3: Gently fold in the cooked chicken cubes and chopped bacon into the mixture. Also, add ½ cup each of shredded cheddar and jack cheeses.
Step 4: Mix until everything is combined and the chicken is well coated.
Step 5: Spread the cheesy chicken mixture evenly into a casserole dish.
Step 6: Top it off with the remaining shredded cheese and additional bacon (if preferred). Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake it for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 6-8 minutes.
For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the printable recipe card below.
For a dessert option, you might like our Keto Chocolate Mug cake that's ready in 5 minutes, or make ahead these fudgy Keto Brownies.
Best tips
For a beautiful golden-brown top, set your oven to broil for the final 1-2 minutes.
Craving a bit of crunch? Opt for keto-friendly tortilla chips to add a playful twist to your meal. You can enjoy your casserole "nacho-style" by scoping up the cheesy goodness with these chips
FAQs
Yes. To make ahead, simply construct your casserole, cover it with foil and store in the fridge. When you are ready, bake in the oven for the recommended time.
Yes, you always cook chicken before adding it to your casserole. This is for food safety as you want to make sure your chicken is fully cooked.
An easy way to pre-cook chicken for any recipe is to poach it. The trick is to always use a gentle simmer to keep the chicken tender. You're not boiling the chicken.
Storage instructions
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Cover the casserole with foil when reheating to prevent it from drying out. You can use the oven, microwave (no foil covering), or stovetop for reheating.
Adding a little water or broth to the bottom of the pan when reheating can prevent burning and drying out on the stovetop.
Other Keto Casserole recipes:
LET'S GET SOCIAL, you can follow Four Score Living on Pinterest. You can also leave a comment below if you have any questions.
We hope you love this recipe as much as we did! Please help us out by leaving a quick review and star ★ rating below.
📖 Recipe
Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole
dish to a hungry crowd.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup Sugar-free BBQ Sauce
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 pounds cooked boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs cubed or shredded
- 8 slices cooked bacon chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese
- Green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, BBQ, ranch, salt, and pepper, mixing well. Fold in chicken, bacon, and ½ cup each cheddar and jack cheeses.
- Spread the mixture in a casserole dish, top with the rest of the cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 6-8 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Garnish with a drizzle of BBQ and green onion and serve.
Notes
- For a beautiful golden-brown top, set your oven to broil as the final step.
- Store in an airtight container for optimal freshness and taste. It can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Cover the casserole with foil when reheating to prevent it from drying out. You can use the oven, microwave (no foil covering), or stovetop for reheating.
- To make ahead, simply construct your casserole, cover it with foil and stick it in the fridge. When you are ready, bake in the oven for the recommended time.
Andrea
I’m planning to make this recipe tomorrow for dinner. The ingredients call for cooked chicken. Did you cook the chicken before putting the casserole together?
Dane & Becky
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for the great question. Yes, always cook the chicken prior to assembling your casserole. We love poaching the chicken in water at a gentle simmer. The result is so tender.
Dane and Becky
Jessica Barrett
This rocked our socks off! So, so delicious. Probably one of the better things we’ve made at home and we do a lot of cooking. Delicious!
Dane & Becky
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for taking the time to give this recipe such a glowing review. It's a fun recipe to experiment with as well. Try different cheeses, add some spice with jalapenos or simply incorporate some veggies to make it a bit more nutritious. Have fun cooking.
Dane and Becky