Looking for a delicious dinner that your whole family will devour on those busy nights? Well, look no further because our cheesy and creamy keto green chile chicken casserole is the perfect dish for your keto lifestyle! Inspired by our love for Mexican food and a desire to eat clean while reducing carbs, this recipe is a game-changer.
The Backstory: It all started with our love for Mexican-inspired dishes and a commitment to clean eating. Two of our family's favorite recipes are keto chicken fajita casserole and keto chicken enchilada casserole, we wanted to create something equally mouthwatering but with a twist.
My parents were born and raised in New Mexico and love using hatch chiles in recipes for dinner.
We love everything from hatch green chile omelets to green chile chicken enchiladas.
Naturally, I had to come up with an easy chicken casserole featuring them. That's when the Clean Keto Green Chile Chicken Casserole was born!
This cheesy sensation combines the flavors of green chiles and tender chicken breast in a way that'll make your taste buds dance. Plus, it's a breeze to whip up in under 30 minutes.
So, get ready to enjoy the goodness of Mexican food without compromising your keto diet. Stay tuned for the full recipe that's bound to become a family favorite!
If you are on a low carb diet or are interested in more keto recipes and tips check out our keto and sugar-free section! We also highly recommend our clean keto guide and meal plan!
Before we get started, here at Mindfully Healthy Living, we like to encourage the step of intention setting.
Jump to:
Setting Intentions
Before you embark on preparing and enjoying this cheesy chicken dish or any meal, take a moment to set intentions.
This simple practice can help you get the most out of your food, activating both your cells and your subconscious mind to conspire in achieving your goals for the meal and your overall health.
Example 1: Gratitude and Nutrient Absorption
Begin by expressing gratitude for the nourishing ingredients in your meal. As you prepare to eat, envision these nutrients being absorbed by your body, nourishing your cells and supporting your well-being. By setting the intention to absorb maximum nutrients, you enhance the benefits of your meal.
Example 2: Stress Reduction and Digestion
If you've had a busy or stressful day, set the intention to relax and calm your mind as you eat. Visualize your digestive system functioning optimally, breaking down the food with ease.
By reducing stress and promoting a peaceful mealtime, you support efficient digestion and nutrient absorption.
Remember: Setting intentions is a powerful way to align your mind and body with your health goals.
Whether it's focusing on gratitude, stress reduction, or any other positive aspect, these intentions can help you make the most of every meal, promoting a holistic and mindful approach to your nutrition.
To learn more about setting intentions, check out our helpful guide to manifesting.
Now, let's grab that shopping list and get ready to head to the grocery store!
Ingredients
Shredded Chicken- Organic free-range air-chilled chicken is always the best quality unless you can go to a local organic farmer!
To make things simple for a quick and easy dinner, consider getting a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and shredding it. Otherwise, you can make shredded chicken in the slow cooker or instant pot with either chicken thighs or breasts.
Avocado Oil- This cooking oil has a high smoking point and is used to saute the vegetables before baking the casserole! Check out our article explaining more about avocado oil and coconut oil for cooking!
Onion
Green Bell Pepper- (Any color works!) Be sure to get organic whenever possible.
Jalapeno Pepper
Organic Hatch Green Chilies- These typically come in the canned section. If you can't find hatch green chilis, any organic green chilies will do! Feel free to use more or less green chilies, as desired!
Fage 5% Yogurt- This full-fat yogurt has a thick consistency similar to cream cheese. We use it often as an alternative to commonly processed foods like cream cheese or heavy cream and it works very well!
In fact, most Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream and even mayo and it has wonderful gut-healing properties. 🙂
Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese- Buying a block of organic cheese is best, especially if you are checking the ingredients and keeping a low-carb diet.
Shredded cheese is known for containing hidden starches (think extra carbs!) that are used to keep it from caking while on the shelves.
Taking the extra step to shred your own cheese is totally worth it! If you don't have Monterey Jack, it can easily be substituted with cheddar cheese or a blend, if you prefer!
Spices:
Ground Cumin, Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, Chipotle Chili Powder- It is important to read the ingredients and always aim for natural seasonings without added ingredients. Organic is an easy way to ensure this!
Fresh Cilantro- Organic is best! Leafy greens get heavily sprayed and absorb the chemicals easily, which makes it impossible to wash off. This can be substituted with chives or green onions if you prefer!
Optional Toppings- Avocados, Greek yogurt, a squeeze of lime, and/or diced tomatoes.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Heat the oil and saute onions, jalapeno, and bell peppers until softened.
Mix together cooked chicken, vegetables, spices, yogurt, green chilies, and half of the cheese in a large mixing bowl.
Pour the mixture into your casserole dish and top with the remaining cup of cheese.
Bake in the oven at 350F for 25 minutes until cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Let sit for 1-2 minutes and serve with your toppings of choice. Season with sea salt and black pepper, as desired!
Substitutions and Variations
If you want a vegetarian option, this delicious recipe can be made with tempeh or jackfruit instead, but keep in mind that it will no longer be considered keto as jackfruit and tempeh both contain natural sugars and carbohydrates.
For keto vegetarians, consider using extra vegetables like cauliflower rice or florets the replace the chicken in the recipe.
Looking for a more or less spicy recipe, consider adjusting the green chilies or jalapeno content.
For those not on a low-carb diet, you can add the casserole to flour tortillas and make burritos! There may also be some low-carb tortillas on the market, or you can make your own using almond flour.
You can also serve it over a bed of quinoa or rice if you choose.
It also tastes really good as a dip with low-carb tortilla chips or carrot chips! The possibilities are endless.
Equipment
Casserole Dish
Large Mixing Bowl
Spoon
Skillet
Chef Knife
Cutting Board
Wooden Spoon
Cheese Grater
Storage
Store leftover chicken casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
It can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for 4-6 months.
Top tip
Make green chili casserole ahead of time and portion it into individual containers to take to work for lunch or eat next time for easy defrosting!
FAQ
Green chilies do contain carbs, but it takes quite a lot of chilies to get these carbs. One cup of green chilies contains about 6g total carbs and 4g net carbs. An entire green chile chicken casserole uses only one cup of diced green chiles which means that each serving is only 1 total gram of carbohydrates. Green chilies also contain vitamins C, B6, A, potassium, copper, and iron along with amino acids and phytonutrients which makes it a nutritiously beneficial as well as delicious ingredient in any keto diet.
Yes! Green chilies have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help promote pain relief.
Yes! The heat from spicy foods like peppers and chilies helps to boost metabolism and burn fat. The capsaicin in chilies is what is responsible for the fire that boosts fat burning. It is also good for pain relief!
Related
Looking for other recipes? Try these:
Clean Keto Recipes and Info
Recipe
Clean Keto Green Chile Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- spoon
Ingredients
- 1 lb shredded chicken
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 jalapeno cored and diced
- 10 oz 5% fage yogurt
- 8 oz organic hatch green chiles chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded and divided
- Cilantro minced for garnish
- Green yogurt, lime wedges, and diced avocados optionally for toppings
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Heat oil on the stove in a large skillet. Add onions, jalapeños, and bell peppers and sauté for 2-4 minutes until softened.
- Mix shredded chicken with sautéed vegetables, seasonings, fage yogurt, green chilies, and one cup shredded cheese and stir.
- Add mixture to a casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
- Place in oven for 20-25 minutes or until cheese melts and starts to turn slightly golden brown. Remove from heat and let sit 1-2 minutes. Add optional toppings and serve hot! Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook chicken to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) Check using a meat thermometer
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Have a healthy day!
Natalie
Mara says
I just bought a huge bag of fresh hatch green chilies so I am planning to roast and peel them and use them in this recipe. It looks delicious!
Natalie Perry says
ooo that sounds divine! Enjoy!
Andréa Janssen says
This casserole was really delicious. The chicken had great flavor and stayed moist, and the cheesy topping was great! Thank you.
Natalie Perry says
Excellent!
Chris says
Quick easy and delicious
Natalie Perry says
it is!
Nora says
So awesome quickly to make and super delicious! Perfect for a busy weekday!
Natalie Perry says
It really is! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Pastor Natalie (ExamineThisMoment) says
Thank you for sharing this easy to make recipe 😊 I would have to edit some things but it does sound yummy😊
Pastor Natalie (ExamineThisMoment)
Letstakeamoment.com
Natalie Perry says
you are welcome. let us know what you switched up and how you like it!