This Keto Cheesy Ranch Popcorn Chicken is not only easy to make, it’s also picky kid (and husband) approved! Get this quick and delicious low carb dinner on the table with a minimum of fuss and lots of rave reviews!!!
Life is busy, especially when you’ve got a job and a family to care for, so like most of you I’m constantly on the hunt for ways to make dinner that also save time, because seriously – who has extra time lying around to use whatever way we want?
Not this chick.
One of the ways I think we can spend more time with our kids especially is by including them in the cooking process at dinnertime.
You’re already spending time preparing dinner, and when you include the rest of the family it makes extra use of that time to chat about your day and how they are feeling, with the added bonus of teaching them a valuable life skill (which seems to be super rare these days BTW, but don’t even get me started because that is a rant for another time).
Obviously when you’re cooking with the kiddos the recipe needs to be quick and easy. Also you want it to be healthy, but still something they are invested in and looking forward to eating when it’s finished.
Since Hungry Jr. loves popcorn chicken, I chose to make this Ranch flavored chicken in bite sized form.
Can I just say that this keto Cheesy Ranch Popcorn Chicken recipe was not only incredibly easy, but also tasted amazing? I mean I know anything Ranch flavored is going to be good, but after the first bite I was like “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!”
Crunchy, Salty, Herby, Ranchy, Cheesy, Tender PERFECTION. But I knew it could be even better with a sauce (because everything is.)
Hungry Jr. likes honey mustard sauce so I made him some, but I wanted the same sweet tang for the rest of us without the carbs. I thought “why not use a sugar free maple flavored syrup in place of the honey?” – and this low carb Maple Dijon sauce was born literally seconds later.
I won’t go on and on about it other than to say that I could write an entire post around this delicious keto Maple Mustard dipping sauce alone! It perfectly complemented the savory Ranch flavored popcorn chicken – and pretty much any other Ranch-flavored item you’d like to dip!
Once you try it you’ll know what I mean.
Cheesy Ranch Popcorn Chicken – Keto
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Print Recipe
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This quick and easy low carb Cheesy Ranch Popcorn Chicken recipe is a delicious and healthy way to get your family together! Keto and Atkins friendly.
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 2 lbs chicken tenderloins (or breast) cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
- 1 packet Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix (or 2 Tbsp homemade Ranch Seasoning)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
For the dipping sauce:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup sugar free maple flavored pancake syrup
Instructions
To make the chicken:
- Combine the almond flour, cheese, and Ranch Seasoning Mix in a medium bowl.
- Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and chicken pieces in another medium bowl – stir well.
- Dip the mayo coated chicken pieces in the seasoning mixture and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Bake the chicken at 400 degrees (F) for 15 – 18 minutes (depending on size of pieces) until golden brown and cooked through.
For the dipping sauce:
- Combine the ingredients and whisk until smooth. Adjust for your preference by adding a little more mustard or a little more syrup if necessary.
Notes
Approximate nutrition information per serving:
1 serving (5 oz) chicken: 351 calories, 20g fat, 4g net carbs, 40g protein
2 Tbsp sauce: 110 calories, 12g fat, 0g net carbs, 0g protein
- Category: Low Carb Chicken Dinner
- Cuisine: American
This Summer we are trying to spend less time in the kitchen and more time as a family enjoying evenings together by the lake – fishing, sitting by the fire, and just chatting about whatever.
I’m happy to say that tonight’s Cheesy Ranch Popcorn Chicken was a great success, and we followed it up outside with lots of laughing and silliness – which is the best part about spending time with family isn’t it?
Once the snow flies we’ll still be having regular family nights together, but we’ll probably move on to playing cards and board games (any Parcheesi peeps out there??) inside until the weather is more conducive to outside time again!
Except for the occasional foray outdoors to make snowmen of course – we missed that while we were living in South Carolina!
I can tell you with the utmost confidence though that no matter what our family night activities are, this easy low carb ranch popcorn chicken recipe will be featured on the regular!
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We love these Cheesy Popcorn Chicken Bites: https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/cheesy-ranch-popcorn-chicken-low-carb-gluten-free/
I do sub my homemade ranch seasoning.
I am so happy to finally find a meal both of my kids enjoy and the fact that it’s low carb makes me even happier! Thank you so much! I’m making it again tonight!
★★★★★
What did you seeve with these bites(if anything)? Thanks
I made this tonight and we all loved it (kids 9 & 11). I did end up having to make twice the amount of breading mixture. I tossed a few pieces at a time in the mixture and shook off the extra, but still ran out after only a pound of chicken. I also had to cook it for 20-22 minutes at 400 degrees, then under the broiler for about 3 minutes. The broiler really helped to crisp them up – after baking they were still a little soggy. So after all that, they turned out so well. My extremely picky kids ate them all up!
★★★★
So so good! So delicious and hubby approved!
OMG!!! The popcorn chicken is AMAZING! I used my homemade mayo, and since I didn’t have any “ranch” packets, I used some chicken broth (herbs) healthy flavoring I had at home. I also used extra parmesan cheese. Super fast, easy to make and delicious.
Can’t wait to try the popcorn! Who’d have thunk it?? We love Hidden Valley for so many recipes. Popcorn it is! Peace.
★★★★★
A few people were commenting on the MSG, as a popcorn lover, I make my own popcorn seasoning, been tweaking it for years but the secret is salt Parmigiano-Reggiano nutritional yeast flakes and I have a few other things I use them there some crazy Ethiopian spices and then you have to grind them in a spice grinder I cook my popcorn in coconut oil and then whoever I’m watching a movie with gets to shake the bowl while I slowly drizzle homemade butter from local cream over it then we put the spice mix and Shake which perfectly coats butter Laden popcorn, nutritional yeast flakes have a very cheese like flavor, but need to be ground up to distribute their flavor well
Do you know what the sugar content is? Looks delicious!
★★★★★
Hey there! Just wanted to say I LOVE this recipe. I’ve tried several of your recipes over the past four weeks. This website has kept me from getting sick of my low carb diet and has helped me lose almost 20 pounds in under a month! Thank you so much for the creative and simple recipes that have made this diet very enjoyable.
I wanted to ask if you’d ever tried frying these. I haven’t worked much with almond flour before so I don’t know how well it will work but I’d like to give it a shot in the hopes of crisping up the batter a little more.
Thanks again,
Dyl
★★★★
What sugar free maple flavored pancake syrup do you use?
I was disappointed…not really crispy?! More like a mushy coating on the outside…any tips
My experience as well! The next time I make it, I’m going to substitute crushed pork rinds for part of the almond flour and increase the temp. Alternatively, maybe we could deep fry? I’m not sure if the breading would survive the deep fry process, though.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/682343706117181440
Thanks again.
I really enjoy when we either has a family movie or game night. Thanks so much.
My idea of a perfect family night is a good meal followed by a movie or a game.
https://twitter.com/ThatTuxedoCat/status/682284336654217216
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/681624460365934592
I no longer have family at home so when we get together it’s usually for a holiday or other special occasion. We like to watch football together and cheer on the home team. Snacks are mandatory of course.
Our favorite family night is cooking together and sharing our day with one another.
★★★★
https://twitter.com/prizepuzzle/status/681290963063422976
My perfect family night would involve eating a meal together. Maybe checking out a new restaurant so we can all share this new experience together.
Tweeted https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/680970264704729089
My perfect family night is when we plan cook and clean up dinner together.
After we dance like crazy with Just Dance!
thank you
Family night is hanging out together with a board game or movie with the fire popping & munching on some great snacks. Can’t wait to try the Hidden Valley seasoned popcorn!
watching movies with hidden valley ranch popcorn (we already do this)
https://twitter.com/mijames82/status/680733860733317120
Any night I am not working and home with my 5 kids is perfect for me. Being a single dad raising them all alone, we all enjoy our time together And having a quick macaroni salad with ham, cheese, mayo, ranch and a bit more my kids love.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/680635520234438656
I like getting pizza and watching movies with my family.
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/679873337963642880
a perfect family night includes watching a movie and a variety of snacks or appetizers