Creamy chicken and broccoli casserole made with a cashew cream or macadamia nut cream sauce. Low-carb, ketogenic, whole30 compliant, Paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free.
Two years ago, I posted a cheddar broccoli chicken casserole, which I absolutely LOVE. But, during Whole30, cheese is off limits. This is probably the most difficult part of Whole30 for me, because I am constantly reaching for freshly grated parmesan and fluffy mozzarella for my meals.
However, there are so many dairy-free options that lend a similar taste and/or texture, so meals containing dairy can be somewhat recreated with dairy-free ingredients. This creamy chicken and broccoli casserole is no exception!
A year and a half ago, I posted a cashew cream sauce, which is so super easy to make. It’s very delicious and light, and it’s perfect in vegan or dairy-free recipes where you want something creamy. Who knew cashews were so perfect?
This creamy chicken and broccoli casserole resembles the cheddar broccoli chicken casserole, and utilizes the delicious cashew cream sauce that I posted last week. The cashew cream is super simple to make.
You’ll want to soak your cashews in the water, ideally for 5-6 hours. Then add them to your blender with some fresh water, lemon and salt and blend until creamy. You can prepare it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days before using.
If you want to reduce the carb count for low-carb or keto folks, you can use macadamia nuts in place of the cashews. The sauce recipe uses the same process, simply substitute the macadamia nuts for cashews.
It’s also super easy and straightforward to make this creamy chicken and broccoli casserole. You simply cook the chicken, chop some broccoli into florets, make some cauliflower rice, and toss them all into a dish with that delicious cashew cream that you’ve already prepared.
Pop the dish into the oven for 20-25 minutes and then you have a super tasty and easy Paleo and Whole30 approved meal! Perfect for a family of four, or for two people with leftovers.
Whole30 Pro Tip: Double the amount of dinner you make so that you have enough for lunch the next day as well. This cuts the time you have to spend cooking in half. This is especially helpful to keep you on track, plus you never have to worry about forgetting to make lunch!
If you liked this creamy chicken and broccoli casserole, I think you’d enjoy my other Whole30 approved recipes. Use the search bar at the top of website and type in Whole30 and a whole bunch of them should pop up!
You may also enjoy:
Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole (Whole30 Compliant, Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 batch cashew cream sauce click here for recipe alternatively, you can make it with macadamia nuts
- 1 lb chicken
- 2 stalks broccoli, chopped
- 1/4 stalk cauliflower, riced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Cook chicken in a pan over medium heat until no longer pink.
- Add chicken to a greased baking dish along with the chopped broccoli and riced cauliflower. Add in the cashew or macadamia nut cream sauce and mix to combine. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for several minutes before serving.
2 comments
Great post
Thank you!