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
Description
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!
Natalie says
My idea of a perfect family night would be baking desserts as a family, playing games and watching movies.
Natalie says
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/669135721572102144
Kim S. says
This recipe sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it.
My perfect family night is when we can all spend the evening together, playing and having a great time. My kids are 1, 4 and 7, so they just love to play, play, play. When we’re all home in the evening and get to enjoy being together, it makes wonderful memories.
Ann says
Mellissa, I love, love, love your recipes. The recipe itself sounds great, but I’m really surprised that you would use the actual Hidden Valley seasoning mix. It’s got MSG in it – like the second ingredient or so – which is an excitotoxin, and not good for us at all.
The recipe sounds great, so I’m pretty sure I’ll make it, but I’ll make my own seasoning mi.
Thanks!
Holly P. says
For me the perfect family night includes BOARD GAMES & POPCORN!
CAROLYN says
Listening to the rain,a nice fire in the stove and putting a puzzle together with the whole family and cheesy ranch popcorn and just talking together, no music or tv
Toria says
My favorite family night is cooking and eating crispy ranch seasoned chicken wings with my grandchildren, son, daughter and son-in-law. Then we play Just Dance until we drop from all the dancing, singing and laughing. I would love to try this recipe, but my family is allergic to mustard and hates mayo. Maybe if I can figure out something else to use in place of the mayo, skip the mustard and come up with a different dipping sauce? LOVE your site and recipes – you’ve been a God-send to me!
Mellissa Sevigny says
You really can’t taste the mayo or mustard but if they are really sensitive to it you can try a regular egg wash instead of the mayo mixture!
Toria says
We’re allergic to mustard but I’ll give the mayo (and egg wash) a try. :) Thank you for sharing yourself (you always make me laugh) and your great recipes! Your site is the one I use the most for ideas.
Teresa says
Family night is finding a good movie to watch together.
heather says
Perfect family night is Hidden Valley Ranch crispy chicken and a family new release movie.
Robin says
I LOVE the idea of popcorn chicken! I think my husband would love them as well. I can see making this along with some cut up veggies to go with the dip as well and enjoying it all in front of a basketball or football game! Thanks for the recipes!