Keto Garlic Basil Chicken with Tomato Sauce (Easy Low Carb Recipe)

Looking for a gourmet keto dinner without all of the meal prep that goes into fancy gourmet dinners? This keto garlic basil chicken recipe is simple, but has so much flavor.

 

The sweet flavors from the marinara sauce mix with healthy fats to make this a go-to low carb meal on busy weeknights. With two ways to cook this delicious recipe, this might become a keto diet staple in your low carb meal plan.

Before I show you just how easy keto cooking can be, I wanted to let you know this blog contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you click through. I also link to the info that helped me lose 100 pounds with an easy low-carb diet. Keep an eye out for those links so the info can help you too!

 

Garlic Basil Chicken Ingredients

This recipe is one of my favorites since it’s low in net carbs and requires minimal ingredients.

Chicken breasts are the star of the whole dish. Keep in mind that the quality of the meat you use far exceeds the type of chicken you choose. If all you have on hand are boneless chicken thighs, those will work too.

When it comes to low carb chicken recipes, I prefer organic chicken whenever possible. Conventionally raised meats have too many toxins – exactly the thing you want to avoid when cleaning up your diet. If it’s hard to source organic meats from local grocery stores, Butcher Box is a great option. They deliver high quality, grass-fed meats right to your door step.

The seasoning mix for most of my keto chicken recipes is simple, but gives the chicken tons of flavor. I typically go with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. It’s basic, but always makes for a good recipe – no matter which other ingredients are involved.

Since I recently developed a sensitivity to pepper, I leave that one out these days. If you have allergies or preferences when it comes to keto recipes, it’s OK for you to leave ingredients out as well. Even though that seems obvious, sometimes it’s best to spell the simple things out to avoid making healthy meals you don’t enjoy.

 

Garlic Basil Sauce

The sauce for this recipe is also simple, and adds another layer of garlic to the meal. If you don’t feel the urge to fight off vampires quite as much as I do, feel free to cut some of the garlic from this recipe.

Ingredients you’ll need for the sauce include low sugar marinara, butter, minced garlic, olive oil, and basil.

When choosing the sauce, finding a sauce low in sugar is important. Equally important is to check the label for inflammatory vegetable oils like sunflower oil. Food manufacturers sneak these highly processed vegetable oils into everything – and this keeps keto dieters stuck!

My favorite sauces that use olive oil or avocado oil instead of vegetable oils are Rao’s or Primal Kitchen.

When it comes to the basil and garlic, it’s up to you to choose fresh vs. simple. You can either use the real thing, as in fresh basil and chop garlic cloves for the sauce, or you can keep this recipe really simple by using minced garlic from a jar and Italian basil flakes.

While fresh basil leaves make a flavorful meal, if I’m in a hurry then dried basil flakes will do! Remember – keep keto meals simple so you stick with keto.

 

Two Ways to Cook Garlic Basil Chicken

There are several ways to make this simple keto recipe. You can turn it into a keto chicken skillet recipe, or bake the chicken while preparing the sauce on the stovetop. On occasion, I even make this recipe in the slow cooker. It all depends on how much time I have to whip up a low carb meal.

Let’s quickly review the first two cooking methods since those are the methods I use most often.

 

Keto Skillet Chicken

If you’re short on time, this is your best option. It only takes a few minutes to brown the chicken. You can do this while the sauce flavors blend together.

First, melt enough butter to cover the bottom of a large nonstick skillet. Heat over medium heat so the butter doesn’t burn. Slice the chicken into one inch thick filets and season both sides.

Once the butter is hot, fry the chicken until it is golden brown on both sides and it’s white in the middle. This should take around 5-6 minutes per side.

 

Baked Chicken

If you prefer to bake the chicken, then preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. Then season chicken on both sides and add in a single layer into the dish. I cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise to cut the cooking time. The thicker they are, the longer they will take to bake.

Bake the chicken into the preheated oven until it is fully cooked. This should take between 25 – 45 minutes, depending on how thick the chicken is. You’ll know it’s ready when the juices run clear. You can also use a meat thermometer to check if it’s 165 degrees in the center.

 

Garlic Basil Sauce

Start the sauce as the chicken cooks to allow time for the flavors to blend together. First, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. As the butter melts, add minced garlic to the saucepan. Allow a few minutes for the garlic to lightly brown. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

Once the garlic is lightly browned, stir in the low sugar marinara sauce and basil. Simmer over low-medium heat until the chicken is ready. Stir on occasion. Then remove from heat before stirring in the olive oil.

 

Combine and Serve

No matter which method you chose to cook the chicken, once it’s fully cooked, top the chicken generously with sauce and serve. If you saved up less carbs for the end of the day, you can adjust the macros on this meal by using a smaller amount of sauce.

You can make this recipe your own with the addition of a few ingredients. Topping the main dish with parmesan cheese is one way to mix up this recipe. If you like a little spice, sprinkle a few crushed red pepper flakes over the completed meal.

While our family typically eats this as an all-in-one meal, you can serve this dish with a variety of low carb pasta replacements. Spaghetti squash and zucchini noodles both make great pasta replacements. This meal would even be great served on top of a bed of cauliflower rice. Another possibility is to serve with a side of lightly sauteed bell peppers.

 

The Keto Garlic Basil Chicken Wrap Up

Quick recipes that are simple and delicious are the best way to stick to your keto meal plan. Chicken recipes are high protein meals that will keep you feeling fuller longer. As long as your insulin isn’t too sensitive while following a keto diet, they’re a great addition to help keep weight loss on keto feel easy.

Looking for more keto meals with an Italian flair? Check out one of our family favorites – sweet and spicy spaghetti sauce. Or, add a little heavy cream to turn this quick meal into a low carb spaghetti option with a garlic cream sauce.

Don’t forget to save this recipe to your easy keto chicken meals on Pinterest. And sharing is caring – please share the healthy fat love on your favorite social media platform.

 

Keep scrolling for the recipe card and nutrition information.

 

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Keto Garlic Basil Chicken

More Low Carb Chicken Recipes from Eating Fat is the New Skinny:

 Chicken Bacon Bruschetta

Chicken Bacon Alfredo

Mediterranean Chicken Breasts

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