My keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a hit with kids and adults. Quick, easy, and so comforting. This is cheesy, bacony, and filling. This low carb Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole is one of my favorite chicken recipes ever with just 4 net carbs per serving.
Keto chicken bacon ranch casserole is a delicious and healthy low-carb meal for anyone looking to incorporate the popular keto diet into their meal routine. This recipe combines all of the classic flavors of a chicken bacon ranch sandwich, with the added bonus of being able to prepare it as a one-dish meal great for busy weeknight dinners.
This keto chicken casserole is packed with protein, healthy fats, and flavor that will satisfy the whole family and even the pickiest eaters. This keto bacon chicken ranch casserole is also gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
Ingredients
Cooked Chicken - I normally use chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins but chicken thighs work too.
Cheddar - We prefer cheddar cheese in this but you can sub in Monterey Jack cheese or mozzarella cheese.
Cooked Bacon - I normally just use packaged 100% bacon crumbles but freshly cooked crumbled bacon is even better if you don't mind cooking some.
Broccoli Florets - Sometimes I use steamable bags of broccoli and sometimes I will lightly steam fresh broccoli. Either work fine.
Mayo, Cream Cheese, and Sour Cream - These three ingredients combined make the perfect creamy keto-friendly sauce for any casserole.
Dill, Parsley, Onion, Garlic, Salt, and Pepper - All the ranch flavor with none of the additives! You don't need bottled ranch dressing or a ranch packet with this combo.
How To Make Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
You’ll be thanking your lucky stars when you figure out how easy this keto chicken bacon ranch casserole really is! It’s a huge time saver, and it’s made with healthy and delicious ingredients. Let’s take a look at how to make this casserole dish.
First Step: Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.
Second Step: Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, and spices in a large bowl. Mix it thoroughly.
Third Step: Add the chicken, broccoli, ¾ of the cheese, and ¼ of the crumbled bacon to the cream cheese mixture.
Fourth Step: Dump the casserole into a 9x13 baking dish that’s sprayed with cooking spray. Add the rest of the cheese and bacon to the top.
Fifth Step: Bake the keto chicken bacon ranch casserole for 35 minutes, then serve hot! Enjoy!
Variations
As with many of my recipes, you can easily add your own spin with additional flavors and textures. I love tossing in whatever sounds good that day! Just be aware that the net carbs may change. If that is important for your keto diet make sure to run the new ingredients through a nutrition calculator. Here are a few ideas to try:
Turkey - If you have some cooked turkey from the holidays or just have some you want to use up, toss it in the casserole in place of the chicken. It’s so good, and it’s a great way to use up leftovers too.
Vegetables - Swap cauliflower florets in place of the broccoli. You could also use spinach, cauliflower rice, or any other non-starchy veggie you think would taste good in a ranch flavored low carb casserole.
Garlic - Mince some garlic and add it to the casserole. I feel like you can never have too much garlic for anything! Okay, maybe you can have too much, but adding some is always a plus.
Mozzarella Cheese - Either mix the cheddar cheese half and half with the mozzarella or go with mozzarella all the way. It’s a lovely way to change the flavors!
Parmesan - Sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan on top the last 5 minutes of baking. It will turn to a delightful golden brown color and tastes fantastic.
Green Onions - Add some finely chopped green onions to the top of the chicken bacon ranch casserole. It’s so good!
Common Questions
Where is the ranch?
My unique blend of spices is what gives this ranch flavor. You do not need a packet of ranch seasoning mix or bottled ranch dressing. These spices and herbs also work well to make homemade ranch dressing or dip! Just mix them with sour cream and mayo for a dip. For dressing thin it with a little almond milk or heavy cream.
What type of chicken should I use?
You can use whatever chicken you have on hand as long as it’s been cooked and cubed. Rotisserie chicken, boneless skinless chicken breasts, and boneless skinless chicken thighs are my favorites. They all go perfectly with the flavors and are easy to work with. You can use bone-in chicken, but you are going to remove the meat from the bones before adding it to the casserole.
Can I use leftover chicken in this keto casserole?
Yes. This keto chicken bacon ranch casserole is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Just make sure it isn't dried out. The casserole won't taste nearly as good if you start with dry chicken.
What sides go with chicken casserole?
This easy recipe has all you need for a complete meal but if you want to serve an additional vegetable alongside it I'd recommend our family favorite Caesar salad.
Other great choices are roasted asparagus, cauliflower rice, or roasted green beans.
Can I make chicken casseroles ahead of time?
Yes, this low carb chicken casserole is perfect for making ahead of time. You can actually prepare the casserole and put it in the fridge for up to two days prior to baking. This is amazing when you know you have some busy nights coming up.
One thing that is wonderful about this chicken bacon ranch casserole is that you can also make it to give to friends or family as a gift too. If you know someone who just had a new baby or some people moved into your neighborhood, this is a great option!
You can also bake the casserole ahead of time and save it in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to serve as well. If you love meal planning, this dish is an all-around winner!
After the chicken casserole has cooked, it will last 3-4 days in the fridge. Or if you opt to freeze it, it will last 2-3 months in the freezer. Just make sure no matter how you store it, you keep it airtight and cold.
How do I store leftovers?
You can either just cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil once it has come down to room temperature or transfer the leftover portion to an airtight container. Then store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. This tastes just as good the next day so it works well for meal prep for lunches.
How do I reheat a chicken casserole?
You can reheat the keto chicken bacon ranch casserole a couple of ways. First of all, if you just want one or two helpings warmed up, you can heat it on a microwave-safe plate for a minute or two. It heats up super fast, so it won’t take too long. Make sure to stir it and not warm it up too much, or the texture will be strange.
You can also preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. and place the casserole in the oven for 12-15 minutes until it’s hot all the way through. You may need to warm it a little longer if needed. Just check it every little bit, so it doesn’t overheat and dry out.
Anytime you need low carb chicken casserole recipes just come here. We eat SO much chicken I am constantly trying to find new and exciting ways to use it.
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Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb cooked chicken cubed or shredded
- 1 lb fresh broccoli steamed and drained or frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon dried dill weed or 1 tablespoon fresh dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoon bacon crumbles
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 4 oz sour cream
- 4 oz mayo
- 8 oz shredded cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 if baking immediately. Or you can prep ahead and keep in the refrigerator for a day or two.
- In a big bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, and spices and mix thoroughly.
- To the cream cheese mixture, you just made add the chicken, broccoli, ¾ of the cheese, and the ¼ cup bacon crumbles and mix well.
- Dump into a 9x13 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle remaining cheese and 2 tablespoon bacon crumbles on top.
- Bake until hot about 35 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
A few of my other favorite low carb chicken casserole recipes are:
Keto Green Chili Chicken Casserole
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole
Originally Published April 6, 2016. Revised and Republished February 21, 2023.
Gail says
This was delicious! I am type 2 diabetic and doing doing low-carb (not keto) to lose weight. To reduce the fat and calories some, could I use light light versions of sour cream, cream cheese, and sour cream? Has anyone done that?
Taryn says
Yes, that would work.
Carol Smith says
If it were possible this would get 10 stars. Excellent as written
Allison G says
Fabulous... everyone in my family loved it and went back for seconds! I served it on rice for the kids and with just a salad on the side for myself and my husband. I used a Costco rotisserie chicken, which was so easy and added a little extra flavor. I thought about putting it on cauliflower rice, but it really didn't need it at all. Thank you for such great recipe!
Carol helms says
This was a very tasty dish. I cut the recipe in half but forgot to cut down the dream cheese. It was strong tasting from the extra cream cheese but it tasted great. I used mozzarella instead of cheddar and that made it more creamy. Hubby wants it regularly and to try different cheeses each time.
betsy says
where does the RANCH come in?does it make its own with the sour and cream cheese?
Taryn says
I explain this in the blog post. Yes, you are basically making a homemade ranch with the spices, sour cream, etc.
Allison H says
Would you be able to prep this ahead of time and freeze as a freezer meal?
Taryn says
Yes. I've had readers do that successfully.
Kathy says
This taste amazing! Two thumbs up from hubby. Definitely will add this to my favorites!
Denise Hammond says
Looks great, can't wait to try it.
Amanda says
My husband loves all the casseroles but this one with broccoli is his favorite. He has asked for it once a week since I first made it!
Bonnie says
Is there any reason why you couldn’t use raw chicken instead of cooking it first? I would think baking small chunks of chicken would take about the same amount of time as the recipe calls for, and might make it more moist. Excited to try this recipe!
Taryn says
The chicken will release liquid as it cooks and might make the sauce too watery.
sheila wright says
sweetie this ole gal thinks you and your recipes are TOPS....
sheila in GA
Brandi says
I made this meal this past weekend and it was a hit with my guys they really enjoyed it. My husband enjoyed it so much he ate it for breakfast...😊 it was super easy and very moist and creamy it only lasted a day in my fridge 👍❤ I will definitely make this again
Ingrid says
Hi! Made this earlier in the week and must say, it was really good the first night and even better on the second! Something about letting all that baked in stuff work together overnight made it so much better! Was wondering if anyone has used a bottled ranch? I live way out in the mtns with no neighborhood grocery store nearby. Do not have another pkg of cream cheese on hand but do have a bottle of all natural ranch dressing. Think it should substitute just fine but don’t wanna waste a batch of organic chick & broccoli if it won’t. Has anyone else tried it and if so, what are your results? Thx! 👍🏼
Darlene Padilla says
Do you recommend chicken breast or chicken thighs?
Taryn says
I use breasts in this recipe typically but either will work.
Anne says
I’m not much of a cook but I made this for a sick friend who is diabetic so needs low carb. It was a hit! I bought a bag of mixed raw veggies, carrots broccoli and cauliflower, in the bagged salad isle and used it raw Was delicious and crazy easy. I also used pre cooked bacon. As I said I don’t cook much. I froze it in individual servings for her. Excellent and easy.
Diana says
It tastes great, just a little dry. Any recommendations what I can do to make it a little less dry?
Taryn says
This shouldn't be dry unless the chicken was dry before assembly. You could always add extra sour cream or some milk or cream to the sauce.
Sharon Croft says
I think this was very good and satisfying. The next time I make it, though, I think I will add a little milk or almond milk because I thought it was a little too dry for my taste.
Rebecca says
Does anyone know how many servings ate in the casserole so i can track?
Taryn says
8. It's at the top of the recipe card.
Christina says
Do you think cauliflower would work in place of the broccoli?
Taryn says
Yup!
Pbrzinski says
This is delicious!
Sara says
So delicious! Everyone loved it! Little tip to reduce messy pans...I baked my bacon in the casserole dish in the oven for about 15-20 minutes till crispy while getting other ingredients ready and then used the pan with the bacon grease to cook the casserole.