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Home Diet Low Carb
4.95
/5
40 minutes minutes

Low Carb Cheesy Chicken and Rice Meal Prep

Gluten Free Gluten Free Low Carb Low Carb Nut Free Nut Free Meal Prep Meal Prep
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard20 Comments
Posted: 6/7/18 Updated: 9/2/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Low carb cheesy chicken and rice is a delicious low carb lunch option! Pan-fried chicken breast and broccoli are smothered with cheese and served over cauliflower rice. Filling but light with only 5 g carbs and 43 g of protein.

Fork grabbing a piece of chicken from the Low Carb Cheesy Chicken and Rice

One thing is clear: healthified versions of your favorite comfort food is never a bad idea. In the past month we've enjoyed Lighter Mongolian Beef, Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, and Healthier Firecracker Chicken.

Today I'm moving on to chicken and rice...because what is more comforting than chicken and rice?

Not only is this chicken and rice recipe healthier, but it is low carb, with only 5 g of carbs in the full recipe. But I'm guessing you're going to be nice and full, since there are 43 g of protein to keep you feeling satisfied!

Recipe video

Want to see exactly how to prep these meal prep bowls? Watch this 1-minute video! You can find more recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Don't forget to pin this recipe to save it for later!

four meal prep containers with the Low Carb Cheesy Chicken and Rice

How to make low carb chicken and rice?

I'm pretty sure you've guessed by now that we've swapped regular rice for cauliflower rice for this recipe. This squeezes extra vegetables into your diet and cuts the carbs down significantly.

There are four main components for this chicken and rice recipe:

    1. Broccoli- which you can totally swap out for your favorite vegetable (pick one with a low water content if you want this to last through the week!). I bet mushrooms, carrots, zucchini or asparagus would taste great in this recipe.
    2. Chicken- I used boneless skinless chicken breast and tossed in a simple seasoning blend with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
    3. "Rice"- we are swapping regular rice for cauliflower rice for this recipe! I made my own, but if you are looking to cut some prep time out, you could totally use pre-riced cauliflower.
    4. Cheese- I used mozzarella but you could really use whatever you have in the fridge! I bet cheddar would be pretty fantastic in this recipe too!

fork grabbing broccoli from the Low Carb Cheesy Chicken and Rice in a meal prep bowl

Not only is this recipe delicious, but it's easy to prepare as well! I used one skillet and first cooked the cauliflower rice, then the broccoli, and finally the chicken.

Just a reminder to cook your broccoli and cauliflower rice al dente because they will cook a second time when you reheat!

And I should also warn you that this low carb chicken and rice meal prep is not going to smell the most amazing when you go to eat it, but TRUST ME it sure tastes amazing!!!

Close up of the Low Carb Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Recipe tips

  • To make the cauliflower rice, you're going to need either a food processor, or a box grater. This is my favorite food processor!
  • You can also use pre-riced cauliflower from the grocery store, but I don't recommend frozen cauliflower rice as it can get soggy when thawed.
  • Looking for more low carb meal prep recipes? Check out this Low Carb Greek Turkey Meal Prep, these Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps, these 7 Cauliflower Rice Recipes and this round-up with 26+ Low Carb Meal Prep Recipes!

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

overhead shot of four glass containers with cheesy chicken rice and broccoli bowls

Low Carb Cheesy Chicken and Rice Meal Prep

4.95 from 36 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Print Rate
Low carb cheesy chicken and rice is a delicious low carb lunch option! Pan-fried chicken breast and broccoli are smothered with cheese and served over cauliflower rice. Filling but light with only 5 g carbs and 43 g of protein.
4

Ingredients

  • ½ head cauliflower
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 crown broccoli (roughly 4 cups of bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)

Chicken

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions 

  • Make cauliflower rice: cut cauliflower into even-sized pieces. Pulse in a food processor 10-15 times or until it is broken down into uniform cauliflower rice. You can use a box grater if you'd prefer for this step!
  • Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a non-stick pan and heat over medium heat. Add the cauliflower rice and cook for 5 or so minutes, until slightly softened. Season with salt and pepper. Divide between four 2 cup capacity storage containers.
  • Add another 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the broccoli and cook for 5-7 minutes, until slightly softened. Add the cooked broccoli to the storage containers with the cauliflower rice.
  • Chicken: Toss the chicken with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. 
  • Cook in the non-stick pan over medium heat until cooked through; 5-7 minutes. Add the cooked chicken to the storage containers with the cauliflower rice and broccoli.
  • Divide shredded cheese between the four storage containers.

Storage

  • Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To serve

  • Heat in a microwave until steaming hot. Stir it up and enjoy.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1meal prep bowl, Calories: 329kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 94mg, Sodium: 475mg, Potassium: 664mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 240IU, Vitamin C: 38.4mg, Calcium: 163mg, Iron: 0.8mg
Author: Annie Holmes
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Meal Prep

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
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Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

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Reader Interactions

4.95 from 36 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Dot says

    Posted on 9/26/24 at Posted on 9/26/24

    5 stars
    Very easy and very good

    Reply
  2. Brany says

    Posted on 3/26/22 at Posted on 3/26/22

    4 stars
    Would like to know the size and name of these glass food prep containers or a link?

    Reply
    • Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says

      Posted on 3/29/22 at Posted on 3/29/22

      Hi Brany, these are 2 cup glass meal prep containers from Snapware - here is a link. More of Denise's favorites can be found on our shop page!

      Reply
  3. hope says

    Posted on 5/20/21 at Posted on 5/20/21

    If what i'm asking is in your posts then i apologize. But when reading these recipes i'm not seeing anything to say how much of each food to measure out. is it a cup of rice and a cup of chicken. 1/2 cup of chicken 1/2 cup of broccoli. how much cheese? this is where i always make mistakes in meal planning .. i have too much food

    Reply
    • Denise Bustard says

      Posted on 5/31/21 at Posted on 5/31/21

      Hi Hope! For this recipe, you just divide the total batch up in four. It should be close to 4 oz of chicken breast (1/2 cup cubed), 1 cup cauliflower rice, 1 cup broccoli and 2 tablespoons shredded cheese per bowl.

      Reply
  4. Amanda says

    Posted on 11/5/20 at Posted on 11/5/20

    5 stars
    So good! Loved it

    Reply
    • Denise Bustard says

      Posted on 11/16/20 at Posted on 11/16/20

      Woo hoo! Happy to hear you enjoyed. Thanks so much for reporting back, Amanda!

      Reply
  5. Ruel says

    Posted on 5/11/20 at Posted on 5/11/20

    How can this be 5g of carbs only?

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 6/1/20 at Posted on 6/1/20

      Hi Ruel, I use the My Fitness Pal calculator, but remember that these are purely estimates. I welcome you to calculate the nutritional info if you are questioning the numbers.

      Reply
  6. Sara says

    Posted on 3/10/20 at Posted on 3/10/20

    5 stars
    This is on weekly rotation! Love the seasoning on this chicken and it reheats great.

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 3/23/20 at Posted on 3/23/20

      Yay! So happy to hear this, Sara! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review <3

      Reply
  7. Jessica Frost says

    Posted on 3/10/20 at Posted on 3/10/20

    This was absolutely delicious and quick & easy - my kind of cooking!! Can’t wait to explore this site and try some others. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 3/23/20 at Posted on 3/23/20

      So happy to hear this, Jessica! I hope you find some other recipes you enjoy. Stay safe!

      Reply
  8. Didi says

    Posted on 9/21/19 at Posted on 9/21/19

    4 stars
    Really easy and yummy
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 9/25/19 at Posted on 9/25/19

      So glad you enjoyed, Didi! <3

      Reply
  9. Diana says

    Posted on 10/18/18 at Posted on 10/18/18

    What size are the containers you use in the video?

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 10/20/18 at Posted on 10/20/18

      I will ask my video girl! I personally love snapware containers, you can find my faves here: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/glass-meal-prep-containers/

      Reply
  10. Erika B Stacy says

    Posted on 6/13/18 at Posted on 6/13/18

    Can this be frozen?

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 6/13/18 at Posted on 6/13/18

      Hi Erika! I believe it would freeze fine! Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  11. Brittany Audra @ Audra's Appetite says

    Posted on 6/7/18 at Posted on 6/7/18

    This looks delicious; can't wait to try! Love all the vegetables too 🙂

    Reply

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