Keto Chicken Mac & Cheese with bacon & cauliflower is good for people on the keto diet. It is a tasty low-carb substitute for classic mac and cheese. The cheesy sauce, which is made with heavy cream, cream cheese, & sharp cheddar, has crispy bacon, chicken, and soft cauliflower florets. This dish is a good choice for an ample dinner because it provides the cozy tastes of traditional mac & cheese without the additional carbs. Keto Chicken Mac & Cheese with cauliflower & bacon is the ideal comfort food that fits in well with a keto lifestyle because it has a combination of fiber, healthy fats, and protein.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
STATS:
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Prep time: Fifteen mins
- Serving size: One bowl
- Cook time: Twenty-five mins
- Cuisine: American
- Total time: 40 minutes
- Course: Main dish
- Diet: Keto, Low-Carb
Serving: 4 servings
EQUIPMENT:
- Large pot
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Knife
- Chopping board
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 8 slices of bacon
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup cream cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- One teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh parsley
INGREDIENTS NOTES:
CAULIFLOWER:
- We can chop the cauliflower into bite-sized florets to guarantee consistent cooking and improved cheese sauce absorption. We can also use the frozen cauliflower; just be sure to drain any extra water after cooking.
CHICKEN:
- You can pan-cook or grill fresh chicken breasts. We would also utilize rotisserie chicken to save the time. To make combining easier, simply shred or cut it into bite-sized pieces.
BACON:
- Bacon gives the food a crispy, smoky taste. To ensure it is equally distributed throughout the mac & cheese, fry it until it is crispy, and then chop it into little pieces.
CHEESE:
- Ideal cheeses for a smooth, creamy sauce are full-fat cheeses. Although sharp cheddar adds a pleasant tang, you can experiment with different cheeses, such as Monterey Jack, Gouda, or mozzarella, to get a distinct flavor.
CREAM CHEESE:
- We can add the cream cheese to make the sauce even more richness and creaminess. It will combine more easily if it is softened.
HEAVY CREAM:
- Full-fat heavy cream will give the sauce a rich, thick consistency. We can also use half cream and half milk in place of heavy cream for a lighter version, however, the creaminess may suffer.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
INSTRUCTION:
- We can cook the cauliflower for five to seven minutes, or till it gets soft and drain the water, and set aside.
- Then we can warm up the pan on medium heat while the cauliflower cooks.
- We can cook the bacon slices till they get crispy.
- When the bacon gets crispy, we can cut it into small pieces after removing it and put them aside.
- Now we can cook the chicken in the pan for seven to eight minutes from every side or till they get properly cooked.
- We can add onion and garlic seasoning, salt, and black pepper to season the mac and cheese.
- When the chicken is properly cooked then slice the chicken into small pieces.
- Then we can melt the butter in the skillet on moderate heat.
- We can stir in the parmesan cheese, heavy cream, & cream cheese till it gets smooth and properly mixes.
- Then we can add the cheddar cheese to the sauce to thicken the consistency and stir till it melts.
- We can add the bacon, chicken, and cooked cauliflower to the skillet with the cheese sauce and stir till they get properly heated and coated.
- Then we can top the Keto Chicken Mac & Cheese with fresh parsley and serve it warm.
TIPS:
- We can increase the amount of heavy cream or cream cheese to make the sauce more indulgent.
- You can also sprinkle toasted almond slices or extra crispy bacon on top for a little texture.
- We can easily adjust the amount of spices according to need. We can also add a little cayenne or paprika to make it spicy.
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- We can place the leftover bacon, cauliflower, and chicken mac and cheese in an airtight box and store the dish for 3 days in the fridge.
FREEZER:
- We can transfer the bacon, cauliflower, and chicken mac and cheese into the freezer-safe container and save the dish for 1 month.
REHEAT:
- We can reheat this bacon, cauliflower, and chicken mac and cheese in the microwave or the oven.
FAQs:
Can I make this mac and cheese with the frozen cauliflower florets?
- Yes, we can make these bacon, cauliflower, and chicken mac and cheese with the frozen cauliflower; we just have to properly squeeze out the water content.
Can I make the non-dairy dish?
- Yes, we can make this dairy-free by replacing the cheese with the dairy-free cheese and butter with the vegan butter.
How to make this bacon, cauliflower, and chicken mac and cheese spicy?
- We can add a dash of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to make this bacon, cauliflower, and chicken mac and cheese spicier.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Total carbs: 7g
Fiber: 3g
Sodium: 800mg
Potassium: 650mg
Calories: 450 kcal
Protein: 40g
Net carbs: 4g
Iron: 2.5mg