This Keto Chicken Enchilada Casserole made with cauliflower as it's base is grain free, low carb and gluten free!
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Mexican food is much loved by my family so making cleaner, lower carb versions have begun to consume my thoughts. Actually it doesn't even have to be Mexican food, more like comfort food is what they crave and I think what we all crave.
But when trying to live a life in a healthier way and as for myself as low carb as I can, I want comfort food too, but not the carbs. I certainly don't want to make two meals, one for my family and one for me.
Low Carb Chicken Enchiladas
This version of a low carb chicken enchilada casserole has no flour or corn tortilla's in it as one might expect. Everyone had gone crazy for my Bacon Cheeseburger Cauliflower Casserole so I adapted it from that.
If you're looking for something with more carbs or don't really care about the carbs check out these recipes:
- Easy Chicken Enchilada Bake
- Oven Fried Chimichangas
- Freezer Easy Chicken Burritos
- BBQ Chicken Cheddar Burritos
- Turkey Enchiladas
- Oven Fried Mexican Turkey Taquitos
Keto Mexican Toppings
This to me with all the toppings is complete comfort in a bowl. I'm discovering that it's always all about the toppings for me. We eat with our eyes and food not only needs to be flavorful but must be as colorful as possible to be appetizing. Olives, jalapeños, salsa, sour cream and avocado are all perfect to top this dish with!
So essentially it's like a taco/enchilada bowl or maybe it should be nicknamed enchiltaco or tacochilada??
Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Whenever I make a whole roasted chicken, usually it's the breast meat I end up freezing since my family is all about the dark meat. I love to use up left overs don't you?! I freeze the breasts and then use them in recipes like this. Win win for me and win win for the family with a new invented recipe for chicken!
When I made this for my family I DID NOT tell them cauliflower was on the bottom. After they all enjoyed their dinner and ate it up, even the hubby I told them they ate cauliflower. Again they were shocked as they were before when I made the bacon cheeseburger casserole! They not only ate it up but said they loved it and make it again. WINNING!
Brenda's Notes:
- To keep it low in carbs I did not add typical corn or black beans as one would normally see in an enchilada. Feel free to add those if you desire.
- Feel free to use cooked ground turkey or turkey breast instead of chicken if that's what you have for cooked left over meat in the house.
- If you don't have smoked paprika I would suggest getting some! SO much tastier than regular paprika.
- Find enchilada sauce without sugar if possible and as low carb if you can.
- This recipe was first published in March 2015 and updated with video in July 2018.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Keto, Low Carb)
Chicken Enchilada Cauliflower Casserole {Low Carb and Grain Free}
Ingredients
Cauliflower Base
- 6 cups cauliflower florets
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 2 eggs beaten
2nd layer
- 1 ½ pounds cooked chicken shredded
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 10 ounces enchilada sauce
- 2 cups Mexican Shredded cheese
- Optional toppings: lettuce olive, avocado, sour cream, salsa
Instructions
- Steam the cauliflower florets until tender.
- Place the florets into a food processor and pulse until it looks like rice in texture.
- Mix in the flour and spices until combined well.
- Set aside to cool before stirring in the eggs.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl add the shredded chicken and spices and stir until combined.
- Spread the cauliflower into a 9 by 13 as the first layer.
- Place the shredded chicken over the cauliflower base as the second layer.
- Pour the enchilada sauce over the chicken.
- Top with all the shredded cheese.
- Cover and bake 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until cheese is nicely melted.
- Allow to cool for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- Top with optional toppings and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Elaine Markley
I finally made this, but turned it into Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Cauliflower Casserole. It is SO good, and I was groaning in pleasure as I ate it! Definitely rivals my Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas made with corn tortillas! I was so happy with this. A real winner, Brenda. Can't wait to try the cauliflower base with ground beef and my homemade red enchilada sauce!
Brenda
SO happy you liked it and the green chile's my hubby would love that!
Paula
I love cauliflower and chicken! I find that cauliflower is one of the easiest veggies to mask. I actually even convinced my 9 year old to dip them in ketchup and eat them that way! I would love to share your recipe on my blog with a link back to your blog for the recipe. Would that be alright with you?
Brenda
Thanks! As long as the recipe isn't reprinted on your blog and just a link to mine to get the recipe, that would be great thanks!
Elaine Markley
This looks so good! Do you think it would work in an 8 X 8 inch casserole, with two layers of cauliflower interspersed with two layers of chicken? Do you think that middle layer of cauliflower would be cooked enough to give the right texture?
Brenda
Sounds like a great idea! I think it would work, let me know!
Maxine
This recipe is crazy genius. Made it today with only omission being the coconut flour( just personal preference since I don't like the flavor. The cauliflower set up nicely with just the eggs.) This was incredibly good. I had something similar to this in Mexico, made with masa of course, and this gave me that same homey, warm, comfort food feeling w/o the added carbs. Texture so close to a tamale and was even better after it set up in the fridge and was reheated. So tired of making recipes where people make a claim that doesn't hold up. But when you say you can't tell there is cauliflower in here you are so right. Thank you for this one. Truly genius!!
Brenda
What a compliment!! Thank you so much!!
Donna
Thanks, I was wondering about leaving out the flour.
Becky
Thank you for this review. My only aversion was the coconut flour. I plan to make this for dinner tonight!
Debra
This casserole is fantastic! The Cauliflower base, to me, is similar in texture to a Tamale, without the corn husk, of course. This is perfect for our family since we love tamales, but I have been too apprehensive to tackle them and my husband is unfortunately allergic to corn.
My husband made this for the guys at work tonight. The three man crew consumed all but a small square in one sitting.
Brenda
Thanks! I'm impressed he served this to his man friends!
Lori
I really want to try this, but one person in my family does not like really spicy food. What would you rate it on a hotness scale?
Brenda
Oh it's very mild maybe a 4 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the hottest.
Ee Bisbee
can this be made ahead of ?
Kim Beaulieu
This is calling my name. I'm such a fan of comfort food. It's funny because we never ate casseroles growing up. Now I can't get enough of them.
Rose | The Clean Dish
Did you say grain free?! I'm in!! Your casserole looks terrific!!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
I do the same thing with my chicken breast, in fact we had chicken fajitas last night. I am so loving this dish!
kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox
I'm all for using up leftovers but this casserole is the best way to reinvent them. That cauliflower base is genius.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I love comfort food that doesn't make me feel guilty for eating it! Yum!
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom
Tex-mex is big at our house! Love this low-carb version!
Paula - bell'alimento
Wow low carb and grain free. Love this casserole!
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella)
That looks incredible! I love that it has a cauliflower base!
Lora @cakeduchess
It is way too early in the morning for me to be craving enchiladas, but I am! I love any dish with cauliflower in them. What's fun about cauliflower is that it is so easy to sneak them into so many dishes. Great job, Brenda!!
Nutmeg Nanny
Casseroles are totally my jam! I love that you threw in cauliflower to keep that carb count down. Such a good looking dish!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic
Don't you just love sneaking vegetables into a meal and revealing it after everyone gobbles it up? The cauliflower is a great way to lighten up a usually heavy casserole.
Heather | girlichef
How clever, I'm so intrigued by the cauliflower. I would love to try this, I bet it would be a hit with my family.
Jennifer Austin
what degree do you cook the chicken enchilada casserole on??
Brenda
Sorry and thanks for pointing that out. 350 F.
Amy
I'm going to make this tonight! Thank you for sharing, honestly you have no idea how much you help people out by posting recipes. I've lost over 100lbs since I started low carbing/paleo back in 2012. If anyone is having a hard time sticking to it, I recommend keotstix http://www.lowcarbreviewsite.com/ketostix-reagent-strips-for-urinalysis-test-review/ it will keep you in check!
Vicki habriel
How many servings is this?
Brenda
Right under the title, 8 servings.
Donna
So would it be about 1 cup per serving?
Brenda
Since this is laid out in a 9 by 13 baking dish, what I do is visually divide the dish in half from top to bottom, cut with a knife and then divide both of those sides into another half. Then I make a long cut down the entire middle of the pan from left to right, giving you 8 servings.
The Food Hunter
such a unique twist
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
There is never a day when I DON'T crave comfort food. Looks awesome!
Cookin Canuck
What an awesome idea! Enchilada casseroles are the best, but making them healthier by substituting cauliflower makes them sound even better.
Stephanie @ Back for Seconds
I am so making this! We all love Mexican everything!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
Winning is right! This casserole is fabulous and I love the cauliflower on the bottom. I'm all for fooling family members at the dinner table. Kudos to you for this amazing recipe. I've pinned it and can't wait to try it!