Finding a dish that checks all the boxes—quick, healthy, cheap, AND everyone actually eats it—feels like winning the lottery, right? I totally get it! That’s why I’m obsessed with this creamy skillet chicken. It’s my go-to for when I need Healthy Weeknight Dinners that skip the carbs without sacrificing comfort. This particular Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken recipe is amazing because it’s one of those rare meals that satisfies my low-carb goals while still making my notoriously picky youngest kid ask for seconds.
I spent nearly a month perfecting this one. I needed a recipe that worked for both low-carb eaters and picky plates! If it didn’t pass the ‘kid test’ in my house, it wasn’t making the blog. We tested different spices, adjusted the creaminess factor, and finally nailed the perfect balance. It’s simple, it’s fast, and it uses basic ingredients, making it one of those Cheap Dinners For A Family you’ll return to again and again. Trust me, this is going to be your new weekday lifesaver.
If you’re looking for a super simple, delicious keto-approved dish, you absolutely have to check out a similar option, my Keto Chicken Family Dinner Recipe, but for tonight, we’re sticking to this creamy, dreamy skillet version!
Why This Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken Works for Everyone
When I say this is a winner for everyone at the table, I really mean it. It’s truly about making dinner time easier, not harder. If you are looking for Healthy Weeknight Dinners that just *work* when things are hectic, this is it. We all deserve good food without spending an hour over the stove, right?
Here’s the breakdown on why this creamy chicken recipe is such a slam dunk for our family:
- Low Carb Compliance: We skip the pasta and rice entirely, relying on the rich Parmesan cream sauce and plenty of broccoli to keep the carbs super low. No weird flour thickeners here!
- Picky Eater Approved: The flavor profile is so simple—chicken, garlic, onion, Italian herbs—that it doesn’t have any strange textures or overwhelming spices that kids usually reject. It’s basically chicken Parmesan flavor without the breading!
- Speed Factor: This is a one-pan wonder that ticks all the boxes for Quick Dinner Ideas. Your total active time is less than 20 minutes, making it perfect for those nights you’re racing out the door to afternoon activities.
- Budget Friendly: Using chicken breasts and broth keeps the cost down, making this a fantastic contender for Cheap Dinners For A Family.
You can check out more inspiring Low Carb Chicken Recipes if you want other ideas, but once you try this simple creamy sauce, you won’t need to look far! If you want something similar but with a fun twist like tacos, my Chicken Taco Bowl Recipe is another go-to for our Kid Friendly Dinners rotation.
Ingredients for Your Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken
Okay, let’s talk about what you need! When I put together these Easy Dinner Recipes For Family, I always focus on clean, easy-to-find ingredients. Having everything measured and ready to go before you start cooking is the secret to keeping this recipe fast. Seriously, prepping takes 15 minutes, and the cooking is only 30, but only if your stuff is ready!
I broke the list down so you know exactly what hits the pan first and what goes into that luxurious sauce later. Don’t skip the grating on the cheese, because that powdery stuff just doesn’t melt right. This clarity is what keeps this from turning into a stressful, last-minute kitchen rescue mission!
For the Chicken and Seasoning
- 1.5 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, Cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
For the Creamy Sauce and Vegetables
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, Grated
- 1 cup Broccoli florets, Fresh or frozen
Step-by-Step Instructions for Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken
Okay, listen up! Making this into one of your new favorite Quick And Easy Dinner Recipes is all about layering flavor in the same pan. We aren’t dirtying a million dishes for this budget-friendly weeknight meal. The total cook time is around 30 minutes, but timing is everything, especially when you are searing that chicken! I want you to have all your veggies chopped and your spices measured before that oil even hits the heat. That’s how you keep things calm when you’re aiming for Healthy Easy Dinner Ideas.
If you’ve tried my Easy Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken, you know I love a simple process. This skillet method is even faster! Just follow these steps, and you’ll have a fantastic dinner on the table before you know it.
Seasoning and Browning the Chicken
First things first: season! Put all your cut-up chicken pieces in a bowl—mine are 1-inch chunks, but don’t stress about perfect sizing. Toss them with all those lovely spices: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Make sure every piece is nicely coated. We want flavor locked in!
Get your large skillet hot over medium-high heat and add your olive oil. Once it wiggles nicely, drop the chicken in. Don’t crowd the pan; cook it in shifts if you have to! We’re looking for a nice golden-brown sear on all sides, which takes about 6 to 8 minutes total. Once it’s cooked through, scoop that beautiful chicken out onto a plate and set it aside. Don’t wipe out the pan; those brown bits are liquid gold!
Building the Low Carb Sauce Base
This is where the magic happens and where we ditch the flour thickeners! Pour that chicken broth right into the hot skillet. Take a wooden spoon and gently scrape up all those flavorful brown bits stuck to the bottom—that’s called deglazing, and it adds tons of depth to our sauce. Let that come up to a gentle simmer.
Now, turn the heat down low. Pour in the heavy cream—oooh, here comes the richness! Then sprinkle in your grated Parmesan cheese. You need to whisk or stir continuously for about three minutes. Keep stirring until it thickens just enough that it coats the back of your spoon. It shouldn’t look watery anymore; it should look like a luxurious base for your Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken.
Finishing the Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken
Time for the green stuff! Drop your broccoli florets right into that simmering sauce. Let them cook uncovered for about 5 minutes. You want them tender, but still firm—tender-crisp is the magic word. If you overcook them here, they get sad, and we don’t want sad broccoli.
Finally, bring your browned chicken back home to the skillet. Stir everything gently so the chicken and broccoli get coated in that amazing cheesy sauce. Just let it heat through for one or two more minutes. That’s it! Dinner is basically done. Smell that? That’s dinner success!
Tips for Making This Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken a Success
If you want this Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken to be a hit every time, a couple of little tricks really make a difference. The searing step for the chicken is so important. Don’t just cook it—get some nice color on those cubes! That browning creates the fond we scrape up later for the sauce, which is honestly where half the flavor comes from. Make sure your heat is up but not smoking!
When you add the Parmesan cheese to the cream, keep that heat low. If you rush it or crank the stove up, the sauce can split and look grainy instead of smooth and creamy. Low and slow at that stage saves you from sad-looking sauce, which is a huge problem when serving Kid Friendly Dinners!
For the kids who turn their nose up at anything that isn’t plain chicken, keep those components separate when you serve, just like I mentioned in the notes. We want them to eat, not negotiate! You can even whip up a batch of my guide on sautéing garlic if you want to try adding that later for an extra kick, but keep their portion simple.
Serving Suggestions for Your Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken
Okay, now you have this gorgeous, creamy chicken! Since we designed this whole Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken recipe to be low-carb, we need smart sides. I love pairing this with a big bed of steamy cauliflower rice. It soaks up that extra Parmesan sauce beautifully! Seriously, zucchini noodles (or zoodles) are another fantastic texture option; they hold up well to the sauce without getting soggy.
But remember what I said about the picky plates? For those little ones resisting veggies, just serve them the chicken as is, maybe with some simple, plain cauliflower rice on the side. No pressure! Keeping the components separate is sometimes the easiest way we find success for Kid Friendly Dinners. If you’re looking for another fun vegetable side, you have to try my Easy Zucchini Carrot Fritters recipe!
If you are looking for more inspiration on healthy eating, there are tons of great ideas over at Eat Well 101, but once you nail this creamy skillet method, you probably won’t stray far!
Storage and Reheating for This Easy Dinner Recipe For Family
Even though this Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken disappears fast, sometimes you get lucky and have leftovers! And that’s amazing, because that means lunch tomorrow is basically made. You know I love those Lazy Dinners that stretch into the next day!
When you put leftovers away, make sure you cool the skillet mixture fairly quickly. Pop it into a good airtight container—I usually get about three good portions out of a batch. It keeps wonderfully in the fridge for up to three days. If you’re planning ahead for even faster meals next week, this recipe freezes well too, though I always suggest freezing the chicken and sauce separately from any delicate veggies.
For reheating, the stovetop is your best friend. It keeps that creamy sauce from breaking! Heat it gently over medium-low heat, stirring often. If it looks a little thick after chilling, just add a tiny splash of broth or water to bring it back to life. It turns those Quick Dinner Ideas into a 5-minute reheat job!
If you want another dump-and-go style meal for leftovers later in the week, you should check out my Dump and Go Asian Chicken Dinner; planning successful Quick And Easy Dinner Recipes means setting yourself up for success!
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken
I always get a ton of great questions when I post a recipe that needs to work for everyone, especially when you’re trying to keep things low carb and budget-friendly! These are the things I thought about most when testing this dish, hoping to make it the perfect answer for your Healthy Easy Dinner Ideas list.
Can I substitute the heavy cream in this Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken?
You sure can, but you need to know that cream is what makes that sauce so stable and rich! If you absolutely must substitute, full-fat canned coconut cream is your best bet for maintaining the body. It might give a *tiny* hint of coconut flavor we don’t usually want, but it works in a pinch for a weeknight throw-together. Just don’t try using milk; it’ll water down that beautiful Parmesan sauce way too much!
What other vegetables work well in this recipe?
Oh, this recipe is so flexible, which helps when you’re trying out Healthy Dinner Ideas For Family! Broccoli handles the heat really well, but sliced mushrooms would be amazing thrown in right when you deglaze the pan—they soak up all that broth flavor. If you use spinach, though, toss it in right at the very end, just before returning the chicken, because spinach wilts down to almost nothing in about 60 seconds.
How do I make this recipe stretch further for a larger family?
That’s a fantastic question, especially if you’re focusing on Cheap Dinners For A Family! The easiest way to bulk this up while keeping it low carb is to simply increase the volume of the vegetables. Double the broccoli! Or, if you have some on hand, adding a cup of cauliflower rice directly into the skillet when you add the broccoli will bulk up the sauce beautifully without adding any extra cost or carbs. Scaling the entire recipe (chicken, broth, cream) by 1.5 times also works perfectly, just watch your pan size!
If you are looking for more inspiration on simple, tasty keto meals, check out some of the great ideas pinned on Low Carb Yum’s Pinterest board. For quick dips and sides to round out a meal, I always refer back to my Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe!
Estimated Nutritional Profile for Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken
When we create Healthy Meal Ideas that are low in net carbs, the macros are almost as important as the taste, right? I know so many of you track carefully, so I made sure to run the numbers for this creamy skillet dish. This profile is based on 4 servings, using all the ingredients listed in the recipe. It’s a great way to see how this easily fits into a low-carb or keto lifestyle without feeling deprived!
Just remember that these are estimates! How you serve it matters a lot. If you use a slightly different type of Parmesan or maybe let the sauce simmer longer, these numbers can shift ever so slightly. But generally, this hits the mark for a satisfying, high-protein, low-carb dinner.
For your reference, here is the snapshot of what you are looking at, per serving:
- Calories: 450
- Carbohydrates: 8g (This is *total* carbs, giving you great net carb potential depending on your fiber intake!)
- Protein: 45g (Hello, muscle building!)
- Fat: 25g
What I love about these stats is the protein count—it’s seriously high, which keeps us feeling full until the next meal. It’s honestly one of my favorite aspects of serving up Healthy Easy Dinner Ideas For Family; you know everyone is getting real fuel. If you’re looking for something even lighter for a midday meal, you might enjoy my quick Healthy Snack Plate Recipe, but for dinner, this chicken really shines.
For more inspiration on beautiful, clean eating designs, you can always check out the amazing collection of Low Carb Recipes over at Ambitious Kitchen!
Share Your Thoughts on This Healthy Easy Dinner Idea
And that’s it, folks! We’ve gone from raw chicken to a fully finished, absolutely delicious, Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken dinner that everyone at your table—from the committed veggie-eater to the carb-counter—can enjoy without complaint. That’s what I call a win for Healthy Easy Dinner Ideas!
Now that you’ve tried it (or maybe you’re planning to make it this week!), I desperately want to hear what you thought! Did your picky eater surprise you and clean the plate? Did you serve it over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles? Drop a quick rating down below so other busy parents can see how reliable this recipe is.
If you have any questions about substitutions or tweaks, or if you just want to say hello, please hop over to the contact page! I read every comment, and sharing your kitchen success stories is truly my favorite part of this job. Seeing how this recipe travels from my kitchen to yours is the best feeling.
Happy Cooking!
By Emily Mitchell, Efficiency & Testing Coordinator at Recipes by Betty.
Family Friendly Low Carb Chicken
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Cutting board
Ingredients
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1.5 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken breasts Cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
Sauce
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese Grated
- 1 cup Broccoli florets Fresh or frozen
Instructions
- Place the chicken pieces in a bowl. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Pour the chicken broth into the same skillet. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the broth to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until the sauce thickens slightly. This takes about 3 minutes.
- Add the broccoli florets to the sauce. Cook until the broccoli is tender-crisp, about 5 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir to coat the chicken and broccoli in the sauce. Heat through for 1 to 2 minutes before serving.