Keto fried chicken with broccoli and butter

Keto fried chicken with broccoli and butter

A quick and easy one-skillet keto meal. Who doesn't love that? Juicy fried chicken paired with green and crunchy broccoli topped off with melting butter. Mmmmm... Put this in your rotation for busy weeknights!

Keto fried chicken with broccoli and butter

A quick and easy one-skillet keto meal. Who doesn't love that? Juicy fried chicken paired with green and crunchy broccoli topped off with melting butter. Mmmmm... Put this in your rotation for busy weeknights!
USMetric
4 servingservings

Ingredients

  • 5 oz. 140 g butter, divided
  • 2 lbs 900 g boneless chicken thighs
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 lb (5 cups) 450 g (1.2 liters) broccoli, chopped into bite-sized pieces (including stem)
  • ½ (1½ oz.) ½ (45 g) leekleeks
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ ¼ ground black pepper
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Instructions

  1. Melt half of the butter in a large frying pan, over medium-high heat.
  2. Generously season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Place in the pan, and fry for approximately 20 - 25 minutes, flipping the chicken until browned on both sides. Remove from pan, and keep warm under aluminum foil, or in the oven under low heat. While the chicken cooks, prepare the leek.
  3. Remove the root, and the dark green section of the leek with a sharp knife, and discard. Cut the remaining, light green portion in half, lengthwise. Slice into thin, crescent-shaped pieces, and then place into a bowl of water, tossing to release any sandy deposits. Strain, and set leek aside.
  4. In the large frying pan, over medium heat, melt the remaining butter. Stir in the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add the leek, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften. Stir in the broccoli, and cook for a few minutes until it becomes crisp-tender.
  5. Serve the chicken and vegetables with an extra dollop of butter on top.

Tip!

Switch up the flavors of this workhorse dish with different seasonings (like curry, paprika, or dried herbs) for the chicken. Or try one of our compound butters on top. Alternatively, you can mix things up by switching to a dip; mayo with a dash of Sriracha sauce tastes great and gives the dish a real kick!

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💬 Have you tried this recipe?

What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

50 comments

  1. Annie
    Please come and cook ?‍? at my house. All these recipes look ? amazing
  2. Marilyn Walkowiak
    I'm on day 3 of a simple keto diet, have a headache, these recipes look delicious, can't wait to make them
  3. Sam
    This was so yummy!
  4. Andy
    Do you think it would be ok to swap the butter for some mozzarella/cheddar? I don't eat butter...
    Thanks
  5. sally
    Day 2 of keto plan, just had the fried chicken and broccoli, delicious. So far so good heart palpitations and a heaviness in my chest yesterday, but fine today. Watched cereal killer this afternoon, so glad I'm now eating fat !!!!
  6. Grace
    If you decide not to use an ingredient, like leeks for instance, does it change the macros or are we only focusing on eating less than 20g of carbs?
  7. Lynnette
    How do I get started?
    Reply: #8
  8. Peter Biörck Team Diet Doctor
    Hi Lynette!

    I'm not sure exactly know what you mean. :)

    But take our two week challenge if you would like to try Low Carb:
    https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/get-started

    How do I get started?

  9. Helen
    I’m fasting for about 16 hours a day which means I miss breakfast. Should I still eat 3 meals or am I ok on lunch and dinner?
  10. Angel
    Recipe was really good! I have a hard time finding boneless skin on chicken thighs in the US (no problem finding them in the UK!), so I used bone-in thighs and put on stove top, skin side down, for about 10 mins. Then I flipped the thighs and finished in a 425F oven for 20ish minutes.
    Not sure I understand the point of the leeks - the didn't really add much of anything. I love leeks, but would probably leave out next time.
    Reply: #11
  11. Shirley
    I can answer that. MORE CARBS. There aren't enough carbs elstwise. You should be shooting for 6 grams of NET carbs with this meal.
  12. Joanie
    So are the nutrition facts based on one serving? If we are supposed to eat 2 servings do we double the nutrition info?
    Reply: #13
  13. Peter Biörck Team Diet Doctor
    Hi!

    Yes, double the info if you eat two servings.

    So are the nutrition facts based on one serving? If we are supposed to eat 2 servings do we double the nutrition info?

  14. Amanda
    We made this last night - the broccoli was especially amazing!! Loved it. Second great recipe in a row (we are on day 2 of the 2 week challenge). Thank you!!
  15. Edna
    I so love the food, cannot wait for the next meal
  16. Melly
    Instead of butter on top of Broccoli can I do cheddar?
  17. Julez
    150g of butter sounds like a lot of butter to cook 700g of chicken thigh? (Serving 4 ppl) is this right or wrong?
    Reply: #20
  18. Jamie
    How much is 1 serving?
  19. Victoria
    Rather than regular pepper, I tossed the chicken in ground roasted Szechuan peppercorns and kosher salt. I also sauteed 1/2 onion and fresh garlic prior to adding the broccoli. This dish is a keeper.
  20. Meg
    I agree there was too much butter. And I'm from Wisconsin, ate a pound of butter as a child and still eat butter straight up. I also didn't find the chicken crisp up like the photo. I used a non stick cast iron skillet that might have been part of the problem. I also think olives or capers and lemon wedges or zest would be nice.
  21. td
    hello. ive tried to chamge my meal plan and it doesn't do that on my computer doesn't have an option, but it does on my cellphone. also it doesn't let me to select meals as my favorite. do you know why? thanks
  22. Karolina
    I’m on day two of the keto get started challenge and oh my god the fried chicken with broccoli was absolutely amazing! I’m wondering if it’s okay after dinner to have some tea with coconut oil if I’m a little bit hungry? I skipped lunch today because I woke up late which in turn made me eat dinner early and am a little bit peckish after dinner :)
  23. Anna Springett
    Cooked this for the whole family and it went down a treat!! Yum-diddly-umtious!
  24. Bobby
    I have a question: I see the chicken in the recipe has skin on it, I cannot find skinless chicken breasts or thighs with skinless on boneless meat
  25. Sally Villar
    Hi what is the measurement of the leeks please? 1/4 of what? Cup, gram, tbsp, piece?
  26. -SineCera-
    I never thought "simple" chicken is butter + salt 'n' pepper would come out to be THIS tasty!
    And those delicious, crispy veggies... I added herb-butter on top.
    Mum and me are on this second day of the 2week keto challenge, and we already feel the benefits.
    Plust, really...this chicken in butter.....mmmmmh
  27. Jacolyn
    This is the first recipe that I wasn't a fan of....but all the others I tried so far have been great. Maybe I did something wrong.
  28. Derhonda
    Can sub the thighs for breast ?
    Reply: #37
  29. Erica
    Made this last night and it’s going to be my meal tonight.
  30. Teresa
    This one is not for me, definitely on the blah side. Vegetables were good but chicken needs more. Positive thing about this meal was it was quick.
  31. DavidT
    This was delicious. Came out really well and the whole family enjoyed it, even my kids (age 5 and 3). Start them young, right? I've been avoiding carbs for a few years, but never really consciously subtracted all of them from my diet like this. I'm on Day 10 and I'm really really really missing my Vermont craft beers (Pale Ales, IPAs and Double IPAs) so I don't know if this is realistic for me long term. I've been sipping Gin after work and on weekend on this diet so far, but I don't know if I can eliminate craft beer from my diet as I live in the greatest state on the country (probably the world) for craft beer.
  32. Lindy Felder
    I really loved the chicken and broccoli. So much flavor in the meal I was surprised. I couldn't find leeks around here anywhere, I went to 4 different stores, so I used green onions. I hope that was okay and I didn't mess up the diet. I also couldn't find boneless chicken thighs with the skin still on so I got the ones with bones and deboned them. Very easy to do. It was so good cooked in the butter! The hardest thing about the diet for me is not having my vegetable juice every day which I love and cooking. I don't cook lol! I don't eat most carbs like rice, bread and noodles anyway so I don't miss them at all.
  33. Yanet Ramirez
    I dont get it !!!!!is 4 portions so how many im supposed to eat a dinner and lunch 2 portions?
    Reply: #34
  34. Sharron

    I dont get it !!!!!is 4 portions so how many im supposed to eat a dinner and lunch 2 portions?

    If you look beside the NAME of the dish at the top of the recipe there is a drop down box. If you click on it you can lower the amount of serving portions which will automatically adjust the recipe. If it is a dinner meal you eat one portion and save one for lunch the next day. You do tht for dinner / lunch every day. They have made this pretty simple. Take the time to explore all the dropdowns and notes.

  35. Jeanne
    I LOOOOVE this recipe. I cook it at least once a week. My husband really enjoys it too.
  36. 1 comment removed
  37. rose
    On day 1 of the challenge, can I sub breast for thighs in this recipe and also is this real unsalted butter, real salted butter or some form of margarine? Please advise
    Reply: #38
  38. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    On day 1 of the challenge, can I sub breast for thighs in this recipe and also is this real unsalted butter, real salted butter or some form of margarine? Please advise

    You can sub breasts for thighs but they are higher protein and lower fat. Recipes here will always call for real unsalted butter unless they specify otherwise. Margarine is not recommended.

  39. Lorie
    This as usual, is really good. I let me chicken cook for about 20 minutes, I wanted to make sure it was browned all over and done. I also added a little lemon pepper to my veggies, yum!
  40. Chelsea
    Newbie question but how are you frying the chicken? (pan, oven, air fryer?)
    Reply: #41
  41. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Newbie question but how are you frying the chicken? (pan, oven, air fryer?)

    Step 1 indicates frying in butter over medium high heat. This indicates it is on the stove top. You could use an air fryer as well.

  42. William
    A tip on frying the chicken which will make these thighs sooo tasty is to wet brine for 30 minutes in about 1/4 cup of kosher salt to 1 quart of water. Put some melted butter in the pan but let it come back down to room temperature. Then dry the chicken and place in the cold pan before heating.
  43. adeelahh
    I'm still worried on the calories, my day today adds up over 2000, I know they say not to worry about the calories I'm just freaking out a little

    Help 😩

    Reply: #44
  44. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    I'm still worried on the calories, my day today adds up over 2000, I know they say not to worry about the calories I'm just freaking out a little
    Help 😩

    You may find this reassuring.
    https://www.dietdoctor.com/common-currency-bodies-not-calories-guess

  45. Carol S
    This recipe is so deliciou! I used green onions instead of a leek and a small chicken breast as that is what I had. The flavour is amazing and it is now a favourite. Thankyou!
  46. Leigh Batten
    Made this last night it was sooo delicious... however, 70g butter for 2 servings on top of the fat from the chicken skin during cooking seemed an awful lot of fat so I only used 40g butter; 25g for frying the chicken, then added 15g to the chicken fat juices to cook the leeks and broccoli and that was just right. I also par steamed the broccoli florets for 4 minutes just to get them going and the last bit of cooking in the fat was enough for cooked through but still slightly crunchy veg.
    Reply: #47
  47. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Made this last night it was sooo delicious... however, 70g butter for 2 servings on top of the fat from the chicken skin during cooking seemed an awful lot of fat so I only used 40g butter; 25g for frying the chicken, then added 15g to the chicken fat juices to cook the leeks and broccoli and that was just right. I also par steamed the broccoli florets for 4 minutes just to get them going and the last bit of cooking in the fat was enough for cooked through but still slightly crunchy veg.

    Thank you for sharing. That's a great example of how many of our meals are easily customizable to suit your needs and preferences.

  48. Mary
    Hi ... quick question please. Are the gram per serve carbs or net carbs? Thank you.
    Reply: #49
  49. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Hi ... quick question please. Are the gram per serve carbs or net carbs? Thank you.

    The nutrition information in all Diet Doctor guides and recipes reflects the net carbs per serving. You can read more at this link:
    https://www.dietdoctor.com/how-low-carb-is-low-carb

  50. Jacqueline
    This is good but I added lemon pepper seasoning to the broccoli and also made a pan sauce with garlic, lemon juice and roasted cherry tomatoes. Day 6 of the 2 week challenge as listed and loving it!
    Reply: #51
  51. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    This is good but I added lemon pepper seasoning to the broccoli and also made a pan sauce with garlic, lemon juice and roasted cherry tomatoes. Day 6 of the 2 week challenge as listed and loving it!

    That's a great way to spice up your dish!

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