Keto Cauliflower Chicken Alfredo Pasta - Recipe - Diet Doctor (2024)

Keto Cauliflower Chicken Alfredo Pasta - Recipe - Diet Doctor (1)

Let’s get right to the meat of the matter. In this case, it's chicken covered in a creamy Alfredo sauce paired with savory cauliflower. No pasta noodles needed to get your Alfredo fix. You may want to double the batch, because it’s fabulous the next day, too. Dig in!

February 20 2017 recipe by Anne Aobadia, photo by Emma Shevtzoff, nutritional review by Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE in Recipes, Dinner, Meal

Let’s get right to the meat of the matter. In this case, it's chicken covered in a creamy Alfredo sauce paired with savory cauliflower. No pasta noodles needed to get your Alfredo fix. You may want to double the batch, because it’s fabulous the next day, too. Dig in!

USMetric

6 servingservings

Ingredients

  • 5 oz. 140 g bacon, diced
  • 2 lbs 900 g chicken breastchicken breasts
  • 2 tbsp 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 3 garlic clove, mincedgarlic cloves, minced
  • 7 oz. (6½ cups) 200 g (1.6 liters) baby spinach
  • 1 cup 240 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup (2¾ oz.) 240 ml (80 g) shredded Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper
  • 1¼ lbs 550 g cauliflower

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Keto Cauliflower Chicken Alfredo Pasta - Recipe - Diet Doctor (5)

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Making low carb simple

Instructions

  1. Fry the bacon until crispy and cooked through. Drain, and set aside in a bowl or on a plate.

  2. Cut the chicken into strips. Add butter in the same frying pan with the remaining bacon fat and sauté the chicken and garlic. Set aside when the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

  3. Sauté the spinach until it shrinks, but no more. Set aside.

  4. Add cream to the pan and let boil for a few minutes. Add parmesan cheese, bacon, chicken, and spinach. Salt and pepper to taste.

  5. Lower the heat and let simmer while parboiling the cauliflower.

  6. Divide the cauliflower into small florets, no bigger than walnuts. You can use either fresh or frozen.

  7. Parboil the cauliflower in lightly salted water for a few minutes. Let drain thoroughly. Add the chicken and sauce. Stir and serve.

Tip!

Orange or purple cauliflower would be gorgeous in this recipe!For a change, try spiralized zucchini instead of cauliflower. No need to parboil, just add the uncooked zucchini zoodles to the pan with the chicken and Alfredo sauce, stirring until the zoodles are warmed through but not too soft. Serve.For a nice garnish, save some of the bacon to crumble on top of each serving with some chopped parsley.

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200 comments

  1. 151

    Reply to comment #150 by Shari

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    June 19 2019

    How can I adapt this recipe to the Instant Pot?

    Cream and cheesy sauces don't always work well in the Instant Pot on the pressure cooker settings due to the high heat. High heat may cause the cheese cause to break and get greasy.

  2. 152

    Brittany

    June 24 2019

    De-goodamn-licious. Thank you!

  3. 153

    Donna

    July 7 2019

    Any suggestions for non-dairy substitutes for the cream? I can tolerate some dairy (like a reduced amount of ) but am always at a loss what to sub for heavy cream.

    Reply: #154

  4. 154

    Reply to comment #153 by Donna

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    July 9 2019

    Any suggestions for non-dairy substitutes for the cream? I can tolerate some dairy (like a reduced amount of ) but am always at a loss what to sub for heavy cream.

    Some people enjoy using coconut cream as a substitute for heavy cream.

  5. 155

    Shaan A Hebert

    July 22 2019

    Wow, this recipe was SO tasty!! I really enjoyed it, didn't make any changes. Portion size was also perfect, before starting keto I was used to eating a bit more than that but after eating I felt satisfied enough (I made 2 servings and divided in half to have it for lunch today). Only thing is when I plugged in all the ingredients into my carb manager it came out as 13g of carbs instead of 10g? Made me go over my carbs by a bit for the day but so so good!

  6. 1 comment removed
  7. 157

    Ellie

    August 5 2019

    Very tasty! I used chicken mince. Cooks fast. Ready in minutes.

  8. 158

    Tina

    August 8 2019

    This is so easy and so delicious, I've frozen it successfully it split slightly when I reheated it but still tasted amazing. I've cooked it for my kids and friends and they don't even comment that it's missing pasta!

  9. 159

    Margaret

    August 10 2019

    This is fantastic. My husband, who is not as experienced a cook as I am, made the whole thing from start to finish, and said it wasn't difficult at all. We'll definitely be making it again! Would be an excellent "company" dish, too.
    One issue: the sauce never got as thick as we hoped. Any idea why?

    Reply: #160

  10. 160

    Reply to comment #159 by Margaret

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    August 11 2019

    This is fantastic. My husband, who is not as experienced a cook as I am, made the whole thing from start to finish, and said it wasn't difficult at all. We'll definitely be making it again! Would be an excellent "company" dish, too.
    One issue: the sauce never got as thick as we hoped. Any idea why?

    I'm glad you enjoyed it! That's usually due to the excess moisture retained in the cauliflower.

  11. 161

    Jennifer

    September 8 2019

    Love this recipe too! When I'm in a hurry, I use pre-cooked chicken - either whole deli chicken or chicken breast and real bacon bits. I just add in a dollop of bacon grease to keep all the yummy flavour and fat. This recipe got my sister hooked on eating Keto!

  12. 162

    Jose Luis Minarro

    September 14 2019

    Hello! I have a question; during the process, I have introduced all the ingredients in MyFitNessPal, and the macros tell me that it has 11grs (5%) of Carbo, 65grs (65%) of Fats and 69 grs (30%) of protein. That is not what the recipe indicates. Could it be chicken ?, in the app, chicken is 93% protein and only 7% fat. Thanks

    Reply: #163

  13. 163

    Reply to comment #162 by Jose Luis Minarro

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    September 14 2019

    Hello! I have a question; during the process, I have introduced all the ingredients in MyFitNessPal, and the macros tell me that it has 11grs (5%) of Carbo, 65grs (65%) of Fats and 69 grs (30%) of protein. That is not what the recipe indicates. Could it be chicken ?, in the app, chicken is 93% protein and only 7% fat. Thanks

    My Fitness Pal doesn't always produce correct macro information. Yes, the fat/protein of the chicken you chose could affect the fat and protein as well.

  14. 164

    laurie

    September 24 2019

    The Alfredo is absolutely fabulous! Thank you!

  15. 165

    Gabby

    September 29 2019

    I don’t understand where that Many carbs come from. Is it the cauliflower?

  16. 1 comment removed
  17. 167

    Belinda

    October 6 2019

    Why does this come up as 21g of carbs when you plug the recipe into MyFitnessPal? Surely that is too much for one meal?

    Reply: #169

  18. 168

    Raven Nevermore

    October 6 2019

    So nice but it was rather runny, sauce didn't thicken at all. Placed left over in fridge for lunch the following day, tasted amazing second go

  19. 169

    Reply to comment #167 by Belinda

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    October 15 2019

    Why does this come up as 21g of carbs when you plug the recipe into MyFitnessPal? Surely that is too much for one meal?

    My Fitness Pal sometimes has inaccurate entries as they allow users to submit data and it's not always verified.

  20. 170

    Isa

    November 16 2019

    Freaking A-MA-ZING! So good, so rich (in a good way)! First KETO recipe ever, I'm hooked!

  21. 171

    Reply to comment #134 by Merishka

    Susie

    November 16 2019

    Just leave out the spinach this time. Makes the dish lower carb too! I always have a bag of frozen spinach to hand.

  22. 1 comment removed
  23. 173

    Kelli Jones

    January 4 2020

    I substituted broccoli for the cauliflower as that's all I had. Turned out delicious.

  24. 174

    Cristina Salgado

    January 9 2020

    This came out so delicious wow!!

  25. 175

    jeff41

    January 11 2020

    Not as good as the other recipes. I overcooked the chicken and the bacon was great after it was cooked, but became soggy in the dish. The cauliflower didn't taste that great. And, there's a lot of steps to making it and a lot pans/bowls/etc, which made for a long clean up. (Maybe I was in the keto flu when I made this.)

  26. 176

    Carol

    January 18 2020

    I have made a low carb Chicken Alfredo recipe with zoodles before. It was ok. And then I made this recipe. It far surpasses it with the cauliflower. It was just so perfect. The cauliflower was so good in it. Such a great idea. I loved it. And bacon added! Heavenly. Just so delicious! Thank you for such a great recipe! I’ll be making it often.

  27. 177

    Amy Giddins

    January 30 2020

    Love this meal, it's very tasty

  28. 178

    Richard Poole

    February 15 2020

    Wasn't bad, used a little xanthan gum to tighten up sauce. Next time I'll add a little nutmeg. Used Zoodles instead of cauliflower.

  29. 179

    Paula

    February 18 2020

    This recipe is delicious! My husband loved it too. I added a little slivered almonds browned in he fry pan.....Yummy.
    This will be a regular in our house.

  30. 180

    Melissa A

    March 22 2020

    I LOVED this! I was (really) short on cauliflower, so I made up the difference with broccoli and brussel sprouts. It was amazing!!

  31. 181

    Bridget

    March 29 2020

    This is my all time favorite recipe! And it is so much food, I can't even eat a whole serving. Best of all, my kids love it. They have started requesting it by name! And they are picky little 10, 9, and 6 year old eaters hahah

  32. 182

    Stephaniehall529

    April 26 2020

    This is insanely delicious, I like it better than regular alfredo which is saying something.

  33. 183

    Djamila Francisco-Wilson

    June 8 2020

    Can I substitute the chicken breast for boneless chicken thigh?

    Reply: #184

  34. 184

    Reply to comment #183 by Djamila Francisco-Wilson

    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor

    June 8 2020

    Can I substitute the chicken breast for boneless chicken thigh?

    Yes, you can substitute chicken breast for the chicken thigh. Keep in mind this change will reduce the fat content of the recipe.

  35. 185

    Kelly

    September 27 2020

    Loved it. I did tweak it.
    I used broccoli and cauliflower in a steam bag. Steamed for 4 minutes. Did Not use 7 oz of spinach. Lol, too much. Out of a 5 oz container I used 2 handfuls and tore it up. I added 1-1/2 tsp. of onion powder. I used 1tsp. granulated garlic powder, 5 oz. Of parmesan cheese. And a cup of chopped up bacon.
    Wish I could post a picture....

    Reply: #186

  36. 186

    Reply to comment #185 by Kelly

    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor

    September 28 2020

    Loved it. I did tweak it.
    I used broccoli and cauliflower in a steam bag. Steamed for 4 minutes. Did Not use 7 oz of spinach. Lol, too much. Out of a 5 oz container I used 2 handfuls and tore it up. I added 1-1/2 tsp. of onion powder. I used 1tsp. granulated garlic powder, 5 oz. Of parmesan cheese. And a cup of chopped up bacon.
    Wish I could post a picture....

    Sounds yummy!

  37. 187

    Carrie

    October 16 2020

    This is such a delicious meal. But it requires a very, VERY large pan if you are making 4 or 6 portions. A typical frying pan is too small. The recipe has quite a few steps, but the meal is worth it - so delicious. And it reheats very well the next day. We make this frequently.

    Reply: #188

  38. 188

    Reply to comment #187 by Carrie

    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor

    October 16 2020

    This is such a delicious meal. But it requires a very, VERY large pan if you are making 4 or 6 portions. A typical frying pan is too small. The recipe has quite a few steps, but the meal is worth it - so delicious. And it reheats very well the next day. We make this frequently.

    It is quite a bit for a small pan. I'm asking for a 12" skillet with high sides just for recipes like this :) They taste so good it will be worth it!

  39. 189

    Laura C

    November 13 2020

    This is sooooo good. I make it with chicken thighs, and without the spinach due to high oxalate content, and I roasted the cauliflower with olive oil for more flavor. It was super yummy and I will make it again. Thank you.

    Reply: #190

  40. 190

    Reply to comment #189 by Laura C

    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor

    November 13 2020

    This is sooooo good. I make it with chicken thighs, and without the spinach due to high oxalate content, and I roasted the cauliflower with olive oil for more flavor. It was super yummy and I will make it again. Thank you.

    Roasting the cauliflower would be an extra step, but extra flavor as well. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

    Reply: #191

  41. 191

    Reply to comment #190 by Crystal Pullen

    Diane

    January 2 2021

    Roasting the cauliflower really isn't an extra step since you would have to par boil it anyway. Seems like it would eliminate the extra water and make the sauce thicker too. It would up the fat content a bit since using olive oil when roasting which would be helpful if you were to use chicken breast instead of boneless chicken thighs. I'm going to definitely try this recipe with the roasted cauliflower. I love alfredo!

  42. 1 comment removed
  43. 193

    Angelica zambrano

    January 19 2021

    Which is best, Butter or animal fat?

    Reply: #194

  44. 194

    Reply to comment #193 by Angelica zambrano

    Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor

    January 20 2021

    Which is best, Butter or animal fat?

    Butter is preferable for this recipe.

  45. 195

    linlog15

    January 24 2021

    This is by far one of our favorite meals. Excellent. Love it. will definitely do this one again and share the recipe.

    Reply: #196

  46. 196

    Reply to comment #195 by linlog15

    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    January 24 2021

    This is by far one of our favorite meals. Excellent. Love it. will definitely do this one again and share the recipe.

    Great! So glad you love it!

  47. 197

    Denney

    February 24 2021

    Made this for the first time tonight. It was amazing! Great for a quick meal. I made one change though. My old man does not care for chicken thighs, so I used breast and add a little more butter to make up for the fat.

  48. 198

    Julie B

    May 18 2021

    frozen cauliflower or broccoli that you can steam in their bag is so worth a dollar or so. And frozen spinach is great because you can just grab a big handful and throw it in the pan with whatever you’re cooking. Way more convenient and no waste!

  49. 199

    POOINIE

    August 2 2021

    I need some clarification about number of servings. If I am cooking for my husband and I should I be selecting 2? I've noticed many recipes seem to be on auto-select for number of servings and I am never sure what I should end up with in terms of number of portions. Thanks.

    Reply: #201

  50. 200

    POOINIE

    August 2 2021

    EG this one is 8 servings which is huge for 2?!

  51. 201

    Reply to comment #199 by POOINIE

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    August 2 2021

    I need some clarification about number of servings. If I am cooking for my husband and I should I be selecting 2? I've noticed many recipes seem to be on auto-select for number of servings and I am never sure what I should end up with in terms of number of portions. Thanks.

    1 serving is intended to be 1 meal for 1 person. You can make as many servings as you would like and refrigerate or freeze any extra servings. All of our recipes offer the option to make fewer or more servings with the drop down selector above the list of ingredients.

  52. 202

    Miche Smith

    November 12 2021

    I've made this a few times now. Better in the dutch oven than the slow or pressure cooker device of your choosing. Tonight I used broccoli. I always use chicken thighs in bite sized pieces-no dryness that the breasts are so easy to become. SO good. I don't parboil the cauliflower or broccoli, I just throw it in before the chicken and bacon go back in to get it to the desired tenderness. I also use a whole pack of bacon, a couple boxes of fresh spinach, a couple pounds of chicken, a kinda big thing of whipping cream, about 8 big cloves of garlic. Comes out with a thick soup consistency that is divine. Great leftovers.

  53. 203

    Denise

    January 17 2022

    This is a nice recipe for a cold day. I added some sun-dried tomatoes and it was excellent. I recommend this recipe!! 😊

    Reply: #204

  54. 204

    Reply to comment #203 by Denise

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    January 17 2022

    This is a nice recipe for a cold day. I added some sun-dried tomatoes and it was excellent. I recommend this recipe!! 😊

    Thank you Denise, I am glad you enjoyed this dish!

  55. 205

    Jeannine

    February 10 2022

    This was absolutely fantastic. I made fettuccini for my family, who are not Keto, and reserved half the cauliflower to serve as my "noodles." It was a huge hit. Definitely going in the rotation. I also cheated and used pre-cooked chicken breast and it was still insanely yummy.

  56. 206

    Carole

    December 8 2022

    Excellent! I made it pretty much per the recipe except I cooked chicken breasts sous vide (45 minutes) and then cut it up. Then I briefly sautéed the garlic and cut up cooked chicken. Only thing I might want more of in the recipe is spinach. I bought a 5 oz bag of baby spinach but it didn't seem like much after cooking, so I think next time I'll use two 5-oz bags. Family loved the recipe.

    Reply: #207

  57. 207

    Reply to comment #206 by Carole

    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    December 8 2022

    Excellent! I made it pretty much per the recipe except I cooked chicken breasts sous vide (45 minutes) and then cut it up. Then I briefly sautéed the garlic and cut up cooked chicken. Only thing I might want more of in the recipe is spinach. I bought a 5 oz bag of baby spinach but it didn't seem like much after cooking, so I think next time I'll use two 5-oz bags. Family loved the recipe.

    Sounds great, Carole! So glad your family enjoyed it!

1 2 3 4

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Keto Cauliflower Chicken Alfredo Pasta - Recipe - Diet Doctor (2024)

FAQs

Is cauliflower allowed on a keto diet? ›

Cauliflower is the ultimate low carb vegetable — and yes, cauliflower is keto! One cup of florets has 5.3 grams of net carbs. You can replace so many starchy foods with cauliflower, especially potatoes, rice and savory baked goods. (See the other veggies you can eat on keto in the low carb food list.)

Can diabetics eat chicken fettuccine alfredo? ›

People with diabetes can eat pasta but should choose whole grain types or wheat alternatives. They must also consider portion size and what they choose to accompany the pasta. A person with diabetes needs to consider the types of carbohydrates, or carbs they choose to eat.

Is chicken alfredo carb? ›

Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo (1 Serving) contains 96g total carbs, 91g net carbs, 95g fat, 81g protein, and 1570 calories.

Can too much cauliflower kick you out of ketosis? ›

You do not have to limit vegetables if you are on the keto diet or are considering it. Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

What can you use to thicken sauces on keto? ›

You have a few options for thickening keto sauces and gravies. Many people use xanthan gum, but it tends to have a slimy quality. It also clumps very quickly so you have to whisk it in quickly. Another possible solution is cream cheese, but this changes the consistency.

What pasta is allowed in keto? ›

Keto, low-carb pasta can be made from a variety of vegetables including zucchini, spaghetti squash, and kelp. Or, look to alternatives like shirataki noodles and low-carb flours.

How many carbs to be kicked out of keto? ›

Eating more than 50 grams of carbs may disrupt ketosis.

Some people can eat more and still stay in ketosis, whereas others may need to restrict their carb intake more in order to stay in ketosis.

What pasta doesn t spike blood sugar? ›

Choose Whole-Grain Pasta

“Whole-grain pasta can be a great option because it offers more fiber, which can help blunt blood sugar spikes,” Smithson says. Many typical white pasta noodles are fashioned with semolina flour, which is made by grinding a type of wheat known as durum, according to Bob's Red Mill.

What kind of pasta is best for diabetics? ›

Whole wheat pasta is an excellent choice for diabetics as it contains whole grains. In addition to whole wheat pasta having a lower glycemic index than traditional pasta, whole wheat pasta also contains more fiber which can help to keep blood sugar levels in check.

Is orzo ok for diabetics? ›

Orzo and asparagus are low-glycemic foods, making this recipe great for those who need to control their blood sugar.

How many carbs are in Olive Garden chicken alfredo pasta? ›

1. Chicken alfredo
CaloriesFatCarbs
1,48094g95g

How many carbs are in one olive garden breadstick? ›

Olive Garden Breadstick (1 serving) contains 25g total carbs, 24g net carbs, 2.5g fat, 4g protein, and 140 calories.

How many carbs are in keto Alfredo sauce? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
531Calories
54gFat
4gCarbs
10gProtein
May 24, 2022

Can I eat a whole head of cauliflower on keto? ›

Whole roasted cauliflower is a delicious, Whole30-friendly, keto, and vegan side dish!

What are the top 10 keto foods? ›

These are the top 10 keto foods you should include if you're on...
  1. Salmon. Whether wild or farm-raised, salmon is rich in fat, making it an essential ketogenic diet staple. ...
  2. Eggs. This affordable protein and fat source is highly versatile. ...
  3. Cauliflower. ...
  4. Greens. ...
  5. Avocado. ...
  6. Nuts. ...
  7. Olive oil. ...
  8. Zucchini.

Which vegetable is not allowed in keto? ›

Potatoes and other starchy vegetables

While good sources of vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, white and sweet potatoes ought to be avoided on the keto diet because of their high carb content ( 45 , 46 ). Other nutritious but high carb vegetables to limit include peas and corn ( 47 , 48 ).

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