Keto and casseroles seem to go hand in hand when you think about the type of high-fat foods that are being included. All of the cheeses you’re able to use create an ooey, gooey texture that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re a working mom, a college student, or you just want an easy meal – this casserole will get the job done!
This is my Southwestern-esque take on Shepherd’s Pie. It’s got a great heat coming through from the chili seasoning, a good balance of acidity and sweetness from the tomatoes, and plenty of cheese to boot. The cauliflower on top just adds a layer of fluffy goodness that lightens up what might be considered a heavy dish.
One tip to make things go a little quicker is to pre-cook the cauliflower when you start browning the chicken. It will still be warm enough to melt the cheese into the cauliflower, and will save on 5-6 minutes of down time while you’re cooking. This way, you can have everything ready in just about 30 minutes.
Yields 6 servings of Nacho Chicken Casserole
The Preparation
- 1.75 lbs. Chicken Thighs, boneless skinless
- 1 1/2 tsp. Chili seasoning
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 4 oz. Cream Cheese
- 4 oz. Cheddar Cheese
- 1 cup Green Chilies and Tomatoes
- 3 tbsp. Parmesan Cheese (~45g)
- 1/4 cup Sour Cream
- 16 oz. Frozen Cauliflower, package
- 1 medium Jalapeno Pepper
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
The Execution
1. Pre-heat oven to 375F. Using kitchen shears, chop chicken into bite-size chunks. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and chili seasoning.
2. Over medium-high heat, cook chicken in olive oil until browned on all sides.
3. Add cream cheese, sour cream and 3/4 of the cheddar cheese to the chicken, then stir together until melted and mixed. Add tomatoes and green chili and mix well.
4. In a casserole dish, add chicken mixture from the pan.
5. Microwave frozen cauliflower until cooked through. Use an immersion blender to blend with remaining cheddar cheese and parmesan into a mashed potato-like consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Cut a jalapeno into chunks. Spread cauliflower mixture over the top of the casserole, then sprinkle jalapeno pepper over the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until some color is on the top and the jalapenos are cooked.
7. Slice and serve. Some fresh chopped cilantro tastes great over the top!
This makes a total of 6 servings of Nacho Chicken Casserole. Each serving comes out to be 426 Calories, 32.2g Fats, 4.3g Net Carbs, and 30.8g Protein.
Nacho Chicken Casserole | Calories | Fats (g) | Carbs (g) | Fiber (g) | Net Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
1.75 lbs. Chicken Thighs, boneless/skinless | 1134 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 135 |
1 1/2 tsp. Chili Seasoning | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2 tbsp. Olive Oil | 240 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 oz. Cream Cheese | 400 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
4 oz. Cheddar Cheese | 460 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 27 |
1 cup Green Chilies and Tomatoes | 50 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
45g Parmesan Cheese | 63 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
1/4 cup Sour Cream | 120 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
1 packet Frozen Cauliflower | 68 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
1 medium Jalapeno Pepper | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
Salt and Pepper to Taste | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals | 2556 | 193 | 35.5 | 10 | 25.5 | 185 |
Per Serving ( /6 ) | 426.0 | 32.2 | 5.9 | 1.7 | 4.3 | 30.8 |
Nacho Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 1.75 lbs. Chicken Thighs boneless skinless
- 1 ½ tsp. Chili seasoning
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 4 oz. Cream Cheese
- 4 oz. Cheddar Cheese
- 1 cup Green Chilies and Tomatoes
- 3 tbsp. Parmesan Cheese ~45g
- ¼ cup Sour Cream
- 1 packet Frozen Cauliflower
- 1 medium Jalapeno Pepper
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375F. Chop and season chicken, then cook over medium-high in olive oil until browned.
- Add cream cheese, sour cream and 3/4 of the cheddar. Stir together until melted and mixed. Add tomatoes and green chili and mix well. Add everything to a casserole dish.
- Microwave frozen cauliflower until cooked through. Use an immersion blender to blend with remaining cheddar cheese and parmesan into a mashed potato-like consistency. Season to taste.
- Cut a jalapeno into chunks. Spread cauliflower mixture over the top of the casserole, then sprinkle jalapeno pepper over the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes.