Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
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.
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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 9×13 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 tbsp dried minced onion
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp dried dill weed or 1 tbsp fresh dill
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp 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, 3/4 of the cheese, and the 1/4 cup bacon crumbles and mix well.
- Dump into a 9x13 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle remaining cheese and 2 tbsp 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.
What does THM S stand for. I have to remember to write these all down. I know it has something to do with the sugar sweetner.
I have a question about sweetners. Are they interchangeable or do certain ones taste better with different foods. I get very confused when I see different sugar sweetners being used in the same recipe. Some examples are Swerve, splenda, sweetleaf stevia, truvia, erythritol or agave. Can you explain how they differ.
Thanks,
Linda
Hi Linda, I just use my sweetener or THM gentle sweet all the time. I think it’s just a matter of taste preference. Here is a handy chart for converting sweeteners: http://www.trimhealthymama.com/main-home/sweetener-conversion-chart/
THM S is what type of meal it is following the Trim Healthy Mama plan. S stands for “satisfying.” S meals are higher in fats and low carb. E meals are low fat and moderate healthy carbs. Since this recipe is full of creamy, cheesy yumminess, and is low carb, it is an S meal.
I didn’t have the bacon or dill so I tweaked this with what I had on hand. I Used broccoli & cauliflower & parmesan cheese along with the cheddar. I used a rotisserie chicken. This was amazing. I will cook the veggies for less time next time. I like my veggies firmer. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I will definate make this again.
Is this a freezer friendly make ahead meal? I am thinking of making and freezing in smaller portions so I can just pull one out and bake for easy lunches for me!
I just froze it for the first time and it was great. I cooked it in the crock pot and froze smaller portions. I just thawed and then heated in the microwave.
Really good! I did use ranch seasoning (3T, as much as would be in a seasoning pkg), but did not add the salt & it was great! I also used more chease & bacon on top so there was a thin layer of bacon & a layer of cheese on top (since you can eat as much bacon & cheese as you want on a low carb diet why not?!). I will be making this again,
Any suggestions on what to serve with this fabulous looking dish?
It is very filling. We normally have it with fresh veggies and dip or a side salad.
Me and my husband just loved this recipe. He’s not a fan of broccoli but he didn’t mind it in this.
Net time we are going to put cauliflower in.
Is there a nutrient fact sheet? Such as: fat, carb, protein.
Thank you
I stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest. Since I didn’t have crumbles, I baked off some Oscar Mayer Selects Uncured Bacon. I cooked organic boneless skinless chicken thighs in my pressure cooker. This is a delicious and filling casserole. It is the quintessential comfort food, perfect for this cool, rainy day. Thank you!
What about using low fat items for the dairy products? Would it change the consistency of the casserole or alter the taste drastically?
Low fat should be fine but not fat free. Those don’t melt well.
How many carbs are in this recipe?
I added it to this: https://www.caloriecount.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
9 net carbs per serving with 8 servings
How much is one serving? I’m assuming the nutrition facts are for the entire casserole?
One serving is 1/8th of the recipe. The nutrition facts are for one serving. This is full of yummy things like cheese and bacon 😀 I serve it with a side salad to balance the richness.
Could I sub Greek Yogurt for the sour cream?
Yes
Please share how you cook the chicken. I never know what to for the chicken when the recipe calls for it to be already cooked as this one does. Do you season it? If so with what? Do you bake, grill, boil, and for how long?
I bake it in a large glass Pyrex dish covered with foil. I sprinkle on some salt and maybe a little garlic depending on the recipe I’m going to make. Baking time is 30-60 min depending on how many pieces I squish together. I just start temping it thirty min in and cook to 160.
I understand the sleep deprived young child years!!
just a quick funny….I am surprised no one mentioned the way the recipe read: 1 8 oz. package cream cheese
4 oz. sour cream, softened…..my sour cream is always soft…now my cream cheese that is a different story!
Hoping to make this sometime this month! Looks yummy!
This looks delicious! I just posted this link on my Facebook page and will be posting it in my daily vlog 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!!! It’s in the oven right now and it smells amazing.
JanelleS
http://www.youtube.com/parsnipsandparsimony
Love your recipes. My daughter is always willing to try anything chicken/ranch. Thanks.
Looks yummy! Do you have any idea how many servings this would probably make? Jan
About 6.
This sounds great! Do you know what the equivalent of 4 oz of mayo is in cups?
1/4 cup
Thanks! I am trying this for dinner tonight!
wouldn’t 4 oz be 1/2 cup? (8 oz per cup)
Yup!
8 oz. in a cup, so 1/2 cup equals 4 oz.
Yes
Hi Taryn! 🙂 I noticed at the beginning of your directions, you said “if baking immediately.” Is this a dish that you think would work to freeze after it’s entirely prepared? Or might you just put it in the fridge for a while until it’s ready to make supper? Just wondering because I’m beginning to get freezer/slowcooker recipes together to make food prep. a little more organized. 🙂
I have not tried freezing it yet but I’ve prepped it in the morning to bake for dinner the same night. Dairy can be funny when it’s frozen so I don’t know how it would work to freeze this. I think you can definitely prep it a day or two before and just keep refrigerated though.
Alright, good to know! Thankyou!!
You said 8oz cream cheese…do you mean 4oz cream cheese…because you wrote softened…
Nope, 8 oz cream cheese and 4 oz sour cream. Someone caught that last month and I forgot to fix it. It should’ve said:
4 oz sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, softened
instead of:
4 oz sour cream, softened
8 oz cream cheese
Sour cream comes softened already. haha.
Taryn, I just realized that Darcie shared your recipe. It’s a good thing God knows who I meant. Have a blessed day. I am going through a fuel cycle and this recipe will be tonight’s dinner. Thanks again for the recipe.
Thank you Liz! Good luck with your fuel cycle!
Sounda good, but where does the ranch come in? Can i add a package of dry ranch seasoning?
The dill, parsley, onion, and garlic make the ranch flavor. You don’t need the packet. It would make it too salty.
Darcie, I will be praying for God’s will to work out all the details for you,your little one and the rest of your family for sleep. Thank you in the midst of what you are experiencing for sharing this recipe with us all.
Thank you Liz that is so kind. I really appreciate the prayers. They must be working because she slept better last night!
But.. my name is Taryn 😉
The seasonings, herbs, mayo, and sour cream are tbe ingredients in ranch dressing.