As a chef passionate about keto cooking, I’ve crafted this latest kitchen creation – the Keto Pesto Chicken Casserole recipe – to bring a burst of Mediterranean flavors right to your table.
It’s a delightful blend of juicy chicken, aromatic pesto, tangy feta, and olives, all wrapped up in a creamy, comforting casserole. This chicken pesto casserole recipe is a testament to my belief that keto meals can be both incredibly tasty and nourishing.
So, grab your apron, and let’s cook up a storm together – keto style!
Chicken is a type of white meat which is low in calories and a good source of protein. It’s perfect for the low carb diet. In fact, I have made so many low-carb chicken recipes for you!
Chicken breast is a great source of low-fat protein. Protein helps your body maintain muscle mass. Chicken breasts also contain vitamin B6, phosphorus, selenium, and niacin.
But all the healthy properties of chicken are intensified when properly accompanied and cooked. In this recipe, I pair chicken with Mediterranean spices, olive oil, and feta cheese.
It’s a low-carb way to jazz up your traditional chicken recipe. Unlike other regular casserole recipes, this one is completely gluten-free, which means it’s lower in carbs and easier to digest. Many casseroles contain pasta, noodles, or other starchy grains.
I use heavy cream to combine all ingredients and give your final draft a creamy touch. The black olives aren’t just tasty. They’re also high in antioxidants, healthy monounsaturated fat, and vitamin E.
The cherry tomatoes really give this dish a colorful pop. They contain lycopene, which has been shown to help prevent cancer by reducing tumor formation (1).
Garlic is a staple in Mediterranean cooking. It’s known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial components. Garlic is also high in vitamin B6 & C, selenium, manganese, copper, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron.
Feta cheese is very nutritious and an excellent source of calcium while olive oil is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid, which is believed to have many beneficial effects and is a healthy choice for cooking.
So, are we doing healthy cooking? Certainly! Season the chicken with salt and pepper so that the dish should not only be healthy but delicious. Sprinkle with Grana Padano and serve!
How to Make Low Carb Pesto Chicken Mediterranean Casserole
To make, start by cooking the chicken breast in a stovetop pan over medium heat in olive oil. Be sure to season with salt and pepper first. You can also use chicken thighs.
Combine heavy cream, garlic (can be flakes, powder or freshly crushed garlic) and pesto into a bowl. Mix well. This will be your dressing for the casserole. You can also prepare your own pesto sauce from home using this keto pesto sauce recipe.
When the chicken is cooked, add it to a casserole pan (or a baking dish) with the olives, crumbled feta, and cherry tomatoes. Add the pesto sauce on top. If you don’t use feta cheese, you can try full fat cream cheese.
Bake for about 30 minutes in a preheated oven until golden brown and serve hot. You can add some extra shredded mozzarella cheese and fresh basil on top! Enjoy your meal and make sure to add this recipe to your Mediterranean diet casseroles list.
Finally, if you’re a fan of cozy, comforting meals, you’ll love this keto chicken and broccoli casserole. It’s my personal favorite for a quick, nutritious dinner that keeps you right on track with your keto goals. Give it a try and see why it’s a hit in our keto community!
Related:
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Pesto Mozzarella Chicken
Keto Pesto Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 10 oz chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 oz black olives
- 2 oz feta cheese crumbled
- 3 oz cherry tomatoes
- 2 tbsp green pesto sauce
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp Grana Padano grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Heat olive oil in a frying pan, add chicken meat, season with salt and pepper and cook until golden.
- In a bowl, combine heavy cream with pesto and garlic flakes.
- Arrange chicken, olives, crumbled feta, cherry tomatoes in a casserole dish and add creamy pesto.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Sprinkle with Grana Padano and serve!
