The BEST Keto Chicken Breast Recipes

This article talks about chicken breasts as a protein option on a Keto diet and lists all of our favorite Keto Chicken Breast Recipes in one easy spot.

Let’s face it, chicken breast are probably the most popular protein choice, would you agree? They’re super versatile, almost everyone likes them, and they are typically pretty affordable. We’ve compiled our favorite Keto Chicken Breast Recipes below in one easy list that will hopefully spark some inspiration for your dinner table. So, let’s start off by talking about chicken just a bit more!

Are chicken breasts Keto friendly?

Yes! Chicken breasts are Keto friendly. Some folks choose chicken thighs over breasts for their higher fat content but as long as you pair the chicken breasts with an otherwise fat-heavy meal they will work out perfectly.

Everyone’s macro needs are different, for example, I (Lauren) need to eat just 1,300 calories per day while Alex needs 3,000. Obviously, he’ll eat a lot more protein, carbs, and fat than I will so having chicken breasts on hand is a great clean protein source.

Should I buy organic chicken breast?

Our stance is a resounding YES! Below, we’ll discuss the reasons why:

Nutritional Differences

Higher Omega 3 concentrations – Breast meat from chickens that are pastured raised has been shown to be higher in Omega 3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fat. Conventionally raised chickens are higher in Omega 6 fats, and while your body does need Omega 6 fatty acids, our Western diet is chocked FULL of them. Westerns balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are usually tipped in favor of Omega 6’s which can be harmful and inflammatory.

Animal Welfare

Conventionally raised chickens are raised in a warehouse-like facility with a concrete floor. These chickens are packed into these facilities and have about 1/2 square foot of space per chicken. This is the same whether the chicken is “organic” or not. Pasture-raised birds have over 100 square feet per bird. That is an INSANE difference.

According to certifiedhumane.org:

HFAC’s Certified Humane^® “Free Range” requirement is 2 sq. ft. per bird.  The hens must be outdoors, weather permitting (in some areas of the country, seasonal), and when they are outdoors they must be outdoors for at least 6 hours per day.  

HFAC’s Certified Humane^® “Pasture Raised” requirement is 1000 birds per 2.5 acres (108 sq. ft. per bird) and the fields must be rotated.  The hens must be outdoors year-round, with mobile or fixed housing where the hens can go inside at night to protect themselves from predators, or for up to two weeks out of the year, due only to very inclement weather.

Chicken feed vs. natural diet

Conventionally raise chickens are also fed a “vegetarian” diet, the problem is is that chickens are not vegetarians. Chickens are foragers eating insects, grubs, and vegetation. The vegetarian feed is primarily made up of cereal grains and seed oils, both inflammatory ingredients. Pastured raised chickens are free to roam and forage like nature intended and are also given supplemental organic grains.

Online options for quality chicken breasts:

We definitely have had trouble finding pasture-raised chicken, even when shopping at health food grocers like Whole Foods and having to opt for outside access organic chicken. While this is a better option than straight-up conventionally raised chicken it’s not optimal. Here are a few places online that you can order from to have pastured chicken shipped straight to your door:

• Grow and Behold – $15.49 / lb
• White Oak Pastures – $16.99 / lb
• U.S Wellness Meats – $15.60 / lb
• Circle C Farm – $17.97 / lb

The prices listed above are high. No doubt about it. We are lucky to currently have a few local farms that raise organic pastured chicken, we pay about $11-$12 / lb.

Want local chicken? Use the Eat Wild to find a local farm near you instead of shopping online, you may save a few bucks and you’ll be supporting local. It’s a win-win.

**I also want to emphasize that eating a healthy unprocessed diet shouldn’t be a religion, if you don’t have the funds to purchase pastured meats then you most definitely should NOT feel guilty about feeding your family conventional meats over fast food. If you DO have the funds then, by all means, purchase the highest quality meat you can, both for your health and the planets.

Now let’s get to some Keto Chicken Breast recipes!