Try my favorite Cheesy Chicken Bake for an easy dinner recipe! Delicious chicken is smothered with a creamy ranch and cheese coating for a versatile meal that reheats perfectly.

Closeup view showing baked chicken smothered in a creamy mozzarella and cheddar cheese sauce with green chilis and green onions.

 

This easy baked chicken dinner is a lifesaver on busy weeknights! It’s quick, simple, and made with a handful of ingredients that are easy to keep on hand. Lean chicken breasts are smothered with a thick, cream cheese and mozzarella mixture seasoned with ranch and green chilis. They come out super juicy and tender, perfect for serving with simple side dishes for an easy meal everyone will love.

This meal requires zero prep and comes together in one casserole dish. It is low carb, keto-friendly and naturally gluten free! We love this for weekly meal prep because it is super versatile and reheats so well! 

Ingredients

Here is an overview of what you will need for this easy chicken bake. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for exact measurements.

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breast – You could replace these with chicken thighs or tenderloins if you prefer. Smaller cuts may be finished earlier, so be sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure they are cooked through.
  • Cream Cheese and Mayonnaise – This creates your creamy sauce that smothers the chicken and ensures everything is super juicy. I recommend full-fat cream cheese as the low-fat version has a high water content that can make the mixture watery. Take the cream cheese out of the fridge ahead of time to allow it to soften.
  • Ranch seasoning, Canned diced green chilis, and Chopped green onions – Make sure to use the dry seasoning mix, not the liquid dressing as it would cause the mixture to be too runny. Use homemade if you like or try some of Hidden Valley’s other flavors. Drain the green chilis and dry with a paper towel before tossing into the mixture.
  • Mozzarella Cheese and Cheddar Cheese – Shredded. Feel free to replace these with your own favorite varieties, but make sure they are good melting cheeses (nothing crumbly like feta or cotija)
easy cheesy chicken bake in a white casserole dish with sliced tomatoes and green onions sprinkled around the chicken

How to Make Keto Chicken Casserole

This easy baked chicken recipe comes together with just a few steps, and all you need is a baking dish. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Slice chicken uniformly

Try my favorite Cheesy Chicken Bake for an easy one pan, keto-friendly dinner recipe! Each serving of chicken is smothered with green chiles, cheese and ranch for less than 4 net carbs! 

Most chicken breasts these days are quite large, so I recommend slicing them in half lengthwise while the oven is preheating to 375 degrees F. This creates more uniform pieces, making it easier to cook evenly and easier to serve. Season these with salt and pepper, then place them on a lightly greased baking dish. 

Combine creamy topping

cream cheese, mayonnaise, green chilis, mozzarella cheese, ranch seasoning, and chopped green onions in a white mixing bowl
seasoned chicken breasts in a casserole dish topped with a creamy cheese spread

In a mixing bowl, stir the cream cheese, mayonnaise, green chiles, green onions, ranch and mozzarella cheese. Once well combined, spread this cheesy mixture over the top of the chicken pieces in your casserole dish. 

Add cheese and bake

chicken cutlets in a white baking pan topped with a ranch cream cheese mixture and shredded cheddar cheese
golden brown cheddar cheese melted over smothered cheesy ranch chicken in a casserole dish

Once the oven is done preheating, sprinkle the top of the creamy mixture with shredded cheddar cheese. Place in oven and bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees F. Once a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F in the center of a chicken breast, you can remove from the oven. Feel free to garnish with fresh parsley, parmesan cheese, and some chopped tomatoes.

Serve

We love this served up with Sweet Potato Cheddar Cornbread and Bacon Wrapped Green Beans for a delicious dinner! For those keeping it low-carb, you will love this dish with these Keto Biscuits, Roasted Cabbage, and Sauteed Zucchini. If you prefer, you could allow the chicken to cool for 5 minutes, then shred with two forks and serve this as a great filling for Baked Potatoes or as a topping for nachos!

More great side dishes for chicken:

a juicy chicken breast smothered in a creamy ranch cheese sauce in a white casserole dish

Storage and Reheating

Allow leftovers to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Turn leftovers into a super easy chicken dinner by serving with pasta or turning it into a wrap with a tortilla. I do not recommend freezing this as the cream cheese mixture changes texture and can be unappetizing.

Tips for Making Cream Cheese Chicken Bake

  • Make sure to use room temperature block-style cream cheese, this makes it easier to spread.
  • Dry the green chiles before adding them to the mix. Simply drain the liquid and dump the green chiles onto a few paper towels. If you skip this step, the topping will be very runny. 
  • I used shredded cheddar cheese, but consider making it spicier with Pepper Jack and Spicy Ranch seasoning instead of regular ranch! 
  • If you wanted this delicious dish as a more casual appetizer, you could shred or chop the cooked chicken with the creamy, cheesy topping! It would make a tasty dip, amazing nacho topping, or easy baked potato filling.
cheesy chicken bake cooked until golden brown and topped with chopped green onions
closeup of baked chicken breast covered in a creamy, cheesy ranch coating

Chicken Bake FAQ’s

Can I Prep This Recipe in Advance? 

Yes, this chicken bake can be assembled and then wrapped in foil and chilled until ready to bake. This may add an additional few minutes to the cooking time. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the dish is cooked through. I would not freeze because the cream cheese and cheese mixture would likely separate.

Can I Double This Recipe? 

Yes, very easily! Just double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch baking dish until golden and bubbly. 

How do I know when Chicken Casserole is done?

This dish is done when the chicken breast has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer and check the thickest part of the chicken. When the temperature reaches 165 degrees F you can safely enjoy! 

Cheesy Chicken Recipes: 

Try my favorite Cheesy Chicken Bake for an easy one pan, keto-friendly dinner recipe! Each serving of chicken is smothered with green chiles, cheese and ranch for less than 4 net carbs! 

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Bake (keto + low carb)

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Author: Annie Holmes
Try my favorite Cheesy Chicken Bake for an easy one pan, keto-friendly dinner recipe! Each serving of chicken is smothered with green chiles, cheese and ranch for less than 4 net carbs! 
4.60 from 10 ratings
Print Leave a Review Pin Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 5 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 4 ounce can mild green chiles (drained and patted dry)
  • 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon dry ranch seasoning
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Slice the chicken breast in half lengthwise, so you have thinner more uniform slices of chicken. Place in a lightly greased casserole dish.
  • In a bowl combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, dry green chiles, green onions, mozzarella and ranch seasoning. Mix well and spread evenly over the chicken breast.
  • Top with the shredded cheddar cheese. Bake 30 -35 minutes until the internal temp of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

Notes

This recipe makes 6 servings, and each serving has 3.4 net carbs.
Serving: 5 ounces (or 1/6th of recipe), Calories: 418kcal, Carbohydrates: 3.8g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 25g, Sodium: 415mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 1.8g
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