This super easy Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Rice is chock full of flavor and texture and cheesy, ranch-flavored goodness! A delicious budget friendly keto chicken dinner your family will request over and over again!
I’m going to be honest and confess that while the chicken thighs (or drumsticks if you’re keeping it super budget friendly) ARE delicious – crispy skin, tender juicy meat, yada, yada, yada… it’s the cheesy ranch cauliflower rice that is the star of this dish.
Hard to believe I know. But it’s true! Instead of calling this keto cheesy ranch chicken and rice, I probably should have called it keto cheesy ranch cauliflower rice – with some chicken. 😂
The top of this keto cheesy ranch cauliflower rice gets a little crunchy and chewy, while the interior is fluffy and cheesy and has a noticeable ranch flavor. It’s sublimely delicious – keto comfort food in the extreme.
So much so that I actually scraped all of the leftover cauliflower rice off of the bottoms of the baked chicken pieces in the fridge and warmed it up for lunch the next day without even bothering to add the chicken.
I eventually ate the chicken too, but was legit sad when the ranch cauliflower rice was all gone.
And don’t get me wrong, the crispy ranch chicken was also amazing – just not as amazing as that cheesy ranch cauliflower rice. Which you could absolutely make on its own – but baking the chicken thighs in the rice definitely adds extra flavor so I’m not sure it would be quite as good without the chicken juices soaked right into it.
Now let’s talk briefly about how easy this keto cheesy ranch chicken and rice is…
SO. EASY.
THE END.
Mix, spread, top, bake….
Viola – dinner on the table!
I used regular old Hidden Valley Ranch dressing seasoning for this keto cheesy ranch chicken and rice (not sponsored, just what I used) and it came out great. If you don’t have access to or don’t want to use packaged ranch seasoning, you can make your own ranch seasoning at home.
Times are tough right now, and if you’re like me then easy and inexpensive dinners that nobody is going to gripe about are all that is keeping you going. This keto cheesy ranch cauliflower rice definitely fits the bill and I’m excited for you to try it and report back!
If you’re not on keto, you can absolutely make these ranch chicken legs with regular rice instead of cauliflower rice. Simply replace the cauliflower with 2 cups of rice, and add 3 3/4 cup of water to the mix as well. Bake as directed, or until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid and the chicken is cooked through.
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Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Rice
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
This super easy Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken & Rice is chock full of flavor and texture and cheesy, ranch-flavored goodness! A delicious keto chicken dinner your family will request over and over again!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet ranch dressing seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning)
- 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 6 cups cauliflower rice
- 6 chicken leg quarters (legs and/or thighs)
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Combine the butter, cream cheese, and 2 tablespoons of the ranch seasoning in a medium sized bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir until well blended.
- Add the cauliflower rice (or rice and water) and shredded cheese and stir well.
- Transfer to a 9 x 13 baking or casserole dish and spread out evenly over the surface of the pan.
- Rub the remaining seasoning over the chicken parts and place them on top of the rice.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden brown.
Notes
Approximate net carbs per serving = 4g.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Keto Chicken Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh + 1 cup rice
- Calories: 545
- Fat: 39g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
Need more delicious keto chicken recipes to keep your tribe happy and healthy? Here’s a fantastic collection of low carb chicken recipes with something for every taste and budget!
JACI says
THIS was the recipe that changed the Hub’s mind about cauliflower rice! He even said he liked this “rice” better than “real” rice! Now I’m scouring the web and pinterest to find more cauliflower rice recipes since we both need to go low carb. Thank you for helping me get the hubs to at least set a foot on the low carb train.
Mellissa Sevigny says
So happy to hear it! Thank you!
Beata says
After reading about the rice was the real star of this recipe, I frankly thought it was a light hearted joke. I was proven wrong – the rice was indeed the star of this recipe! I didn’t have all of the ingredients for the homemade ranch seasoning so just added some ranch dressing to the cauliflower rice (thawed in the colander), and the chicken was generously rubbed with olive oil and sprinkled with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and dill. Used my homemade mascarpone cheese in place of cream cheese and used shredded mozarella as that was all i had, to complete the rice mixture. Lots of black pepper in the rice too. Baked as directed. OMG! The rice was indeed nicely browned around the edges and you could tell that the delicious chicken fat drippings infused the rice too. Just loved how easy this dish was to put together. My boyfriend who is generally vary of low carb diets overall, gobbled this meal up and wants it again (and so do I!!!) Thank you for a great and tasty inspiration!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks for the feedback Beata – I know it’s hard to fathom that the cauliflower rice could be that good, but so glad this recipe made a believer out of you!
Lisa says
That looks delicious!
Renee says
This was good. Love that it was sooooo easy as well. I have one chicken leg and some rice leftover for tomorrow. Yum.
Love your cookbook and use this site often. You are one of my trusted goto Keto experts. Everything is always as advertised and delicious. I made your lemon cream pie (don’t recall exact name) over the quarantine and it was the best pie I’ve had in a long time. Didn’t even have a telling Stevia aftertaste. Thanks so much for all your hard work. You rock!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Renee, really appreciate you!
Krissy says
Hi there! Is there a crockpot version of this recipe?? :)
VICKIE says
I am wondering the same thing….Crockpot version
Ileana says
Hi, I have heard about Cauliflower rice but have never eaten Cauliflower in my life. Does it have a strong flavor or do you mainly taste the dressing and cheese? Is Cauliflower rice something you purchase made? If so, any specific brand/type? Thank you, I look forward to trying this.
Stephanie says
I love cauliflower rice but I love cauliflower. My husband is not a lover of it like me but he will eat it. I do not think it has any overwhelming flavors especially made with all that seasoning. I do buy riced cauliflower from my local grocery store. You can get it fresh or frozen. Or you can buy a head, chop it down to the florets and pulse in a food processor or use the big holes of a cheese grater. There are lots of how to videos/posts that will teach you how.
Diane says
Mine is on the oven now 😊😊😊. I will check back and tell ya what I think. It is only me but I love everything I made from Keto for Life and ibreathiamhungry ❤️❤️
Flor says
Would chicken breasts work with his recipe?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yes but I’d adjust the cook time to just 35 minutes if they are boneless – unless they are really large.
Tori says
Just got a ninja Foodie. Can I make the cheesey “rice” in I’m assuming the pressure cooker option? Can you advise how to do this? Either way… Oven or PC I’m doing this! Thank you Melissa for always delivering great recipes. I’m starting to cook again. Your blueberry cheese danish coffee cake is down to two pieces. The do not share advice is becoming serious now. So delicious! Next I’m doing cranberry Walnut coffee cake. We are suffering but in style thanks to you!
Virginia Johnson says
Maybe using the air fryer option on the ninja foodie would work
Katie says
Hi there this looks incredible! Just a quick question does the cauliflower rice have to be cooked first before the casserole is put together? Thanks =)
Mellissa Sevigny says
No you can use raw cauliflower rice!
Sarah says
Hello there! I can’t wait to make this recipe! My cauliflower rice is frozen – should I let it thaw before making this recipe? Thank you!
Mellissa Sevigny says
yes definitely thaw and drain so it’s not too watery!
Katie severino says
Do you happen to know if uncooked frozen cauliflower rice would work?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yes but I’d thaw and drain it first so it doesn’t end up too watery!
Stephanie says
I am lazy about my cauliflower rice and always buy it pre-riced. Would you recommend frozen riced cauliflower or fresh cauliflower? I was wondering if frozen would add to much water and make it mushy. I am making this after my Keto Egg fast transition days. Thanks for making great Keto recipes that the whole family can eat!!!
Stephanie says
Nevermind….I missed the above comment!