Description
Indulge in this flavorful keto chicken and rice casserole recipe! Say goodbye to bland and hello to flavor-packed keto comfort food that's creamy, satisfying, and oh-so-delicious. Picture tender chicken, cauliflower rice, vibrant greens, and a mixture of spices all coming together in one glorious dish, baked to perfection for a fluffy, flavor explosion.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken thighs (or subs)
- 2 cups broccoli chopped
- 3 cups cauliflower rice
- 1 leek
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Spices
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1,5 tsp onion powder
- Thyme
Creamy sauce
- 1 cup coconut cream (thick better)
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (or subs)
- 1 cup of cheese (DF) (opt for DF cheddar cheese or gouda cheese)
Instructions
- Start by mixing all the spices in a small bowl and preheating the oven in convection mode at 200C/392F.
- Bake the chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into bite-size pieces. Transfer to the casserole dish, add one teaspoon of the spice mix, and one tablespoon of olive oil, and mix well with a couple of spoons to combine. Bake at 200C/392F for 10-12 minutes. Once it's done, take it out of the oven and drain any excess water. Set it out on a plate.
- Prepare the veggies: Cut the broccoli into small pieces (I like to use part of the stem as well as the broccoli florets), dice the leek, and make the riced cauliflower. To make the cauliflower rice you can either use a food processor or a grater. I find the grater quite convenient as it involves a lot less cleaning!
- Bake the veggies: Transfer all the veggies to the (empty) casserole dish, and toss the remaining spice mix and two tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well to combine using a couple of spoons. Bake at 200C/392F for 30 minutes.
- Bake the casserole: Add the chicken back into the casserole dish and combine with the veggies. Pour in the coconut cream, nutritional yeast, and thyme, and mix well to combine. Spread the grated cheese on top, and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Grill for the last couple of minutes for a crispy cheesy top.
Notes
Tip - you can shorten the cooking time by cooking the veggies on the stovetop rather than baking them.
Don't be shy with the herbs & spices - they are what elevate the flavor of this keto casserole recipe and turn it from a bland recipe to a superstar recipe!
All ingredients must be cooked before combining with the creamy sauce - I know it can be tempting to throw all the ingredients raw in the casserole and cook them in one go, but unfortunately, it won't work. The veggies and chicken would release water and you would end up with a messy and not-so-tasty casserole.