Keto spinach stuffed chicken is one of the easiest healthy chicken dinners you will ever make.
Just throw it in the oven and dinner will be ready in 30 minutes. With less than 1g carbs per serving, these will suit anyone who is low carb, keto, primal and Whole30.
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Is chicken keto?
Yes, chicken is zero-carb, high protein, and can be low-fat or moderate fat.
The nutrition of chicken will depend on which part of the chicken you are cooking. Some cuts will have higher fat content and contain chicken skin, dark parts will have higher iron and the chicken breast has the least fat.
Nutritional values from cronometer.com
| Per 100g (3.5oz) | Net Carbs | Protein | Fat | Calories |
| Chicken breast, skinless | 0 | 30.9g | 4.5g | 173 |
| Chicken drumstick, skin eaten | 0 | 27.3g | 10g | 206 |
| Chicken drumstick, skinless | 0 | 24.2g | 5.7g | 155 |
| Chicken skin | 0 | 20.4g | 40.7g | 454 |
| Chicken thigh, skin eaten | 0 | 28.2g | 13.2g | 239 |
| Chicken thigh, skinless | 0 | 27.7g | 6g | 173 |
| Chicken wing, skin eaten | 0 | 23.8g | 16.9g | 354 |
What to serve with chicken
It can be difficult to decide on what to serve with the main meal once you give up rice, pasta, bread, and potatoes. Luckily there are plenty of easy delicious keto side dishes for chicken.
How to make a fast chicken dinner
A plain cooked chicken breast can get really boring really fast so you need some quick and easy ideas to make a fast tasty chicken dinner. All you need is some herbs, spices, and various cheeses to jazz up your chicken.
If you have any cut of chicken such as chicken breast, chicken thigh, chicken schnitzel, some spinach, and some other pantry staples, you can make this baked chicken recipe tonight.
These keto spinach stuffed chicken breasts make it look like it’s actually taken some effort (but we won’t tell anyone how easy they are).
Variations
This quick and easy chicken recipe is so adaptable, you can change it to be exactly how you like it with a number of variations. Keto spinach stuffed chicken is just as suitable for a family meal as it would be for a dinner with friends.
Chicken stuffing flavors and variations:
- Creamy traditional flavor stuffed chicken - add cream cheese and spinach as shown in the recipe.
- Taco stuffed chicken - mix some taco seasoning with cream cheese for the filling. Sprinkle cheese and more taco seaosning over the chicken breast before baking.
- Mexican stuffed chicken - fill the chicken breast with cream cheese, jalapeno slices and red peppers - for that spicy tasty taste.
- Burger stuffed chicken - fill the sliced chicken breast with smoked cheese, tomato paste, mustard and pickles.
How to cook in the oven
Place each chicken breast in a large oiled baking dish. Cook at 180C/350F for 30 minutes. Cooking times will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts.
Cook until the chicken is completely cooked into the center.
How to cook using an air fryer
Using an air fryer to cook stuffed chicken is quick and easy.
- Preheat to 180C/350F.
- Spray the wire basket with cooking oil.
- Gently place each stuffed chicken breast into the oiled basket. Ensure there is plenty of space between them. Do not overcrowd your air fryer.
- Cook for 15 minutes, open the drawer and turn each piece.
- Cook for a further 15 minutes, depending on the size of pieces being cooked. Chicken must be completely cooked into the centre of each piece.
If you love using your air fryer, I have 101 low-carb air fryer recipes you may like. There are recipes for air fryer chicken, ground beef, pork, vegetables, and even mug cakes!
📖 Recipe
Keto Spinach Stuffed Chicken
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Ingredients
- 6 chicken breast/fillets
- 6 tablespoon cream cheese
- 2 slice bacon diced raw or cooked
- 1 handful (1 handful) spinach raw or cooked
Instructions
- Slice each chicken breast/fillet along the centre.
- Place chopped spinach, cream cheese and diced bacon along the centre of each chicken breast/fillet.
- Fold over, and use a toothpick to secure the chicken and its fillings.
- Place each chicken breast/fillet in an oiled baking dish and pour some extra oil over each one.
- Bake at 180C/350F for 30 minutes, or until cooked in the centre. Cooking times will vary with the size of chicken breast and thickness of meat.
Notes
- Sprinkle finely grated/shredded parmesan on top of each chicken breast.
- Add chilli, garlic or spring onion to the cream cheese.
- Pour canned/tinned tomatoes over the chicken before coking to create a sauce. This would however, add to the carb count.
Keto spinach stuffed chicken would be lovely served with spinach carbonara, mashed cauliflower or with olive oil or macadamia oil drizzled over a green salad.
John liu
Can I use chicken thigh for this recipe?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Sure thing 🙂
Lois
This is my go to chicken recipe. I have been making it for years and hadn’t realised how good,it was for me! I add walnuts to the filling and rather than put the bacon in the filling, I wrap it around the breast which keeps the meat moist.
I roast it on the BBQ.
Joy
Brilliant. I'm going to copy your idea when I make it. Thanks from Australia. Joy
Janna
This recipe is so good. I added minced garlic to the cream cheese and spinach mix, and salt and pepper on the tops of the chicken breast along with the olive oil. Will be making this simple recipe again!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yummm, I love your suggestions.
Robin de grosbois
I used frozen spinach, defrosted & pressed excess liquid out. I used pancetta instead of bacon. I also added cubes of feta to filling, crushed garlic & chopped green onions. I covered baking dish with baking paper which prevented the chicken drying out. Chicken was nice & moist but next time I will serve with a garlic and butter melted sauce over the top for some extra yumminess!! PS next day leftovers are nice sliced cold as a chicken salad.
Lara
Do I have to cover the chicken when it’s in the oven?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
it's up to you. if you leave it covered, the chicken will brown (but has a tendency to dry out a little if overcooked) and if you cover them, they will remain moist and succulent, but won't turn golden brown.
Diane
I am ALSO making this tonight. Does the bacon need to be cooked first?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
It doesn't really matter. I tend too use raw bacon because it is quicker and easier AND it will cook in the centre as the chicken cooks. Alternatively if you don't like the idea of adding raw bacon, you may pre-cook the bacon pieces, and even stir through the chopped spinach so it is coated wiht the bacon flavours, before stuffing the chicken pieces.
Janine Stromberg
Is the amounts listed for the cream cheese mixture supposed to be used for each chicken breast? Or is that mixture divided into 6 breasts? Thanks!
Pam
Planning to try this tonight. Do you add the spinach raw and allow to cook in the oven?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I add it raw, either way however, it will turn out yummy 🙂
Lorraine
first time making; found the bacon didn't get crispy, seemed raw will try again and cook bacon first; maybe I'm not cooking long enough?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
You are correct, the bacon doesn't go crispy. You could always pre-cook the bacon if you prefer it to be crispy inside. Otherwise, cook as instructed and test before serving to ensure the bacon is cooked in the centre of the stuffed chicken.
Becky Sunderman
We only buy and eat Zaycon chicken breasts, which are quite large (almost a pound each), so one of them is more than enough for 2 dinner servings with leftovers for lunch. Rather than putting the bacon inside the chicken, I partially cook it and then lay it atop the chicken before baking, then, when it's almost done, run it under the broiler to crisp the bacon if necessary. This recipe is also nice using ham, diced rather than bacon, along with mozzarella or Gruyere swiss cheese, for a nod to Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Vic
Great suggestions! Thank you Becky.
Kisha
can you add ricotta instead of cream cheese?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Sure thing. I use cream cheese because ricotta is so expensive here in NZ.
djnikkik
Loved this dish, although I used slices of cream cheese and bacon layered because I found it much easier that way. So filling, I get through about half of the chicken breast and I'm stuffed! Another winner 🙂
Sue
I forgot the bacon, however I added sun dried tomatoes to the cream cheese, mashed it all together and baked it with some Parmesan cheese. Wonderful easy recipe. Thank you
Beth
It was amazing. Can't wait to make it again.
Sarah
Love these , just wish I could get bacon in KSA , Made a few had them cold for lunches with a salad . Thanks once gain
Judy Porter
We had these for dinner last night with mashed cauliflower and diced courgettes/tomatoes sauteed in butter. Absolutely delicious and this will become a favourite in our house. My husbamd is asking what I have done with his wife, as up till 4 weeks ago I would go into the kitchen very grudgingly (have never been interested in cooking or baking). Now I am trying out new recipes all the time. And have lost 4kg already. So that's a bonus ??
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Judy go and give you hubby a quick kiss, that is the cutest comment I have received here. What an absolute bonus alongside discovering low carb. What a way to go. Love it 🙂
Jill Fisher
Made this today & Im not the best cook sooo lovely, hubby thought Id bought them they were that good. Thank you xc
Italian Kiwi
I love stuffing chicken with things . Spinach, bacon and cream cheese sounds like a great combination!
edm24601
Sounds great! Is the bacon cooked first or raw? Thanks!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I add it raw, it cooks whilst the chicken is cooking.