Keto Jalapeño Chicken Casserole (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy chicken baked with cauliflower rice, cheddar, jalapeños, and bacon for a spicy, comforting main dish.

# What You Need:

→ Protein & Dairy

01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1 cup sour cream
04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

→ Vegetables

07 - 4 cups cauliflower rice, fresh or frozen
08 - 4-5 jalapeños, seeded and diced, plus extra slices for garnish
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1/4 cup green onions, sliced

→ Pantry & Seasonings

11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
15 - Oil for cooking

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with oil or cooking spray.
02 - Heat a drizzle of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cauliflower rice and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Remove from heat.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
04 - Fold cooked chicken, sautéed cauliflower rice, diced jalapeños, minced garlic, half the crumbled bacon, and half the green onions into the cheese mixture. Stir until well combined.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese and bacon.
06 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
07 - Remove from oven and garnish with extra jalapeño slices and remaining green onions before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours on it, but comes together in under an hour with minimal fuss.
  • Every bite delivers that perfect balance of creamy, spicy, and smoky—exactly what comfort food should do.
  • You can meal prep it, freeze it, and pull it out whenever you need something that feels special but fits your goals.
02 -
  • If you don't sauté the cauliflower rice first, it releases water during baking and makes the whole dish soggy—learned that the hard way on my second attempt.
  • Softened cream cheese makes everything smooth; cold cream cheese stays in chunks and ruins the texture, so plan ahead or microwave it gently for 20 seconds.
03 -
  • For extra heat without adding liquid, leave some jalapeño seeds in or dust the top with a pinch of cayenne before baking.
  • If your casserole seems loose after baking, it's because the cauliflower released water—next time, squeeze your thawed frozen rice in a clean kitchen towel or sauté fresh rice a minute longer.
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