Looking to make something easy yet delicious? Do you miss Chicken Alfredo while on a diet? Need to feed a horde or going to make a big batch to freeze for later? Well, look no further! Today I bring to you a Creamy Chicken Alfredo Bake with Broccoli that is Gluten-free, Low carb, and Keto friendly. Yes! You heard that right! Read on to find out how I make my mouth watering Keto Chicken Alfredo Bake. It will leave you licking your fingers!
Added fun to your weeknight supper with our recipe?!? How did it go? Let us know in the comments below!!
Our Chicken Alfredo Bake is one of those comfort foods that are low carb, extremely easy to prep, and mind-bogglingly appetizing. This bake is made with an Alfredo inspired sauce served with juicy chicken and keto-friendly veggies (you can even add a small portion of pasta and make it even more filling!).
It is rich with cheese and cream, this makes a great weekday meal for all the family. Perfect with a simple green salad, some steamed broccoli, or even on its own!
Ingredients You Need For Chicken Alfredo Bake with Broccoli (screenshot this for grocery list)
- 3 Tbsp Butter, Divided
- 2.5 Lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, Sliced
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1/4 Tsp Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Chicken Broth
- 12 Oz Steam Bag Of Frozen Broccoli
- 3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
- 1 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning
- 2/3 cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated
- 1/4 cup Pepper Jack Cheese, Grated
- 3/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese, Grated
- 1/4 Tsp Basil
How Do You Make Chicken Alfredo Bake
First, melt 1 tbsp butter in an oven-safe skillet, I use a cast-iron skillet! You can also cook everything separately and then assemble it in a casserole dish later. Totally up to you! Slice chicken into strips or cubes and season with salt & pepper before placing the chicken in the skillet. Sear on both sides evenly. Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer on low to medium heat until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside.
Remove chicken from the skillet and set it aside. Deglaze the pan (never miss this step!). To do this pour 2 tbsp chicken broth into the hot skillet. Then scrape the bits stuck to the bottom with a wooden spatula. Leave the bits in the pan as they add an extra kick of flavor.
Follow package directions to steam the broccoli in your microwave. Or, if you prefer, you can steam in boiling water on the stove. Do the same if you’re using any other veggies.
Add 2 tbsp butter to the skillet along with the minced garlic. Sauté this for 2 minutes or until your mouth waters with the smell of garlic! Add softened cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and Italian seasoning to the skillet, and then stir continuously with a whisk or wooden spoon on medium heat. Thoroughly combine the ingredients into one another.
Allow the sauce to simmer gently on medium to low heat. Boil this mixture until the heavy whipping cream has reduced and thickened (this is crucial to ensure this recipe is LOW ON CARBS!).
Tip: Don’t stop stirring this mixture. Otherwise, it will stick to the bottom of the pan. It will take a few minutes for the sauce to reduce and thicken. So be patient!
Once the sauce has condensed, add parmesan and pepper jack cheese then continue to stir the mixture until all the cheese melts and combines to leave behind a smooth sauce. Drain steamed broccoli once it’s done.
Add the chicken and broccoli to keto Alfredo sauce and stir until thoroughly combined. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on the low carb chicken Alfredo broccoli mixture then sprinkle basil on top. Here you can pre-boil some pasta to add more substance (JUST A SMALL PORTION!).
Pop the skillet in the oven on the top rack under the broiler until the mozzarella melts and bubbles. Take it out and serve hot.
ENJOY!!!
Can I Use Pre-Cooked Chicken In The Recipe?
Yes! Pre-Cooked chicken can save you a lot of time while you work on this recipe and are short on time.
If you are comfortable with the ingredients you’re using, everything will go perfectly fine, and will also save you a good 20 minutes while you’re at it.
But honestly, if you’re looking to do this in the best way possible, I freshly cook chicken. This is because nothing can beat a good old meal made with the freshest of ingredients you can find!! Cooking fresh chicken takes no time at all as long as you choose cuts that are quite tender to start with such as chicken thighs.
This cut will take your dish to the next level because of how juicy and flavorful they are.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead Of Skinless And Boneless Breasts?
Of course, you can! Chicken thighs have a much softer and juicy texture than the breasts and will work fine in the recipe.
Chicken thighs have a higher fat content which is good for a high-fat diet. My personal preference is to use the boneless skinless chicken breast because it’s easier to prep and has more meat in it.
Can I Use Different Types Of Veggies For My Alfredo?
Using different types of veggies for this recipe is a pretty good idea! You can add a lot of different low carb veggies that will suit your diet and will give you the energy you need! The veggies that you can use include:
- Green beans
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Capsicums
- Carrots
And these will go marvelously with that creamy rich Alfredo while giving you the detoxification and the weight loss you need from your diet. The addition of these low-carb veggies will increase your metabolic process while giving you good glowing skin. Veggies are also rich in vitamin K. This will help protect your bones and give you that extra boost of energy that you’ll need during your day.
All these health benefits mixed with a creamy delicious Alfredo equals HEAVEN ON EARTH quite literally!!!
Expert Tip: How To Make Chicken Alfredo As Low On Gluten As Possible
YES, YOU CAN! Now, this is a question I get asked a lot of times. People following a strict keto diet tend to avoid ingredients such as cornstarch and flour because of the high carb content in them. For me though, the best way to thicken that rich creamy Alfredo sauce is by removing the lid and simmering that rich sauce on a low flame.
This will thicken the sauce by evaporating the water content present in it, giving you the thickness you need to enjoy your meal. Simply switch off your stove once your sauce reaches the right consistency!
But Can I Find Any Low Carb Pasta Alternatives For This Recipe?
Yes, you can get alternatives for the Pasta you’ll be adding. Those alternatives include:
- Zucchini Noodles: It’s simple and healthy at the same time! Get a cheap spiralizer tool from any store. The spiralizer tool helps you make fine noodles out of that zucchini. Then add the noodle cut zucchini into some boiling water and quickly take them out.
- Shirataki Noodles: Shirataki noodles are organic and are made from the Konjac plant, and are very low on carb content. These noodles take the exact taste of the sauce they’re tossed into and taste exactly like normal noodles. However, they have a weird odor to them which is why I’ve read that they have to be properly rinsed to get rid of the smell.
- Palmini: Palmini was introduced by some entrepreneurs in the show Shark Tank. These noodles are low carb and are made from plant Hearts of palm. They have only 4g of carbs in them or 2g of net carbs per serving. This is very less if following a strict diet.
Can This Recipe Be Completely Gluten-Free?
Yes, it can, but the ingredients I use in this recipe are not completely gluten-free because I make it according to my preferences. One can add products that are gluten-free for their preference.
Let’s Learn How To Store Your Leftover Alfredo Now
The best way to store your chicken Alfredo would be by pouring it into a large bowl and covering it completely with cling wrap on top. Try making it as airtight as possible! Don’t leave any corner uncovered. This will prevent any impurities from getting in and will keep it ventilated as well with the trapped moisture inside.
How Do I Store My Alfredo And Then Reheat It Without The Sauce Separating?
Now here comes the tricky part, how would you reheat your Alfredo dish without the sauce splitting and becoming all watery?
I had to do a lot of research to PERFECT this. After talking to multiple chefs whom I follow, I got the answer. I had to test the procedure myself before letting it out for you guys to try and it was a total success.
- You need to gently start heating some heavy cream on a not so hot pan until it’s almost at a warm temperature.
- Then you start adding your Alfredo sauce to the warm heavy cream in the pan. Keep mixing the sauce slowly (don’t mix it too much!).
- Rewarm the mixture at a medium flame. Use the double boiler method as it’s much safer and would reduce the risk of the sauce splitting.
- Finally, add a bit of water to the sauce and put it in the oven to rewarm that bad boy up at 375 degrees.