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This Creamy Chicken and Asparagus recipe takes 30 minutes to make and only uses one pan! Full of flavor and delicious at only 4g of net carbs, it’s a perfect keto/low carb meal when you don’t want to skimp on taste but are in a hurry.
Keto Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Recipe
Like most everyone, there are evenings I just do not want to make dinner. After feeding all my people breakfast, lunch, and snacks, I want to put a closed sign in the kitchen and go out to eat. On nights like that, it’s nice to have an easy one pan recipe in my arsenal that I can whip up quickly that everyone enjoys without making a huge mess in the kitchen. This is one of those recipes. The good news is you won’t sacrifice taste, and it is keto-friendly.
Ingredients needed for this recipe:
- Thin cut boneless skinless chicken breasts – I used thin cut boneless skinless chicken, but you could also sub chicken things or drumsticks for added fat.
- Sliced onions and minced garlic – Adds incredible flavor and depth to the creamy sauce. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use 1/2 tsp of garlic powder instead.
- Olive Oil & Butter – The butter added to the olive oil helps the chicken to brown nicely and adds additional flavor. You could also use avocado oil in place of olive oil if that is what you have on hand.
- Chicken Broth, Heavy Cream, and Cream Cheese – These three ingredients together are the base of the creamy and delicious sauce for the chicken. The heavy whipping cream and cream cheese add fat to the recipe to keep you full longer while the chicken broth adds flavor.
- Cheddar & Parmesan Cheese – These two kinds of cheese, along with the above ingredients, make the creamy sauce for the chicken and asparagus mouth-watering delicious. You could also sub other cheeses for the cheddar, such as Gouda, Pepper Jack, or Guyre.
- Fresh Asparagus – A low carb veggie that is packed with fiber and nutrients is especially delicious and a fabulous addition to this recipe.
- Italian Seasoning, salt & pepper – Feel free to adjust the amounts of these ingredients to suit your taste.
Step One: Saute the sliced onions and garlic until they are translucent then set aside.
Tip: I used a 12 inch cast iron skillet to make this recipe. You’ll need a good-sized skillet so that your chicken isn’t overcrowded. Otherwise, it could cook unevenly. A cast-iron skillet isn’t necessary although they are reasonably cheap and last forever. Any kind of skillet or large pan will do.
Step 2: Add butter to the skillet and sear the chicken breasts on both sides. You’ll need to let it sit on one side for 3-5 minutes before turning to get a good sear. If the chicken sticks to the skillet, it is not ready. It will easily turn once it begins to sear.
Step 3: To make this creamy sauce for one pan chicken and asparagus, it takes just a few ingredients that come together quickly for an absolute mouthwatering sauce. Use a whisk while cooking the sauce so that all the ingredients mix together, making it smooth. Do not turn the stove too hot, or the sauce could separate.
Step 4: Pop the chicken back in the skillet and dunk it in the sauce so that all of the flavors merge, and the chicken continues to cook and tenderize. Keep the stove on low while simmering.
Step 5: Add the asparagus to the skillet. If you don’t know how to trim asparagus, I’ve provided info below. Continue to simmer so that the asparagus can steam in the pan.
How to prepare the asparagus?
There are multiple ways to trim fresh asparagus. You can peel the bottom until the tough woody outside is removed, leaving the more tender juicy part of the asparagus. You can pinch the end part and bend until it snaps, or line all of your asparagus up on a cutting board and chop the ends off. Hereare detailed steps if a visual is more helpful.
What veggies can I substitute for asparagus?
This recipe is versatile, so if asparagus isn’t your jam, there are many other low carb vegetables that you can sub instead.
- Broccoli or cauliflower florets – Chopped small and in uniform pieces, broccoliand/or cauliflower, should cook the same as the asparagus.
- Green peppers – Saute the same time as the onions then follow the same cooking directions as the onions.
- Sliced mushrooms – you can saute the same time as the onions or wait and add to the recipe the same time as you would have the asparagus.
- Fresh green beans – Make sure green beans are washed and snapped. They can be steamed beforehand then added to the recipe at the last step when the sauce is thickening to keep them nice and crisp.
- Spinach – Chopped baby spinach can be added in place of the asparagus following the same cooking directions.
- Brussels sprouts – Brussels sprouts would need to be sliced in half first. You could saute them with the onions then add back to the skillet the same as the asparagus.
How to make chicken and asparagus with cream sauce for meal prep?
You can make this recipe ahead to enjoy later. It will keep for approx 3-4 days in the fridge. It should be reheated slowly so that the sauce doesn’t separate. In the microwave, reheat on 1/2 power. If reheating in a skillet, add a splash of fresh cream to the pan first then rewarm on low. I would not recommend freezing this recipe since there is quite a bit of heavy cream, cream cheese, and cheese in the sauce. These ingredients are often grainy when rewarmed after frozen.
What to eat with Keto Chicken and Asparagus
Since it is a one-pan meal, you don’t have to make anything with it if you want to keep it simple. That being said, it would be delicious served over zucchini zoodles or riced cauliflower. If you prefer a couple of options at meal time here are a few ideas:
- Leafy Garden Salad
- Keto Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
- Air Fryer Roasted Green Beans
- Zucchini Zoodles
- Homemade Riced Cauliflower (or a steam bag of frozen to keep it simple)
More simple keto one-pan recipes:
Keto Journey Tips
If you aren’t already following my Easy Keto/Low Carb Recipe Page on Facebook, where I post all my new recipes, you can join hereand follow on Pinterest here,so you don’t miss any recipes.
If you are just getting started following a keto diet and would like more information, there are tons of fantastic resources. Amazon has several great books you may want to check out here.
How to make One Pan Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Meal:
Chicken & Asparagus One Skillet Meal
This Creamy Chicken and Asparagus recipe takes 30 minutes to make and only uses one pan! Full of flavor and delicious at only 4g of net carbs, its a perfect keto/low carb meal when you don't want to skimp on taste but are in a hurry.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 435kcal
Author: Kasey Trenum
Ingredients
- 1 TB olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 TB butter
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded thin (approx 6 chicken breasts)
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 oz cream cheese
- 2/3 cup Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 TB Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 lb asparagus, chopped
Instructions
In a skillet, add olive oil, onions,and garlic then saute until tender.
Remove the onions and garlic from skillet then add 1 tablespoon of butter and sear chicken breasts on each side.
After the chicken breasts are browned on each side, remove from the skillet and set aside. Add chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, the sauteed onions/garlic, and spices back to the skillet. Whisk until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
Add chicken breasts back to skillet and simmer on low covered for 10 minutes.
Add asparagus to the chicken mixture and simmer on low again covered for 12 minutes.
Remove the lid and simmer on low until the sauce thickens.
Enjoy!
Notes
How to prepare the asparagus?
There are multiple ways to trim fresh asparagus. You can peel the bottom until the tough woody outside is removed, leaving the more tender juicy part of the asparagus. You can pinch the end part and bend until it snaps, or line all of your asparagus up on a cutting board and chop the ends off. Hereare detailed steps if a visual is more helpful.
What veggies can I substitute for asparagus?
This recipe is versatile, so if asparagus isn't your jam, there are many other low carb vegetables that you can sub instead.
- Broccoli or cauliflower florets - Chopped small and in uniform slices, broccoliand cauliflower, should cook the same as the asparagus.
- Green peppers - Saute the same time as the onions then follow the same cooking directions as the onions.
- Sliced mushrooms - you can saute the same time as the mushrooms or wait and add to the recipe the same time as you would have the asparagus.
- Fresh green beans - Make sure green beans are washed and snapped. They can be steamed beforehand then added to the recipe at the last step when the sauce is thickening to keep them nice and crisp.
- Spinach - Chopped baby spinach can be added in place of the asparagus following the same cooking directions.
- Brussels sprouts - Brussels sprouts would need to be sliced in half first. You could saute them with the onions then add back to the skillet the same as the asparagus.
How to make chicken and asparagus with cream sauce for meal prep?
You can make this recipe ahead to enjoy later. It will keep for approx 3-4 days in the fridge. It should be reheated slowly so that the sauce doesn't separate in the microwave reheat on 1/2 power. If reheating in a skillet, add a splash of fresh cream to the pan first then rewarm on low. I would not recommend freezing this recipe since there is quite a bit of heavy cream, cream cheese, and cheese in the sauce. These ingredients are often grainy when rewarmed after frozen.
Nutrition
Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 662mg | Potassium: 792mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1380IU | Vitamin C: 7.9mg | Calcium: 256mg | Iron: 2.6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @kaseytrenumblogger or tag #kaseytrenumblogger!
More Keto Chicken Recipes
I love making new recipes. So, make sure to not only try this chicken and asparagus meal but also bookmark myKeto/low carb recipe index. Check out a few other favorite recipes below!
- Easy Keto Fried Chicken Recipe
- Keto Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup
- Monterey Chicken
- Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole with Broccoli
