This easy recipe for cheesy bacon ranch chicken recipe turns plain chicken into something special! Don't forget to add a little teriyaki and ranch dressing to really boost the flavor of this chicken dinner recipe.
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A few things always taste amazing together, no matter how you cook them: bacon, cheese, and ranch. Thankfully, all three of those things fit into a low-carb lifestyle!
So, I wanted to create a recipe that uses them, and I wanted it to be a filling dinner. What I ended up making is a family-friendly meal that everyone is going to want more of!
The best thing about making a recipe like this bacon ranch chicken is that you can eat the entire meal with your family. You don't need to make any substitutions or replacements to make your portion low-carb.
No one can even tell this is a keto recipe, especially if you cover it in cheese and bacon!
Ingredients Needed For Bacon Ranch Chicken
There are only 5 simple ingredients in this chicken recipe. In fact, after you make it a few times, you'll probably have it memorized. It's that simple!
Bacon
On the low-carb diet, you should always use sugar-free bacon. Don't use maple-cured or any bacon that has sugar in the ingredients.
Chicken
For this dinner recipe, I used frozen chicken breasts. I find them to be affordable, and they last a long time in the freezer! Honestly, this recipe will taste just as delicious with boneless and skinless chicken thighs too.
Cheese
While you could go for store-bought shredded cheese, I prefer to shred my own cheese because pre-packaged shredded cheese is covered in starches to keep it from lumping together.
Not a fan of cheddar cheese? Try mixing things up and use a different type of cheese! For a little spicy bite, use some pepper jack cheese. If you want a really creamy melt on top, use mozzarella.
Spices
I used both teriyaki sauce and homemade keto ranch dressing. I prefer to make my own ranch dressing and low-carb teriyaki sauce because I can control how many carbs they have in them.
If you go the store-bought route, make sure to buy keto-friendly sauces that contain ZERO sugar and are within your carb count.
Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low carb recipe.
Quick Tips:
- Pre-cook the bacon. This will save you time in the kitchen and shave off a few minutes of meal prep.
- Don't have teriyaki sauce on hand? If you are all out of teriyaki sauce, you can easily sub it out for some coconut aminos! This will also make the chicken gluten-free.
- Serve with a dipping sauce. The baked chicken comes out nice and juicy, but it is still fun to dip the pieces into the sauce. Some of my favorites are sugar-free ketchup and low-carb BBQ sauce.
How To Make Bacon Cheddar Chicken In The Oven
Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post to read the entire list of instructions but here is a quick step-by-step to help you get started.
This is one of the easiest dinner recipes you will ever make!
Butterfly The Chicken
Before you do anything, start out by cutting the chicken breasts in half (or "butterflying them") into really thin slices.
Note: If you bought chicken tenders, then you can skip this step.
Brown The Chicken On Both Sides
After you have thin slices, brown the chicken on both sides. It does not have to be completely cooked. You just want the outsides to be crispy - it will fully cook in the oven.
Baste With Teriyaki Sauce
Then, baste the chicken with the teriyaki sauce. You could also let the chicken sit in the teriyaki sauce and marinate overnight in the fridge. That will really infuse it with the flavors even more!
Top With Ranch, Cheese, and Bacon
After you've basted the chicken, sprinkle the ranch dressing on top. Then, cover the chicken with shredded cheese and bacon.
It's ready to bake!
After the chicken is cooked through, serve and enjoy.
What To Serve With Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken
This meal is basically the main dish, so you'll need some side dishes to make it a complete meal.
My family loves to eat some oven-roasted broccoli and cauliflower as a healthy side dish when making this bacon ranch chicken.
I personally love to make some garlic mashed "potatoes", subbing out the potatoes for cauliflower. It's such a comforting dish!
Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Ranch Chicken With Bacon And Cheese
Before we get to the recipe card just a little further below, here are some questions people ask about cheddar bacon chicken.
Can you freeze this chicken dinner?
Yes, this is a fantastic recipe to make ahead and freeze!
Here's how to freeze it:
- Follow the steps in the recipe card, then let the chicken cool off completely.
- Keep the chicken in a freezer-safe container that seals airtight. The chicken should be stored in a single layer.
- Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When you are ready to reheat it, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, bake it at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes.
If I know I am going to freeze it, I prefer to bake the chicken in a disposable aluminum pan that comes with a freezer-safe lid.
Is ranch dressing keto?
Yes, most ranch dressings are keto-friendly. But, just in case; always check the back of the label and read the ingredients. You want to use a dipping sauce or dressing that doesn't have any added sugars and is low in carbs.
This is why I prefer to make homemade keto ranch dressing.
How do I know if the chicken is fully cooked?
Always use a cooking thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. A chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Is there a keto-friendly pasta I can add to the chicken for a casserole?
If you wanted to chop up the chicken and make a pasta casserole, I suggest using zucchini noodles. These are very low in carbs and have tons of beneficial nutrients too.
Why settle for plain old chicken when you can top it with yummy bacon and cheddar? It's a similar recipe to cream cheese stuffed chicken but is a little easier to prepare.
This easy baked bacon ranch chicken recipe will certainly make any meal special. My husband loved it and he is super picky about his food!
You can bet I'll be putting this delicious bacon cheddar chicken on our low-carb, high-fat diet meal plan more often.
More Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this bacon ranch chicken recipe, then you will enjoy these keto chicken dinner ideas too. They are some of my favorites!
- Filipino Chicken Adobo has been my husband's favorite since we first met. It has small bites of chicken in a tangy sauce.
- Crock Pot Crack Chicken also has the same combination of ranch and bacon but in your slow cooker.
- Baked Chicken Stuffed Avocado is a delicious lunch recipe that is full of healthy fats.
- Keto Mexican Chicken Soup is a slow cooker recipe that has spicy peppers in a hearty broth.
- Keto Fried Chicken can be made in the air fryer or in your oven.
Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!
Recipe
Cheddar Bacon Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 large skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoons teriyaki basting sauce 2g carbs
- 2 tablespoons Ranch-style salad dressing 2g carbs
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 3 slices no sugar bacon cooked & broken into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Butterfly chicken breasts into thinner slices.
- Lightly brown each piece in hot oil for about 8-10 minutes.
- Place in 9×13 baking dish.
- Brush teriyaki sauce evenly over top of chicken, then cover evenly with Ranch dressing.
- Sprinkle cheese and bacon on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Notes
- Teriyaki Sauce at Low Carb Yum
- Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce at Asian Keto Kitchen
- Follow the steps in the recipe card, then let the chicken cool off completely.
- Keep the chicken in a freezer-safe container that seals airtight. The chicken should be stored in a single layer.
- Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When you are ready to reheat it, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, bake it at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
First published on January 26, 2011. Updated on March 30, 2021, with new images and additional recipe tips.
Emily Kemp
Drooling at this it looks delicious...can't go wrong with bacon and cheese. I'd love this with salad.
Brittany
My oven just broke today. Can this be grilled? Also, anything besides teriyaki that would taste good? Can I just do there ranch, cheese, and bacon?
Lisa
You can just leave the teriyaki out. And yes, you can put it on the grill. Just add the topping toward the end of cooking.
Mickie Gibbs
WOW! This is an instant favorite! While you can't go wrong with ranch, cheese, and bacon, I think the teriyaki was the awesome sauce! This was so moist and yummy; I can't wait to make it again!
Amber
What is left over bacon. I've never seen this before!
Lisa
It does happen. At least in our house.
Shay
I'd love to know the brand of teriyaki sauce you found that has so few carbs. I make my own because all the grocery store sauces have more sugar than a Snickers bar. If others have the same problem, here's what I do for sugar-free teriyaki, which I found I know not where and adapted to our own tastes. The amount of Sriracha Sauce in the original set my eyebrows on fire.
Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce
2 tablespoons dry sherry (optional, but adds so much flavor)
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
4 tablespoons chicken broth
4 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha Sauce aka Rooster Sauce (or more if you're brave)
1 squirt Dasani Water Drops - Pineapple, Coconut
1 squirt Dasani Water Drops - Orange (go easy on this one)
1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
1 teaspoon ginger root, grated
1/2 teaspoon Xanthan gum or your favorite low carb thickener; add ¼ teaspoon at a time.
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine sauce ingredients through ginger root. Stir to combine. Dust in thickening powder and whisk like crazy to prevent clumping. Let sauce sit. It will thicken up as it sits. If it gets too thick, add a tablespoon of additional chicken stock. If still too thin, sprinkle in a tiny bit of thickener, whisk and wait. Let this sit for at least a couple of hours before using.
Lisa
I made my own. There is also a great low carb teriyaki sauce recipe at Fluffy Chix Cook which is the one I like to use now.
Mickie Gibbs
The Kikkoman Teriyaki marinade (NOT basting sauce) has 2 g carb per serving.
Nicole
Hi, this looks amazing!! Would you happen to have the nutritional facts on this recipe, I would love to make it for my family. Thanks 🙂
Lisa
Just calculated and got the following per serving: 298 calories, 20.8g fat, 740mg sodium, 1.7g carb, 25.3g protein
Nickie
How many grams of protein and fiber?
Lisa
No fiber and about 33g protein per serving. I added a nutrition label under the recipe.