Keto chicken breast recipes are a dinnertime mainstay when you’re striving to adhere to a low-carb keto diet. But poultry isn’t the only type of protein available on this eating plan. You can also have keto lasagna for supper, low-carb seafood risotto made with cauliflower rice and even keto pancakes with almond and coconut flours. As with any diet, sticking to the parameters is made much easier when your meals and snacks are tasty and easy to prep, but also full of variety (the same ol’ keto-friendly chicken breast meals three times a week are a snooze!).
To that end, these low-carb chicken breast recipes hit every flavor note to suit a wide range of eaters—and they’re gluten-free, too. Here’s to delicious keto meals prepared as stir-fries, fried chicken, salads, curries, casseroles and even a number of stuffed chicken recipes. You name it, and you’ll find a tasty, low-carb chicken recipe perfect for your dinner needs!
Related: 55 Keto Recipes For Beginners
What Is a Keto Diet?
The keto diet, which is short for ketogenic, is an eating plan that focuses on low-carb high-fat meals and snacks in order to drop a few pounds. When eating in a keto-friendly manner, the goal is to remove most carbs so you can put your body into a state of ketosis. This in turn prompts your system to become very efficient at burning fat for energy as well as turning fat into ketones, which offer even more energy to use. As with any radical change in the way you eat, always check with your doctor to be sure the diet you’re interested in is safe to try.
Related: 56 High-Fat Low-Carb Recipes That’ll Make You a Keto Believer
Why Chicken Is Ideal on a Keto Diet
Poultry and red meat go hand in hand with keto eating—and keto chicken breast recipes are nearly the ideal way to get the calories and energy you need on this plan. The reason? Chicken is naturally low in carbohydrates, and it’s a good source of important vitamins and minerals. And low-carb chicken breast recipes contain high-quality protein as the main source of energy. Chicken breasts are also a rather affordable way to feed a family, though if you and your gang prefer dark meat, that option is also keto-approved. Legs and thighs actually offer more fat and iron and they’re very forgiving to cook on a grill, in a slow cooker or simply roasted in the oven.
Related: 40 Fun Chicken Breast Dinner Recipes Your Family Will Beg For
The Best Keto Side Dishes
Low-carb chicken breast recipes on their own are fine, but you’ll want something alongside this main dish. Here are a few easy and delicious keto-friendly chicken breast side dish ideas:
Cauliflower anything
Mac and cheese, potato salad and rice dishes can all be transformed into super sides that are also keto when you swap out the usual carb for cauliflower, which is a low-glycemic substitute you’ll love. And the rice version of this cruciferous veggie is readily available in stores. Our choice: Try this to-die-for Three-Cheese Cauliflower Gratin or flavorful Thai-Fried Cauliflower rice.
Spaghetti squash
Love pasta but eating it less? Turn to spaghetti squash since the long strands inside mimic actual spaghetti. Halve the squash and fill it with broccoli and cheddar cheese or twirl it into “nests” stuffed with mozzarella and tomato sauce. You can also spiralize a number of types of veggies for a healthier alternative (hello “zoodles!’) Also consider these protein-packed pasta alternatives for a bit more texture in your meal.
Roasted Brussels sprouts or asparagus
Depending on the season and what’s in your market, both of these keto-approved green powerhouses are excellent when roasted on high heat. Bacon bits work well with sprouts and asparagus is yummy with a blanket of Parmesan. Try Chef Jon Ashton‘s Brussels sprouts with lemon and parmesan, or this medley of sprouts, asparagus, broccoli and toasted hazelnuts.
Best Keto Chicken Breast Recipes
This tasty meal is a low-carb casserole made with chicken breasts, broccoli and cheddar cheese that’s ready in 30 minutes. Swap regular rice for a bag of frozen cauliflower rice to up the nutrition and keep this a keto-friendly meal.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole
This spicy spin on a classic chicken noodle soup will be a crowd-pleaser. The addition of zucchini noodles and buffalo hot sauce takes it to a whole new level! It’s low-carb, gluten-free and downright delicious.
Get the recipe: Spicy Chicken Zoodle Soup
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This simple chicken marinated in a delicious coconut lime sauce is a perfect summer dinner!
Get the recipe: Coconut Lime Chicken
One-pan teriyaki chicken zoodles is the perfect easy gluten-free (or paleo) weeknight meal! Best of all, it takes only 30 minutes to make in just one pot and is so much healthier and better than takeout!
Get the recipe: One Pot Teriyaki Chicken Zoodles
Easy crisp-tender chicken with the creamiest lemon butter sauce ever—you’ll want to forget the chicken and drink the sauce instead!
Get the recipe: Lemon Butter Chicken
A lightened-up easy weeknight dinner in 30 minutes. Healthy lemon chicken cauliflower rice bowls are full of protein and clean ingredients without extra carbs—plus it’s gluten-free.
Get the recipe: Lemon Chicken Cauliflower Rice Bowls
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Crispy, juicy and tender, this Keto Fried Chicken is the real deal—without all the carbs and starches!
Get the recipe: Keto Fried Chicken
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Pan-seared chicken with a fabulous sauce with bacon, caper, lemon, olive and butter!
Get the recipe: Chicken Tapenade with Bacon
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A wonderful Asian twist to your favorite chicken tenders. Chicken strips are marinated in a sweet and spicy sauce, then baked, not fried, for a healthy and flavorful dinner everyone will love in the family.
Get the recipe: Spicy Baked Chicken Tenders
Fabulous, low-carb, gluten-free chicken breast stuffed with chorizo is a wonderful weeknight dish!
Get the recipe: Chorizo Stuffed Chicken Breast
Savory, tender chicken breasts are stuffed with salami, prosciutto, provolone, banana peppers and roasted peppers, then covered and baked in an incredible Italian dressing!
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Antipasto Stuffed Chicken
These delicious low-carb healthy chicken lettuce wraps really hit the spot when you want something light and healthy but filling.
Get the recipe: Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
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This faux chicken lo mein dish is made with zoodles (zucchini noodles) in place of noodles and the results are simply amazing!
Get the recipe: Chicken Zoodle Lo Mein
This Lemon Rosemary Chicken recipe is cooked on the stovetop with a fabulously creamy butter sauce mixed with shallots, garlic, chopped rosemary and a little lemon zest.
Get the recipe: Lemon Rosemary Chicken
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This low-carb chicken enchilada bake would be awesome with a squeeze of lime juice and some sliced avocado, but it’s really delicious on its own.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Chicken Enchilada Bake
Paleo chicken tenders crusted in an almond flour blend and mixed with Chinese five spice with a sweet & spicy Asian dipping sauce.
Get the recipe: Five Spice Paleo Chicken Tenders
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This healthy, baked coconut chicken tenders recipe needs only 6 ingredients. Naturally low-carb, paleo and gluten-free.
Get the recipe: Baked Coconut Chicken Tenders
Today’s recipe is a dynamite stir-fry dish that has weeknight dinner wrapped.
Get the recipe: Thai Cashew Chicken
Keto green chicken curry is my favorite because it’s super flavorful. Don’t forget the cauliflower rice!
Get the recipe: Keto Green Chicken Curry
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A filling low-carb chicken meal made in one pan and in under an hour. This chicken dinner is everything your family is craving with garlic, spinach, goat cheese and artichokes baked with juicy chicken and roasted tomatoes.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Chicken with Spinach, Artichokes and Goat Cheese
This loaded Chicken Fajita Salad is so full of flavor and topped with your favorite veggies and deliciously grilled chicken thighs.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Chicken Fajita Salad
This homemade sesame chicken keeps all of that soy, ginger and sesame flavor but takes out the carbs.
Get the recipe: Sesame Chicken
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Rich, cheesy and bursting with flavor, this Buffalo Chicken Casserole is sure to be a weeknight favorite for your family. If you love hot wings, you will love this casserole!
Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Casserole
These little chicken nuggets are completely starch-free and gluten-free so you and your kids can enjoy a healthier version of the recipe.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Chicken Nuggets
Nothing tastes better than a homemade Caesar salad with grilled chicken, homemade low-carb croutons and a homemade Caesar dressing!
Get the recipe: Chicken Caesar Salad
Low-carb fried chicken pieces coated in a sugar-free sweet chili Thai sauce and stir-fried with vegetables.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Sweet Chili Chicken
These great little chicken fritters are super delicious and have a great garlic sauce to dip in! Plus, they’re entirely dairy-free.
Get the recipe: Paleo Rosemary Chicken Fritters
This delicious paleo fried chicken is completely starch-free, gluten-free and dairy-free! These are the best healthy chicken pieces you’ll ever have!
Get the recipe: Paleo Fried Chicken
Easy Greek chicken bake is a low-carb, grain-free, paleo, one-pan wonder meal! This recipe is a super-easy Greek-inspired meal.
Get the recipe: Easy Greek Chicken Bake
A pepper chicken recipe that’s made with just five ingredients (besides chicken): onions, pepper, green chiles, yogurt and ginger-garlic paste. No mess, no fuss!
Get the recipe: Five-Ingredient Pepper Chicken
Making roast chicken in a dutch oven ensures the chicken stays super juicy! You can use the leftover bones and vegetables to make a delicious bone broth.
Get the recipe: Roast Chicken in a Dutch Oven
This creamy and sweet butter chicken is entirely dairy-free and low-carb! You can use any part of a chicken you want.
Get the recipe: Paleo Butter Chicken
This simple casserole is packed full of delicious chicken, broccoli and cheese. The entire family will enjoy it.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Chicken Casserole
This slow cooker crack chicken recipe is so EASY! It takes just 10 minutes of prep time and no one will know it happens to be keto crack chicken too.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
Chicken avocado soup is a great broth-based soup to make for lunch or dinner any time of the year.
Get the recipe: Chicken Avocado Soup
Instant pot chicken curry is a comforting dish that is full of flavor. It is easy to make from pantry staples.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Curry
This Greek Lemon Chicken is bursting with flavor from a delicious marinade, cherry tomatoes, artichokes and lemon cauliflower rice, all made in one pan!
Get the recipe: Greek Lemon Chicken
Instant Pot Italian Chicken with Olive Garden Dressing is an easy low-carb, four-ingredient recipe for the pressure cooker. It’s simple, yet delicious.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Italian Chicken
This easy meal made with sauerkraut and yogurt will upgrade a chicken dish to a new level.
Get the recipe: Low-Carb Sauerkraut Chicken
A quick, homemade version of a take-out favorite.
Get the recipe: Kung Pao Chicken
A one-pot dinner with tender chicken cooked in a rich and creamy tomato-based sauce.
Get the recipe: Easy Indian Butter Chicken
Such a bright, refreshing dinner to get you out of the suppler doldrums.
Get the recipe: Lemon Chicken Piccata
Once you taste it, you’ll see why this chicken adobo is the national dish of the Philippines. The meat is cooked in a tangy mix of cider vinegar, soy sauce and garlic. It’s sure to become a family favorite!
Get the recipe: Filipino Chicken Adobo
Why settle for plain old baked chicken breast when you can up the flavor with bacon and cheese. Add in a little teriyaki and ranch dressing to really kick the flavor up a notch!
Get the recipe: Baked Chicken with Cheddar and Bacon
Give your chicken breast some pizza flavors with added tomato and mozzarella. The addition of zucchini rounds out the meal with a little extra veggies.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Chicken with Zucchini and Tomatoes
Chicken fajitas make a delicious family meal that’s quick and easy to prepare. They can be served with or without low-carb tortillas.
Get the recipe: Keto Chicken Fajitas
This super easy spinach and cream cheese chicken breast is the perfect dish for a family meal or a dinner party. Friends will think you have spent hours in the kitchen, when in reality, you have just thrown it together.
Get the recipe: Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
It’s super easy to make this Chicken Divan Casserole that blends chicken and broccoli in a Parmesan cheese sauce. Just place the chicken in a baking pan, cover it with a mix of the remaining ingredients and bake!
Get the recipe: Chicken Divan Casserole
This easy recipe only needs four ingredients and 10 minutes to prepare.
Get the recipe: Spinach Stuffed Chicken
The meat uses a low-carb coating in place of the traditional corn starch mix.
Get the recipe: Chicken Bok Choy Stir Fry
Smoky bacon, melted cheese and a luscious cream sauce make this recipe a winner.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Sour Cream Chicken
Tender chicken breasts are baked in a Parmesan coating filled with flavorful herbs.
Get the recipe: Parmesan Herb Chicken
An easy weeknight meal of skinless chicken breast, low-carb breadcrumbs, ham and Swiss cheese.
Get the recipe: Easy Malibu Chicken
With its amazing flavor, nobody would ever guess how easy this recipe is, or that is only has 10 ingredients.
Get the recipe: Tuscan Chicken Casserole
This is one of those dinners that comes together super quickly but tastes like it was made in a restaurant.
Get the recipe: Creamy Mushroom Chicken Skillet
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