Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (2024)

by Denise 20 Comments

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This easy keto Mexican chicken casserole is so rich and tasty it will be sure to warm you on a cold day. Full of cheesy Mexican flavor, you can throw this low carb dinner together in minutes and then just bake it. This chicken casserole is keto comfort food that has only 6g net carbs per serving.

You might also like this popular keto buffalo chicken casserole recipe.

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (1)

he weather is getting colder and that means casserole meals for me. I was in the mood for a Mexican dish but being on a low carb diet I didn’t want to use tortillas and wanted to keep the carbs down.

So I a created this super duper easyketo Mexican chicken casserole. It was rich, cheesy and full of chicken so it’s filling too. Perfect keto comfort food for the family especially if you love Mexican food.

OMG just looking at these pictures makes me wished I had some leftovers. This dish freezes well so if you have leftovers you could freeze servings for a delicious keto lunch.

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (2)

There are only 7 casserole ingredients.

The ingredients I used for this delicious casserole were cooked chicken breast, cream cheese, cauliflower rice, salsa, Mexican cheese, chili powder and cumin. If you want to add a little heat, you can add bit of hot sauce or hot pepper flakes too.

I used chunky salsa from a jar that I got and Aldi but you can substitute with your favorite brand. Just make sure the carbs are pretty low. Also I used shredded Mexican cheese blend but you could just use shredded cheddar cheese or even Monterey Jack if you want.

This is definitely a leftover chicken recipe and perfect use for rotisserie chicken. It will only take a few minutes to mix everything then all you have to do is bake it!

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (3)

How to make this keto mexican chicken casserole.

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Get out a casserole dish and spray with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Chop up the chicken into bite sized pieces and add to a large bowl. Set aside.
  3. Add the cream cheese and salsa to a microwave safe bowl bowl and cool om the microwave for a minute or two to soften the cream cheese. Add the seasonings and mix together well.
  4. Add the cream cheese mixture to the large bowl with the chicken and half of the shredded cheese. Spoon the chicken mixture into a sprayed casserole dish and top the casserole with the remaining cheese.
  5. Place in the preheated oven. Bake for the casserole 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top. Take out and let cool a bit before serving.

Store leftovers of this creamy casserole in an airtight container. Please scroll down to view the printable recipe card.

You can eat this low carb casserole as is like we did or you could also use toppings like avocado, sour cream, hot sauce, jalapeno peppers, black olive slices, etc.

Serve with a nice green salad and you are good to go!

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (4)

More keto recipes using rotisserie chicken.

I have quite a few low carb recipes on this blog that uses rotisserie chicken. You can use it to stuff peppers, in low carb soups, buffalo chicken dips, casseroles and even chicken salads.

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (5)
Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (6)
Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (7)
Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (8)
Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (9)

TIP: I often buy 2 rotisserie chickens when I go to Costco because they are inexpensive and relatively big. I take all the meat off the chickens and portion 1 cup servings into ziplock bags. Then I freeze them for dishes like this. Save the bones to make chicken broth!

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • I use chunky salsa from Aldi which had a lot of carbs and accounts for most of the carbs in this recipe. If you have a lower carb brand go ahead and use that. This is the main source of Mexican flavors. I have an awesome keto salsa recipe but I didn’t want you to have to make that first so I used jarred salsa.
  • I bought my Mexican cheese blend from Costco and it was delicious and low carb. Again try to find the lowest brand you can or use shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack. You could even grate your own cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and there are a few extra carbs in the bags you find in the grocery store.
  • This is the perfect recipe to freeze for a low carb lunch. Just portion out the leftovers and place in a freezer container. Microwave for a few minutes to reheat.
Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (10)

Well I must say this was one of my favorite recipes lately. This low carb meal was so easy and comforting and sure to be a family favorite. It would be perfect for a busy weeknight meal. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (11)

The nutritional information for 1 serving is 364 calories and:
18.5g fat / 7g carbs / 1g fiber / 39.7g protein = 6g net carbs

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (12)

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This easy keto Mexican chicken casserole is so rich and tasty it will be sure to warm you on a cold day. Full of cheesy Mexican flavors you can throw this low carb dinner together in minutes and then just bake it. This chicken casserole is keto comfort food that th entire family will love and has only 6g net carbs per serving.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
  • 2 cups cauliflower rice
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup salsa*
  • 8 ounces shredded cheese (Mexican or cheddar)*
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Then spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. Add cream cheese and salsa to bowl and microwave for a minutes or two to soften the cream cheese. Take it out and add the spices and mix well.
  3. In a large mixing bowl add the cauliflower rice, cream cheese mixture, chicken and half of the cheese. Mix well and spoon into baking dish.
  4. Top with the other half of the cheese and bake for 30 minutes to brown and bubbly. If after 30 minutes it's not browned enough for your liking on top, you put it under the broiler for a few minutes.

Notes

The nutritional information for 1 serving is 364 calories and:
18.5g fat / 7g carbs / 1g fiber / 39.7g protein = 6g net carbs

Recipe Tips and Notes

  • I used chunky salsa from Aldi which had a lot of carbs and accounts for most of the carbs in this recipe. If you have a lower carb brand go ahead and use that. This is the main source of Mexican flavors. I have an awesome keto salsa recipe but I didn't want you to have to make that also so I used jarred salsa.
  • I bought my Mexican cheese blend from Costco and it was delicious and low carb. Again try to find the lowest brand you can or grate your own cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
  • This is the perfect recipe to freeze for a long carb lunch. Just portion out the leftovers and place in a freezer container. Microwave for a few minutes to reheat.
  • We ate this as is but you could also use your favorite toppings like sour cream, black olive slices, jalapeno peppers, guacamole, avocado, etc. Just add the carb counts if you are on a low carb diet.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 364

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (14)

More Easy Low Carb Dinner and Main Dishes

  • Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
  • Keto Chicken Alfredo with Zucchini Noodles
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Salsa Verde
  • Keto Yucatan Shrimp Recipe

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Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. You should always do your own calculations if you are concerned about the accuracy of this or any recipe. I use the Lose It app for all of my nutritional information because I have for years.

Comments

  1. Debbie Adair

    I was looking for new keto casserole recipe and found this. LOVELOVELOVE! I like the few ingredients and yet so tasty!

    Reply

    • Denise

      So glad you liked it Debbie!

      Reply

    • Tawni

      Absolutely loved this recipe. I used spicy salsa and it gave it such a nice kick. The creamy chicken and crispy cheese crust were awesome! This will easily become a weekly meal for me.

      Reply

      • Denise

        Hi Tawni, so glad you liked it. You can easily play around with this to make it your own. I like to freeze portions for a quick keto lunch too. Thanks for coming back to comment!

        Reply

  2. Helene

    Thanks for an easy and tasty recipe. I added a diced red pepper and omitted the cream cheese. I cooked the red pepper in garlic infused olive oil, and added the pre-cooked chicken breasts and heated them with the peppers and salsa. I subbed Konjac rice for the riced cauliflower. I made 2 smaller casseroles and cooked in the air fryer oven at 370 degrees for 6 minutes. I served it with sour cream and diced avocado.

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Helene, glad you liked it and thanks for sharing your tips!

      Reply

  3. Christina

    Hi there! This sounds delicious. What size baking dish do you use?

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Christina, it’s a 8x10inch casserole dish. It says 2.8 liters on the bottom. Hope that helps and you like it!

      Reply

  4. Becky

    Ever since going low carb I have found layered foods are the best! I am always looking for new things to deconstruct and make a low carb/layered casserole with. I use the low carb tortillas from Aldi (much cheaper that alternatives) and then layer them like a lasagna but with endless possibilities for fillings. this adds a couple more carbs but makes you feel like you are having something structured instead of just filling with cheese on top and since I do a 16/8 fast I have a filling meal and it stays within my carb limit
    I make a pizza casserole, a cheese coney casserole an a Philly cheese casserole that are big winners at my house this will be a great alternative to my beef enchiladasagna!

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Becky, great ideas! I’ll have to give it a try. I buy those tortillas too (love Aldi) so I’ll be creative with them!

      Reply

      • Melanie

        Did you use frozen cauli rice?

        Reply

        • Denise

          Hi Melanie, I never really use frozen cauliflower rice. You can though just make sure to drain all the water out first so it doesn’t make the casserole watery. Hope you like it.

          Reply

          • Kelly

            Your recipe calls for Cali rice. Are you saying you don’t use frozen?

          • Denise

            Hi Kelly, I meant to say that I never really use frozen cauliflower rice but you can try it. Just make sure to drain any extra liquid from it before mixing it in. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

  5. Jennifer Lorden

    Do you use fresh, raw cauliflower rice or frozen?

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Jennifer, I usually make my own by just adding cauliflower to a food processor and pulsing until it looks like rice. That being said you could use any kind of cauliflower rice you want. Just don’t cook it first. And if using frozen, let it thaw a bit and drain any excess water before adding to the casserole. Hope that helps and you like it!

      Reply

  6. Barbara

    I already submitted a review, but just wanted to say that this is a delicious recipe, and easy to fix quickly for company. I use Costco’s grilled chicken that comes cut up in chunks/strips and is found in the freezer section. We don’t have Aldi’s so I used Rotel instead, and will probably add fresh cilantro to the sauce.

    It’s a great recipe to take camping, as well. We just reheated it in our oven (you could microwave but I prefer not to) and I served it with tortilla chips for my non-low-carb hubby and pork rinds for myself.

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Barbara, so glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to comment and share you tips and tricks! Have a good weekend.

      Reply

    • Judy

      This was the Best Keto recipe I have ever tried! OMG. So delicious. I didn’t have cream cheese so I substituted with sour cream. Thank you for posting.

      Reply

      • Denise

        Hi Judy, I’m so glad you liked it! And thanks for sharing your tip. I’ll have to try sour cream next time.

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Keto Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe | low carb comfort food (2024)

FAQs

What part of chicken is best for keto diet? ›

Chicken thighs (with the skin on) are perfect for when you're on the ketogenic diet. The meat is a little richer and fattier than breast meat, plus keeping the skin on ups the fat count.

Is Mexican food keto friendly? ›

In fact, you might be shocked by how keto-friendly Mexican restaurants can be. Almost all carry the carb-heavy standards like tacos, quesadillas, burritos and enchiladas, but check out the specialties — there might be steaks, pork chops, fish and chicken dishes that can easily be keto-fied.

Can you eat baked chicken on keto? ›

Baked chicken drumsticks are an excellent choice for a keto diet, as they are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Season them with keto-friendly spices and herbs for added flavor without extra carbs.

Are fajitas keto friendly? ›

Fajitas, like several other Mexican dishes, make an ideal keto meal as long as you skip the tortillas. Choose a simple meat entree. Choosing a high fat, high protein meat dish as your main course means you may not have to make many special requests to keep your meal keto-friendly.

Which cheese is best for keto? ›

The best keto cheeses include cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese, while the worst are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties. If you're following the keto diet or know someone who is, be sure to keep these cheeses in mind to promote ketosis and meet dietary goals.

Which milk is better for keto? ›

Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, macadamia nut milk, flax milk, soy milk, cashew milk, and pea milk along with half-and-half and heavy cream are all keto-friendly milk options. 1.

Can you eat sour cream on keto? ›

Regular, full fat sour cream is made from cream and contains far more fat than carbs. Therefore, it's considered keto-friendly. However, low fat or nonfat sour cream is not. Full fat sour cream can provide some variety in a keto diet when used as a dip base or incorporated into recipes to boost the fat content.

Can I eat salsa on keto? ›

Yes, as we talked about above salsa is definitely keto friendly! Salsa usually only has a few grams of carbs per serving and is loaded with nutritious ingredients, so you can add a burst of flavor to your meals without any guilt. Just be sure to choose a salsa without any added sugar.

Can I eat corn tortillas on a low-carb diet? ›

No flour or corn tortillas and chips – Although corn tortillas are gluten-free, they are definitely not carbohydrate-free. Flour and corn tortillas are both high in empty carbs, so it's best to avoid them (and tortilla chips) altogether or substitute them for healthier options.

How many pieces of chicken can I eat on keto? ›

"With a keto diet, the breakdown is approximately 75 percent fat, 20 percent protein and 5 percent carbohydrates." For example, a woman who weighs 150 pounds and is moderately active is recommended to eat 25 grams of carbs (think one medium sized apple!), 86 grams of protein (a little over three 3 oz chicken breasts) ...

Can I eat unlimited chicken on keto? ›

The Best Meats for Keto

Only about one-fifth of your meal should be protein. If you've done that math, that makes high-protein meat choices, like skinless chicken breasts or fish, things you should only eat sparingly.

What fruit is keto-friendly? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Can you eat guacamole on keto? ›

Is Guacamole Keto-Friendly? Yes, absolutely. As mentioned above, guacamole is loaded with healthy monounsaturated fats and minimal carbohydrate content. This makes it a perfect low-carb, high-fat keto snack when served with keto-friendly chips or raw veggies.

What can I eat at a Mexican restaurant that is low-carb? ›

Low-Carb Mexican Food Substitutes

Substitute a Jicama Salad for nachos. Replace any of the taco, tamale, or enchilada platters with whatever grilled fish (pescado) is on the menu. Try Pollo Asado, grilled chicken, instead of Chimichangas or Flautas.

Can I eat mayo during keto? ›

Mayonnaise is the perfect condiment for the Keto Diet because it consists of high fat, low protein, and zero carbohydrates. It also has many health benefits that can help you maintain Ketosis and achieve your weight loss goals on the Keto diet.

Is chicken breast or thigh better for keto diet? ›

Chicken thighs are a nice choice for keto because they're packed with protein and have a bit more fat than leaner white meat, which will help keep you full and satisfied for longer. The skin is also keto, so long as you haven't breaded the chicken.

Is chicken breast better than thighs on keto diet? ›

If lower calorie foods are preferable to you, chicken breasts are the way to go because thighs contain over 30% more calories (per Calories Info). Upping your fats for keto? Thighs have breasts beat by nearly 65%.

What is the healthiest part of chicken for weight loss? ›

The chicken breast is lean and has the most protein by weight, making it ideal for people who want to lose weight, maintain muscle mass and improve recovery. Fattier cuts like the thigh, drumstick and wings have more calories, which make them better for people wanting to build muscle or gain weight.

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