Protecting Your Pennies

Buy Smart. Plan. Play

Keto

30 Minute Keto/THM S Cheesy Salsa Chicken With Cauli Rice

by 36 Comments

This Keto/THM S Cheesy Salsa Chicken With Cauli Rice will be on your table in 30 minutes. 
Easy Green Salsa Chicken with Cauliflower rice Recipe - Keto- low carb - Trim Healthy Mama S Meal

Easy and quick are what I need these days in order to stay on track. This creamy, cheesy sauce is rich and decadent (and covers the taste of the cauliflower rice). I know this goes against the new rage of low carb cauliflower rice but I just can’t get on board , UNLESS it is covered in some cheesy goodness! I can get on board with anything that is swimming in cheese and salsa.

This cheesy salsa chicken with cauli rice meal will fit with your Keto/low carb/THM S lifestyle and is also pretty budget friendly! I made it for less than the cost of 2 value meals at a fast food restaurant.

I love this cheesy salsa chicken with cauli rice meal because you only need a few ingredients and they are all pretty shelf stable or long lasting. Pull out some frozen chicken tenderloins, riced cauliflower, a bottle of salsa verde and a block of cream cheese and you are ready to make a quick dinner that will conform with your low carb lifestyle.

Keto Creamy Salsa Verde Chicken And Cauli Rice

Pin this recipe for later here! 

Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information. 

30 Minute Keto/THM S Cheesy Salsa Chicken With Cauli Rice

When you start a low carb lifestyle, cauliflower rice is almost always suggested. And while it is a great way to fill up your plate and bulk up your nutrition, I didn’t love it. But I found that if I layer it in delicious cheese and spicy salsa it turns into a great base for chicken. 

And now cauliflower rice finds a way to get into a bunch of my meals & I’m not sad about it! I recently made a really yummy (and totally easy) 20 minute Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip casserole that turns your favorite appetizer into an easy weeknight meal. Pin it here for later.

Cooking Directions for Keto Salsa Verde Chicken & Queso Cauliflower RiceSalsa Cream Cheese Cauliflower Rice

The first thing you want to do is make sure you have your cream cheese softening up so it will melt nicely in your sauce. Next, get your chicken tenders cooking.

Chicken Tenders in pan

I added a little pepper and some fajita seasoning that I had on hand. If you are a Trim Healthy Mama purist (I am not) you may want to ensure that it fits within the guidelines. I love the overall method of THM but I just kind of go with the flow and don’t mind an off plan ingredient here or there. You could make your own seasoning that would fit into the plan perfectly.

Browned chicken in panGet your chicken completely cooked and then remove it from the pan. Cover it with some foil if you are worried about it getting too cold but the sauce comes together pretty quickly.

Make The Cheesy Queso Sauce:

Next, you want to take your softened cream cheese and cut it into fourths. This will help it to melt a little quicker.

Cream cheese cut cubes

Now you need to add your bottle of Salsa verde. Cook it over medium-low heat until the cream cheese is completely melted.

Salsa verde and cream cheese

Once the sauce comes together, add your cooked chicken back on top for a minute or two. Just make sure the sauce and chicken are warm.

cheesy chicken verde

While the chicken is mixing with the sauce, put your cauliflower rice in the microwave. Cook according to the directions. Then layer the cauli rice, cheesy salsa verde sauce and chicken. The result is a satisfying cheesy chicken with cauli rice meal that will make you forget about carbs!

Serve It Up:

Cheesy Salsa Verde Chicken Plated The way that I prepared it, there was enough for a dinner and I ate the leftovers for lunch the next day. I did have a bit of unused sauce so if you added more chicken, the sauce could stretch farther since it is so rich. I have also wrapped this meal up into a green salsa queso drenched enchilada that is a family favorite! Pin it!

Print Recipe
 Cheesy Salsa Verde Chicken with Cauliflower Rice
Course Main Dish
Keyword Keto, Trim Healthy Mama S
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Main Dish
Keyword Keto, Trim Healthy Mama S
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken tenders to the skillet and season with the fajita seasoning. Cook your chicken completely and remove from pan. Cover with foil to keep warm.
Cheesy Salsa Verde Sauce
  1. Reduce heat to Medium/low.
  2. Cut the softened cream cheese into fourths and add it to the pan.
  3. Add the bottle of Salsa verde.
  4. Stir occasionally until the cream cheese is completely melted and the salsa is well incorporated.
  5. Add the chicken tenderloins on top of the completed sauce for 1-2 minutes to warm it all together.
Recipe Notes

To serve, place 1 cup cooked Cauliflower rice at the bottom of a bowl, spoon the cheesy salsa verde sauce on top of the rice and top with the desired number of chicken tenderloins.

Salsa Verde Queso Chicken with Cauliflower Rice for Keto Diet, Low Carb, Trim Healthy Mama S

Follow my low carb / THM food diary on Instagram!

If you like this cheesy salsa chicken with cauli rice meal, check out these other top THM/Keto recipes:

Mac and Cheese Zoodles

Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Leftover Low Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Cover

Smoked Salmon Topped Popper

Low Carb Keto THM S Smoked Salmon Topped Jalapeno Popper

Protein Packed Meat/Cheese Roll Up Salad

Protein packed low carb keto THM S Salad

$5 Chicken Sausage & Vegetables Grill Meal

$5 Healthy Summer Meal (1)

If you are curious about Trim Healthy Mama, read about how it helped me lose 22 lbs. postpartum here. And if you need a super easy 2 minute Keto microwave egg breakfast, find that simple scramble recipe at this link.

20 Minute Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole (THM S)

by Leave a Comment

Precooked chicken, wing sauce and ranch make this Keto buffalo chicken dip casserole quick, easy and delicious!

Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole

Buffalo chicken dip is something I have made so many times that I can do it with my eyes closed. I even included it in this huge list of Keto friendly dips that you can serve with pork rinds. It is a household favorite around here.

The dip is one obsession. The newish Tyson unbreaded buffalo chicken strips are my other obsession. I slapped them together, added a veggie and created this simple Keto buffalo chicken dip casserole that bakes in just 20 minutes. 

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Pin Our Most Popular Keto Recipe for Later – Chicken tenders with Salsa Verde Queso “Rice” (A 30 minute meal)

20 Minute Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole (THM S)

Buffalo Chicken Strips with Buffalo Wing dip Cauli Rice Casserole

Cauliflower rice is combined with traditional buffalo chicken dip ingredients to create a creamy base for this casserole. Next, you layer the super convenient Tyson buffalo strips on top of the cauli rice. Bake it & enjoy. It really is that easy. 

It reminds me of a chicken and rice entree meets buffalo chicken dip appetizer. So so good. 

Here is what you need for this Keto buffalo chicken dip bake:

And let’s just talk about these Tyson unbreaded buffalo tenders (you’ll thank me later). They are amazing! It is our go to “didn’t cook & have no plan” meal after a busy day. And all my Trim Healthy Mama friends – they are approved and “on plan.”

They are precooked so all you have to do is heat them in the oven or my preferred method, the air fryer. We eat them on salads, low carb tortillas for a quick wrap and even on pasta. 

If you like these buffalo, don’t forget to try the blackened strips too. Just as good! 

Buffalo Cauli Rice Casserole Prepped

Cooking Keto for One or For Two 

I am listing instructions in the recipe for one person and for a couple. 

My sweet husband despises cauliflower rice and won’t try anything that includes it. So I made this just for me. Since it is so easy & virtually any real cooking, I whipped it up for an easy lunch. 

I’ve also added measurements if you want to make it for two. And if your whole family would eat it (my littles won’t eat spicy or cauliflower or ranch or anything HA), you could easily double the couples recipe to get a casserole that would feed 4. 

Assembling the Low Carb Wing Sauce Chicken Casserole 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray your casserole dish with olive oil. (This is the casserole dish that I used when making the recipe for one & it works perfectly.)

Add the cauliflower rice, ranch, buffalo sauce, cream cheese and shredded cheese into the casserole dish and mix until combined. 

Ranch & Wing Sauce with Cauliflower Rice

Next, place the Tyson buffalo strips on top of the cauliflower base.

Frozen Tyson Unbreaded Buffalo Strips on Cauli rice

Bake for 18-20 minutes until the chicken is warm and the cheesy cauliflower is bubbling on the sides slightly. 

Serve with fresh celery for scooping up the extra rice!

Wing Sauce Cauliflower dip & Chicken Strips

Check out this Healthy Buffalo Chicken Chili – THM E

I’d love to be Instagram friends! Follow my Low Carb/Keto/THM Food diary here.

Print Recipe
 Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole
Servings
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole for 1
Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole for 2
Servings
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole for 1
Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole for 2
Instructions
  1. Refer to either the measurements for a casserole for 1 or 2 people to ensure the correct portions. Double the ingredients for 2 if you want a casserole for a family of 4.
  2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  3. Combine all ingredients except the chicken in a small prepared casserole dish.
  4. Top the buffalo cauliflower mixture with the frozen chicken tenders.
  5. Bake for 18-22 minutes until chicken is hot and the cauliflower rice is lightly bubbly on the outside.

Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole (1)

Keto Peanut Butter Pie With Chocolate Cookie Crust (THM S)

by Leave a Comment

Believe me when I tell you that this Keto peanut butter pie with chocolate cookie crust is a low carb game changer!

The creamy peanut butter filling and oreo style cookie crust will make you feel like you are cheating but you totally aren’t! 

Keto THM S Peanut Butter Pie

Peanut butter has been on my mind lately. Ok, when is it not? I love peanut butter. I’ve been eating eat by the spoonful since I was a little kid. 

And since PB has been on my mind, I compiled a list of Keto/Low Carb/ THM approved peanut butter options at the store and then made some amazing buckeye style peanut butter bars. But when I needed one more dessert for Thanksgiving dinner, a pie was the only thing that seemed to fit.

This Keto peanut butter pie with chocolate cookie crust is a no bake dessert that is easy to make & it tastes delicious. 

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Keto Peanut Butter Pie With Chocolate Cookie Crust (THM S)

To make this Keto peanut butter pie with chocolate cookie crust you will need to make a quick no bake crust and then the creamy peanut butter filling. Chill the pie & you are ready to eat. It’s that easy. 

Trim Healthy Mama Peanut Butter Pie Dessert

The Chocolate Cookie No Bake Crust

To make the crust, you need the help of a store bought, on plan cookie. If you have never tried the HighKey cookie brand, they are really good as is. 

But when you crush them up, add some melted butter & a wasa cracker they turn into the perfect cookie crust. 

What you need:

Just dump the brownie bites and Wasa into your blender and crush until they are reduced to crumbs. Add the melted butter to the crumbs and mix. 

The batter will look grainy and like a thin store bought frosting for the consistency. Don’t worry, it will work! 

Press the pie crust into an aluminum or glass pie plate. Stick it in the fridge or freezer to set up while you make the filling. 

Keto/Low Carb Peanut Butter Pie Filling

First, beat the cream cheese until it is whipped and creamy. 

Next, you will add in the sugar free peanut butter and Swerve sweetener. Beat until it is all combined. 

Finally you will add in the heavy whipping cream. Beat it to combine at first. Then turn the mixer up to high and whip it until it is a thick, whipped cream consistency.

Sugar Free Peanut Butter Pie filling with a Chocolate Cookie No Bake Crust

Spread the peanut butter pie filling into the HighKey crust. Refrigerate for about 4-6 hours or overnight. 

Serve this Keto peanut butter pie with chocolate cookie crust with homemade whipped cream or FF Reddi Whip if you are a drive thru Sue. 

Peanut Butter Pie - Low Carb

Print Recipe
 Keto Peanut Butter Pie With Chocolate Cookie Crust (THM S)
Servings
Ingredients
Chocolate Cookie Crust
Peanut Butter Filling
Servings
Ingredients
Chocolate Cookie Crust
Peanut Butter Filling
Instructions
  1. Melt the butter in a medium bowl.
  2. Crush the High Key brownie bite cookies and Wasa cracker. Combine them with the butter.The mixture will look grainy and will resemble slightly runny frosting. (don't worry it works!)
  3. Press the mixture into a standard pie plate and place in the fridge or freezer to set up while you make the peanut butter filling.
  4. Beat the cream cheese in your stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer.
  5. Add the peanut butter and Swerve and beat until combined.
  6. Add the HWC and beat until combined on low & then beat on high to whip it up to a thicker consistency.
  7. Spread into the High Key cookie Crust. Refrigerate for at least a few hours (best overnight).
  8. Garnish with homemade whipped cream and Stevia sweetened chocolate chips if desired.

Keto Peanut Butter Bars (THM S)

by Leave a Comment

Peanut butter and chocolate are hands down the best dessert combo ever in my book. And being able to eat pb and chocolate and lose weight at the same time is amazing. 

These Keto peanut butter bars taste like buckeye balls without the hassle.

Keto THM S Peanut Butter Bars 

Peanut butter balls are a favorite of mine at Christmas time. They have the perfect ratio of peanut butter to chocolate and you can eat them with your hands! 

And while I love those buckeye balls, I don’t love the sugar and the time that they take to make. You have to form 700 balls of peanut butter mixture and then hand dip every one. 

It takes forever. But these Keto peanut butter balls get rid of the sugar and the time suck. They are quick but just as tasty as their peanut butter ball competitor. 

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.) 

Keto Peanut Butter Bars (THM S)

Keto Peanut Butter Ball Bites

A thick semi-sweet chocolate layer is topped with a creamy and sweet peanut butter layer for the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter. 

These Keto peanut butter bars are really rich so I cut them into small pieces. Although I feel like I could eat the whole pan, after a couple of bites of this decadent dessert you’ll be satisfied. 

What You Need for Sugar Free Peanut Butter Bars

Making the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

Peanut Butter Bites for Trim Healthy Mama - S _ Low Carb

These peanut butter bites are so much easier than peanut butter balls! 

Simply melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a double boiler. You can probably do it in the microwave too but I’ve ruined one too many bags of chocolate in the microwave so I just do it on the stove. It doesn’t require much more time & I pay attention to it more when it is on the stove. 

Once the chocolate and oil is melted, spread it in an 8×8 pan that is lined with parchment paper. Place it in the fridge to set up while you work on the peanut butter mix. 

Sugar Free PB Treat

Next, combine all the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and mix. It will come together to be a thick, dough like consistency. 

Spread the peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate layer. 

Refrigerate for about 2 hours. Cut into small bars or bites. 

These are best kept in the fridge. They get a little too soft in my opinion if left at room temperature. 

Low Carb Buckeye Dessert Bars

I hope you love these Keto peanut butter bars as much as I do! 

More Keto/THM S Desserts

Keto Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Cookies
Strawberry Lemonade Berry Sorbet
Easy Creamsicle Sip
Cookies N Cream Protein Dalgona 

Print Recipe
 Keto Peanut Butter Bars (THM S)
Servings
Ingredients
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Line 8x8 Pyrex dish with parchment paper.
  2. Melt the chocolate and the coconut oil in a double boiler.
  3. Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, spread it into the 8x8 pan.
  4. Place the chocolate layer in the fridge so that it can start to set up and harden.
  5. In a large bowl, add the remaining ingredients and mix with a hand or a stand mixer until well incorporated. The mixture will look like a thick dough.
  6. Remove the chocolate from the fridge (it should be a layer of hardened chocolate. If it is not ready, just stick the peanut butter mix in the fridge in the separate bowl until the chocolate is hardened).
  7. Spread the peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate. Using the back of a spoon or your fingers, press the peanut butter mix down until it is smooth.
  8. Place the peanut butter bars back into the fridge for 1-2 hours at a minimum.
  9. Cut into bars or bites. These are best eaten right out of the fridge. They will get soft if left at room temp.

Keto Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake (THM S)

by Leave a Comment

This Keto double layer pumpkin cheesecake is filled with seasonal fall flavors that your friends and family will love (whether they are off sugar or not).

Sugar Free Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

This keto double layer pumpkin cheesecake is seriously amazing. I have made it twice in as many weeks and it has already been given a spot on our Thanksgiving dessert table this year. 

The nutty crust pairs perfectly with the creamy layers of cheesecake and pumpkin flavors. 

Wanna know a secret? I used to think that I didn’t like pumpkin. Like at all. Give me all the chocolate and peanut butter but I am skipping right over the pumpkin pie. But for some reason this year all things pumpkin have just been screaming my name. 

I’ve made pumpkin spice almonds, a dump Cuffin pumpkin cake, baked pumpkin spice oatmeal, keto peanut butter pumpkin spice cookies, and Aldi Zero Carb Pumpkin Bread roll ups. 

After a pumpkin filled few weeks, I guess that I  really do like pumpkin. Just no pumpkin pie. 

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Keto Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Holiday Layered Pumpkin Pie Spice Cheesecake - THM S and Keto and Sugar Free

Making this cheesecake takes a bit of time to whip up, time to bake, cool and chill. It is not hard but the steps that you need to take make it great for a weekend or holiday dessert. 

I served this to 5 people that are not on Keto / THM and they all loved it. It is one of those desserts that even people that are still eating sugar will love – and that hardly ever happens!

Here is what you need to make this sugar free cheesecake.

Ingredients for Low Carb Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Crust:

Chopped Pecans
Butter
Cinnamon
Monk Fruit

Cheesecake Filling:

Blocks Cream Cheese
Eggs
Maple Extract (you can sub Vanilla but I really think the maple adds so much) 
Monk Fruit

Pumpkin Filling:

Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin Pie Spice 

Making the Pecan Crust

Pecan Crust Mixture

You will start with the crust and this nutty crust makes the entire cheesecake. A bit of crunch and a ton of flavor make this the perfect crust of your keto double layer pumpkin cheesecake. 

Add the chopped pecans, cinnamon, sweetener and butter to a blender. Blend until combined. 

Spread the pecan mixture into a 9 inch springform pan and bake at 350 Degrees for ten minutes. Allow to cool.

Keto Pecan Pie Crust

Mixing the Cheesecake Filling

Mix the cheesecake filling ingredients in a stand mixer or with a hand mixture. Remove 1.5 cups of the cheesecake filling and top the crust with it. 

Add the pumpkin puree and the pumpkin spice to the remaining cheesecake batter. Mix well and then gently layer the pumpkin mix on top of the cheesecake layer. 

Layering the Pumpkin CHeesecake

Baking Time! 

Place your keto double layer pumpkin cheesecake into the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes. 

Allow the cheesecake to cool on the counter for about an hour. Finally, move the cheesecake to the fridge and chill for at least 3-4 hours or overnight. You don’t want to shortcut the chill time. 

Top with homemade whipped cream or Fat Free Reddi Whip if you are a Trim Healthy Mama DTS. 

Print Recipe
 Keto Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
Servings
Servings
Ingredients
Keto Pecan Pie Crust
Cheesecake Filling
Pumpkin Filling
Servings
Servings
Ingredients
Keto Pecan Pie Crust
Cheesecake Filling
Pumpkin Filling
Instructions
Pecan Crust
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Pulse the pecan pieces, butter, cinnamon and monk fruit in a blender or food processor until smooth.
  3. Spread the pecan crust into a greased 9 inch springform pan or a regular pie pan.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes and then allow to cool.
Cheesecake Filling
  1. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
  2. Add the cream cheese, monk fruit, maple extract and eggs in a bowl. Using your stand mixer or a hand mixer, combine until smooth.
  3. Take 1.5 cups of the cream cheese mixture and spread it onto the cooled pecan crust.
Pumpkin Filling
  1. Add the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to the remaining cheesecake mixture. Mix well.
  2. Pour the pumpkin cheesecake filling over the top of the plain cheesecake layer.
  3. Bake the pumpkin cheesecake for 35 minutes or until set in the middle.
  4. Allow to cool on the counter. Once cool, cover and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  5. Serve with a big dollop of homemade whipped cream or some fat free Reddi Whip.

Keto - Low Carb- THM S Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (1)