Keto Pesto Chicken Casserole
This amazing Pesto Chicken Casserole has only 5 ingredients and mixes up in 5 minutes. It is a great weeknight dinner. I used chicken I had cooked, cubed, and frozen and no one could even tell. This is the best keto casserole recipe. It’s so delicious and easy to make!
This is a delicious keto dinner recipe that you can cook in less than 30 minutes. It’s a low carb comfort food that will make you forget about pasta, rice, and potatoes. You’ll love how flavorful the pesto is and how creamy the cheese becomes when baked in the oven.
Make this pesto chicken casserole tonight and enjoy the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Ingredients
Cooked Chicken – Any cooked chicken works in this. If you are using frozen cooked chicken make sure to thaw it first.
Cream Cheese – I use full fat cream cheese but you can sub in low fat cream cheese, ricotta cheese, or mascarpone cheese if you pefer.
Mozzarella Cheese – I use both cubed mozzarella in the casserole and shredded mozzarella on top.
Heavy Cream – The amount you use will vary the sauce. More cream makes a thinner sauce, less cream a thicker sauce.
Basil Pesto – I make my own pesto when possible but any jarred pesto will work as well.
How to Make Pesto Chicken Casserole
Step One: Mix together the ingredients for the creamy pesto sauce.
Step Two: Mix the chicken into the sauce and transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish.
Step Three: Top with shredded cheese and bake until hot, bubbly, and golden brown.
Expert Tip: For perfect golden brown cheese on top of your casserole broil them for 2-3 minutes after baking. Make sure not to leave the kitchen, set a timer, and watch them. The cheese can go from golden to burned in seconds.
Variations
Sauce – You’ll see in the ingredients that I have a range of measurements for the heavy cream. If you use the lesser amount the creamy pesto sauce will be thick. For a thinner sauce to put over veggies use the whole amount.
Vegetables – You can add some veggies right into this casserole like steamed broccoli or green beans, caramelized onions, or grape tomatoes. My favorite variation is adding cooked onions and cherry tomatoes. I just cook the onions right in the casserole dish with a little olive oil before adding the other ingredients. I add the tomatoes raw and they cook a bit while the casserole bakes.
Spices – Since this has pesto it doesn’t need much in way of spices but you can add some crushed fresh garlic or garlic powder, minced onion or onion powder, or a bit of an herb like thyme or sage to change up the taste.
Common Questions
What Pesto Should I Use?
As a rule of thumb, when I make sauces and dressings that call for pesto I reach for a basil-based pesto. I used a nut-free fresh basil pesto in this recipe but you can use any variety of pesto sauce. It’s great with this almond pesto. It is also fantastic with sun-dried tomato pesto and artichoke pesto. Any pesto packed with flavor can be used to flavor this sauce. Kale or spinach pesto are other choices.
What Do I Serve This With?
I served this over zucchini noodles for dinner and had it over lightly sauteed fresh baby spinach the next day for lunch. I can’t decide if I liked this better over zoodles or spinach. I want to try over mashed cauliflower next time. My kids like a side of penne pasta with it. They love the way the sauce clings to the pasta.
Can I Use Frozen Cooked Chicken in Casserole?
Yup! Aren’t easy dinners the best? Since I used frozen cooked chicken for this (I thawed it first) the prep time was really only 5 minutes. To thaw cooked frozen chicken breasts, place them in the refrigerator for a day. Place the frozen breasts in a cutting board and use a chef knife to cut into bite-sized pieces.
If you know you are planning to use the cooked chicken for a casserole, soup, or salad, I recommend cutting it up before freezing it.
Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken?
Yes, using rotisserie chicken is another great choice. I prefer white meat in this casserole but you can use the dark meat too if you want. The key is cutting it into small bite-sized pieces or shredding it before adding it to the sauce.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it to your inbox. Plus get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Joy Filled Eats
Pesto Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/4-1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz mozzarella cubed
- 2 lb cooked cubed chicken breasts (I weighed this after cooking)
- 8 oz mozzarella shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400. Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Combine the first three ingredients and mix until smooth in a large bowl. Add the chicken and cubed mozzarella. Transfer to the casserole dish. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. Serve with zoodles, spinach, or mashed cauliflower.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy my Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole!
And then come back and try these other chicken casseroles:
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole
Originally Published April 17, 2017. Revised and Republished January 12, 2022.
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try!