Have you ever found yourself scrolling through endless casserole recipes only to find that they all use canned soup, white rice, and are topped with breadcrumbs? I know I have. But fear not my fellow apron aces, for I have found the solution to our problem.
Get ready to cook up a storm with this delicious Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole Instant Pot Recipe. Made completely from scratch without relying on a canned soup base, this dish is a great way to combine healthy and comforting.
Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole Instant Pot Easy Recipe
Tender broccoli and juicy chicken are topped with a creamy sauce and cream cheese to create a dish that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds. And the Instant pot makes everything very easy and convenient. You’ll be done cleaning it up in seconds.
And what exactly is keto? In short, it’s a low-carb, high-fat diet that has numerous health benefits. This easy recipe will make you such a low carb casserole.
And what about the Instant Pot? It’s a multi-cooker that can do the job of several kitchen appliances all in one. It makes cooking a breeze. You can make lunch for the whole family easily.
Equipment you need to make chicken broccoli casserole
- Instant Pot: The star of the show. This pressure cooker will make cooking this dish a breeze.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Accuracy is key when it comes to cooking.
- Cutting board: For chopping up your ingredients.
- Kitchen knife: A sharp knife makes all the difference.
Ingredients you need to make chicken broccoli casserole
You’ll need a few simple ingredients. Full list of ingredients:
- Chicken: The protein of the dish. Chicken breasts or chicken thighs – both will work just fine. Pick what you prefer. Use high-quality or bio chicken.
- Broccoli: Adds a pop of color and some much-needed nutrients.
- Butter: Adds richness to the dish. Use unsalted if possible.
- Almond Flour: A low-carb alternative to regular flour.
- Heavy Cream: Adds creaminess to the sauce.
- Chicken Broth: Adds flavor to the dish. Homemade is always best.
- Sour Cream: Adds tanginess to the sauce. Use full-fat for best results.
- Mayonnaise: Adds creaminess to the sauce. Make sure to read the label as some brands contain sugar.
- Garlic Powder: Adds flavor to the dish. Or use fresh garlic.
- Smoked Paprika: For a smoky flavor. You can use a regular one instead if you don’t have it.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning the dish. Fresh ground pepper is always best.
- Gruyere Cheese (or any shredded cheese): Adds a cheesy goodness to the dish. But feel free to use any shredded cheese you like.
- Cayenne Pepper (optional): Adds a little kick to the dish. If you are heat-sensitive or have small children, you can leave this out.
How to make chicken broccoli casserole?
Cooking process for Chicken Brocolli casserole is really simple. To make this great recipe you need to:
- Dice the chicken: Place the raw chicken meat on a clean cutting board. Slice it into strips about ½ inch wide. Then cut them across to make small cubes about ½ inch in size.
- Dice the onion: Dice the onion to fine pieces
- Set Instant Pot to Sauté: Heat the oil in the Instant Pot on sauté mode. This will help to brown the onions and add flavor to the dish.
- Cook Onions: Add the onions and cook until they start to brown. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Sauté the chicken: Add the chicken and sauté until it gets lightly browned from all sides. You need to cook it through. Add more butter if necessary to avoid sticking.
- Scrape the bottom of the pot: Deglaze the bottom of the pot with a small amount of chicken stock. Scrape the bottom enough, so that you loosen any stuck bits.
- Add the almond flour: Add the almond flour to the pot. Cook for a minute, whisking constantly.
- Add the liquids: Stir in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Add the seasonings: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper. Stir everything well.
- Add the sour cream and mayonnaise: Add both and stir everything.
- Add the broccoli: Add the broccoli florets and make sure everything is evenly distributed in the pot.
- Add the cheese: Sprinkle shredded Gruyere cheese over the top of the mixture.
- Pressure Cook: Close the Instant Pot lid and sealing valve then set to manual – high pressure – for 5 minutes. Just sit back and let the Instant Pot do the work for you.
- Quick release: Do a quick release of pressure by carefully turning the pressure release valve to its venting position.
- Finish the casserole: Once all the pressure has been released, you can open the pot. Give it a stir and serve. Enjoy!
Want to get more creative?
Want to mix it up? Try using Italian sausage instead of chicken in this recipe. Just substitute cooked and crumbled sausage for the chicken and follow the same instructions. You’ll have a delicious twist on the original!
- Substitute cauliflower for broccoli: If broccoli isn’t your favorite or you’re looking to switch things up, cauliflower is a great alternative. It’s an easy switch, just follow the same instructions.
- Looking for a different cheese? Gruyere cheese is great in this recipe, but don’t worry if you don’t have it. Use any shredded cheese you like. Cheddar, smoked gouda, and mozzarella all work very well. Even parmesan cheese is great!
- Add cooked and crumbled bacon: If you want to take this dish up a notch, try adding some cooked and crumbled bacon. Bacon goes well with keto chicken recipes and adding eight ounces of cooked and crumbled bacon will give this dish an extra punch of flavor.
- Cauliflower rice: Looking for a low-carb option for rice? Try out adding cauliflower rice. You can either make your own by pulsing cauliflower florets in a food processor or purchase pre-packaged cauliflower rice from the grocery store
- Cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken: If you have some leftover cooked chicken or if you fancy rotisserie chicken, you can use it too. That will make the whole recipe even quicker and you make a good use of leftovers.
Pro tips
Here are a few tips to get you a perfect chicken broccoli casserole every time:
- Sauté onion and garlic in butter before adding liquids: Before adding liquids, you can sauté ½ cup diced onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic in butter to give the dish an extra punch of flavor.
- Use fresh broccoli if possible: Fresh broccoli will provide the best taste and texture in this dish. If you don’t have fresh broccoli, frozen broccoli can work too. But let it thaw completely in a large bowl and drain any excess water before using it in the recipe.
- Buy whole broccoli: When shopping for broccoli for this recipe, it’s best to buy the whole broccoli head rather than just the florets or crowns. The stalks carry a lot of the flavor. You can chop them into smaller pieces. Don’t let them go to waste!
- Revive limp broccoli: If your broccoli has gone a little limp, don’t throw it away! Trim the bottom of the stalk. Let it stand in a layer of water and refrigerate it overnight. This trick can revive limp broccoli and make it ready to use in this keto casserole.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use frozen broccoli? Absolutely! If you don’t have any fresh broccoli, frozen broccoli can be used in this recipe. Just make sure to thaw it completely and drain any excess water before using it in the recipe.
- Can I use a different type of cheese? Yes, You can use any type you like. Cheddar cheese is a great option. Smoked gouda and mozzarella also work very well. It’s an easy way to alter the whole dish.
- How do I make this dairy-free? To make it dairy-free, use coconut cream and add xanthan gum or glucomannan for thickening. Then add your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese.
- Can I make chicken broccoli casserole ahead of time? Sure! This is one great make-ahead meal. You can even use a slow cooker if you have enough time.
How do I make chicken broccoli casserole without Instant pot?
No Instant Pot? No problem. Grease a casserole dish. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Sauté onions in butter, then add garlic and broccoli (with chicken stock) and cook until partially tender. Combine everything except cheese in the casserole dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for a few more minutes until melted. Note: The texture may differ slightly from the Instant Pot version since there is no pressure cooking involved.
How to store leftover chicken casserole?
Have leftovers? No problem. This Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole stores beautifully in the refrigerator. Simply transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Next time you’re ready to enjoy it again, just reheat it in the microwave or on the stove until heated through.
A Delicious Farewell from Your Keto Casserole Companion
This Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole Instant Pot Recipe is a delicious and healthy meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. It’s quick, easy, and convenient to make in your Instant Pot, and the end result is a comforting dish that everyone will love. You might just find that it becomes a regular in your meal rotation. So why not give it a try? And don’t forget to check out my other recipes to find more aces up your apron sleeve when it comes to home cooking.
Keto chicken broccoli casserole Instant pot
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot
- 1 measuring cups and spoons
- 1 cutting board
- 1 kitchen knife
Ingredients
- 1 lbs chicken breasts (use high quality)
- 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh)
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup flour
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese (shredded)
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Dice the chicken: Place the raw chicken meat on a clean cutting board. Slice it into strips about ½ inch wide. Then cut them across to make small cubes about ½ inch in size.
- Dice the onion: Dice the onion to fine pieces
- Set Instant Pot to Sauté: Heat the oil in the Instant Pot on sauté mode. This will help to brown the onions and add flavor to the dish.
- Cook Onions: Add the onions and cook until they start to brown. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Sauté the chicken: Add the chicken and sauté until it gets lightly browned from all sides. You need to cook it through.
- Scrape the bottom of the pot: Deglaze the bottom of the pot with a small amount of chicken stock. Scrape the bottom enough, so that you loosen any stuck bits.
- Add the almond flour: Add the almond flour to the pot. Cook for a minute, whisking constantly.
- Add the liquids: Stir in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Add the seasonings: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper. Stir everything well.
- Add the sour cream and mayonnaise: Add both and stir everything.
- Add the broccoli: Add the broccoli florets and make sure everything is evenly distributed in the pot.
- Add the cheese: Sprinkle shredded Gruyere cheese over the top of the mixture.
- Pressure Cook: Close the Instant Pot lid and sealing valve then set to manual – high pressure – for 5 minutes. Just sit back and let the Instant Pot do the work for you.
- Quick release: Do a quick release of pressure by carefully turning the pressure release valve to its venting position.
- Finish the casserole: Once all the pressure has been released, you can open the pot. Give it a stir and serve. Enjoy!