30 of Our Best Low-Carb Chicken Recipes

updated Dec 1, 2020

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Credit: Christine Han/Kitchn; Food Stylist: CC Buckley/Kitchn
Chicken Shawarma Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

For whatever reason you might be following a low-carb diet, you’re probably quite familiar with seeing chicken on your plate for dinner frequently. The protein is an easy choice when selecting a main that’s low in carbohydrates while also being fairly straightforward to prepare. It’s also incredibly versatile. Whether you bring home boneless, skinless chicken breasts from the grocery store, or skin-on thighs, there’s nearly endless opportunity to turn them into a satisfying meal.

If you’re tired of the same old chicken recipes you’ve been turning to again and again, let us provide some inspiration. From casseroles and skillet dinners, to slow cooker meals and extra-quick options, here are 30 of our best low-carb chicken recipes.

Low-Carb Chicken Casseroles

Casseroles are timeless, thanks to their ability to feed many mouths seamlessly. They also happen to always make for great leftovers, which means you’ll have lunch the next day covered, too.

1 / 4

Spinach-Artichoke Baked Chicken

Boneless chicken breasts are topped with a creamy, cheesy spread inspired by spinach-artichoke for the ultimate family-friendly comfort food.

2 / 4

Cauliflower & Chicken Sausage Casserole

Instead of making a casserole with pasta or rice, tender yet firm bites of cauliflower are tossed with tomato sauce and just a bit of sausage for flavor and body.

3 / 4

BBQ Chicken Casserole

This Paleo-friendly weeknight casserole is loaded with shredded chicken breast and riced cauliflower, laced together with a homemade BBQ sauce.

4 / 4

Chicken Divan Casserole

A comforting, cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole with just a touch of cream sherry.

Low-Carb Chicken Skillet Recipes

We always keep our cast iron skillet on the stovetop so it’s ready to churn out dinners just like the ones below. If you’re craving chicken with seriously crispy skin, these are the recipes you’ll want to grab.

1 / 10

Creamy Turmeric Chicken Skillet

This creamy one-skillet chicken dinner gets a double dose of vibrant turmeric and is finished with a lush sauce.

2 / 10

Skillet Creamy French Mustard Chicken

Chicken thighs braise quickly in a sauce made with two kinds of mustard and just a touch of cream.

3 / 10

Skillet-Roasted Chicken with Apples and Cabbage

This recipe results is tender apples, savory chicken with crisp skin, and browned cabbage deeply flavored with all the juices from the chicken.

4 / 10

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs

This quick and easy recipe for crispy, skillet-cooked chicken thighs seasoned simply with fresh lemon and thyme.

5 / 10

Skillet Chicken Parm Spaghetti Squash

This lightened-up, veggie-packed version of classic chicken Parmesan, all bakes in a single skillet.

6 / 10

One-Pan Coconut Milk-Braised Chicken

While most braises get cooked in stock, broth, or wine, this one leans on creamy full-fat coconut milk. The result is tender chicken that's practically falling off the bone and an irresistibly rich sauce.

7 / 10

One-Skillet French Onion Chicken

This weeknight winner is inspired by the flavors of French onion soup. Chicken cutlets are smothered with melt-in-your-mouth onions and Gruyere, then finished in a richly-flavored pan sauce.

8 / 10

Life-Changing Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

These chicken thighs are impossibly juicy, thanks to a garlic butter drizzle and stovetop-to-oven cooking method, and boast the crispiest, crackliest skin. Plus, you only need five ingredients to make them.

9 / 10

Skillet Maple-Mustard Chicken and Broccoli with Vinaigrette

While the chicken finishes cooking in the oven, your hands are free to steam some broccoli and finish it with your favorite vinaigrette.

10 / 10

Green Goddess Skillet Chicken and Veggies

A bottle of herby green goddess dressing from Trader Joe's plays both that marinade and the sauce in this colorful chicken and radish skillet.

Low-Carb Chicken Recipes in the Crock-Pot

When you’re truly strapped for time, the slow cooker (aka Crock-Pot) will never let you down. These chicken recipes cook slowly for hours, while you go about your business, so dinner is ready when you need it.

1 / 8

Slow Cooker Lemon-Garlic Chicken Breast

With a handful of ingredients you are treated to tender chicken gilded with a velvety lemon sauce infused with a richness reminiscent of roasted garlic.

2 / 8

Slow Cooker Salsa Pulled Chicken

To keep this chicken low-carb, skip the tortillas and serve it over cauliflower rice or a bed of greens.

3 / 8

Crispy, Juicy Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker

Slow-cooking chicken thighs without any cooking liquid on low heat, crisps the chicken’s skin while slowly braising the thighs until juicy and tender.

4 / 8

Crock-Pot Chicken

Here's a simple method for cooking vegetables and chicken breast together in the slow cooker in just a few hours. Leave out the potatoes to keep the meal extra low in carbs.

5 / 8

Slow Cooker Creamy French Mustard Chicken

What not to love about tender braised chicken bathed in a creamy French mustard wine sauce?!

6 / 8

Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Chicken

This recipe rewards you with poached chicken breasts (or boneless thighs!) in a luxurious lemon broth with wisps of green spinach and forkfuls of tender, nutty artichokes.

7 / 8

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Spooned over some steamed cauliflower rice, this easy slow cooker tikka masala is about to make your busy days very happy indeed.

8 / 8

Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken

Homemade pesto is mixed with hearty chunks of chicken in the slow cooker for a meal that's both simple and satisfying.

Quick and Easy Low-Carb Recipes

While pretty much every recipe in this collection is easy, these also benefit from being super quick, thanks to conveniences like rotisserie chicken and a trusty sheet pan.

1 / 8

Chicken and Veggie Pesto Salad

Filled with a robust assortment of tender veggies, strips of juicy chicken, and tossed with an herby pesto, this no-lettuce salad is a weeknight essential.

2 / 8

3-Ingredient Baked Caesar Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are smothered in your favorite creamy Caesar dressing and baked until golden, then showered with snowy Parmesan before heading under the broiler to get nice and bubbly.

3 / 8

Spicy Chili Crisp Chicken Thighs

Laquared with honey, vinegar, and garlic chili crisp, these sheet pan thighs and vegetables are a weeknight knock out.

4 / 8

French Bistro Salad with Rotisserie Chicken

A 20-minute dinner salad inspired by the roasted chicken salad at Buvette, a French bistro in NYC’s West Village.

5 / 8

Lemon Pepper Chicken

You just need five ingredients — chicken included — and 45 minutes to bring this buttery, lemon-kissed chicken to the table.

6 / 8

Garlic Parmesan Chicken

This easy sheet pan dinner partners bite-size pieces of garlic and Parmesan-coated chicken breast with tender stalks of asparagus.

7 / 8

Parmesan Chicken and Kale Sauté

This quick and easy one-skillet dinner fits the bill any night of the week.

8 / 8

Chicken Shawarma Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

This dinner salad is filled with colorful vegetables, topped with shawarma-spiced chicken, and finished with creamy tahini dressing.

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