Keto Citrus Chicken (Mediterranean)

This recipe for keto citrus chicken served with carrot salad is my idea of the perfect warm-weather recipe.

When it comes to sprucing up the humble roasted chicken, dousing it with some citrus always seems to do the trick.

Tender, moist, and full of flavor, this keto chicken recipe is one the whole family will love. Made with simple ingredients, It will be one to keep on regular rotation for your meal prep.

Don’t you just love when a recipe is wonderfully delicious, naturally low in carbs, and healthy? With only

I’m all about easy keto dinner recipes that can be enjoyed both during busy weekdays or jam-packed weekends. And just because it comes together quickly doesn’t mean it can’t be a showstopper.

This citrus chicken recipe features Moroccan flavors, so it naturally paired well with my keto Moroccan carrot salad. 

Personally, I like to create my dinner recipes by taking into consideration what side dish would work well with them.  

I don’t know about you, but when all the flavors on a plate meld together perfectly, it makes the meal more enjoyable. 

Be sure also to check out our entire collection of keto chicken recipes for more delicious recipes!

Keto Citrus Chicken With Carrot Salad

My Mami always taught me that food was first tasted through the eyes. So I learned early on that when making a dish, I had to also consider how appetizing it looked.

Well, all I can say is that this low-carb citrus chicken with carrot salad hit that qualifier right out of the park.

Not only is it a palate’s delight, but it also looks beautiful enough to serve guests.  

Easy enough for busy weeknights but rich enough for Sunday supper or even a keto dinner party! 

Serve your family or guests a keto-friendly dinner that they will not quickly forget. 

I’m sharing all my helpful tips for making this dish so that it turns out perfectly for you too.

Please scroll to the bottom of the page to find the full printable recipe card.

I chose to make this dish with chicken thighs because it’s the fattier meat, a good thing when doing keto.

But you can certainly make it with chicken breasts if that’s what you prefer. If you opt to use chicken breast, I suggest you cut them so that they cook faster and still stay juicy.

Ingredients Needed To Make A Keto-Friendly Citrus Chicken

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The following are all the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this wonderful recipe. Note that the full printable recipe card is at the bottom of the page, including the full nutritional data.

Keto Citrus Chicken

• Chicken thighs 
• Sea salt
• Dried thyme
• Black pepper
• Ground allspice
• Ground nutmeg
• Smoked paprika
• Olive oil

Citrus Sauce

• Garlic cloves, minced
• Chicken broth or chicken stock
• Lemon
• Limes 
• Salt 
• Pepper to taste

Garnish

• Lemons slices
• Fresh parsley, chopped 

How To Make Keto Citrus Chicken With Carrot Salad

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The first step in making this chicken and carrot recipe is creating the Keto Moroccan Salad that accompanies it.

Making the salad first allows the vinaigrette to infuse into the carrots. By the time your chicken is done, your carrot salad will be ready to serve. 

After you make the salad, it’s time to make the citrus chicken. The chicken is browned first in a cast-iron skillet and then transferred to a baking dish to finish cooking in a preheated 375-degree oven. 

The citrus sauce is then made with the chicken drippings in the cast-iron skillet while the chicken continues to cook in the oven. 

In a large bowl, pat down your chicken to remove any excess moisture, and then season your chicken thighs with salt, dried thyme, black pepper, ground allspice, nutmeg, and smoked paprika.

Then in a cast-iron skillet, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear both sides until golden brown. This will take about three minutes.

The key to achieving the perfect crispy chicken is to cook it in a hot pan and quickly brown both sides of the chicken.

And make sure to do so without overcrowding the pan. Otherwise, the chicken will not brown properly and will just cook in its juice.

I suggest you cook them in batches to ensure that the skins are crisp. 

Substitutions

This recipe features bone-in chicken thighs, but you can certainly use boneless chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or even skinless chicken thighs if this is what you prefer. 

Just keep in mind that the nutrition facts listed are for bone-in chicken thighs with the skin left intact.

You can also make this a keto lemon chicken recipe by using only lemon juice rather than a combination of lemon and lime juice.

Tips On Making A Keto Moroccan Dinner

Another mistake that people make is to over-flip the chicken. My suggestion is to flip only once and not to do so until the chicken is crisp. 

Once your chicken has browned perfectly on both sides, reserve about four tablespoons of the fat in the skillet to make the citrus sauce later. 

Transfer your chicken thighs into a 9×13 ovenproof pan in a single layer and place in the oven. Allow the chicken to cook for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.

It should register 165 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius) internal temperature on an instant-read thermometer. 

If you do not own a thermometer, an easy way to check is that all the juices that come from the chicken should run clear and not be pink.

While the chicken is cooking in the oven, make the sauce using the reserved fat in the cast-iron skillet.  

To make the citrus sauce heat your cast iron to medium-high and then add the lemon juice and minced garlic to the pan.

Allow the sauce to simmer, making sure you are scraping the bottom of the pan to get all the flavorful burnt parts.

Then you’ll add the chicken broth and allow the sauce to reduce by half.

Once the sauce has been reduced, remove the skillet from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste if needed. 

Deglazing using all the browned pieces from the bottom of the pan adds lots of flavor to the dish, and it’s a necessary step in making the sauce, so don’t skip this essential step. 

After your chicken is fully cooked, spoon the sauce over the top of the chicken and garnish it with freshly chopped parsley and lemons slices. 

Store the cooked chicken in an air-tight container if you have any leftovers.

Are Carrots Keto?

If you are wondering if carrots are keto since this citrus chicken is accompanied by a carrot salad, I am happy to report that consuming carrots on a keto diet can be enjoyed in moderation.

I am of the belief that carrots are ok to consume on a low-carb diet with careful macro planning.

I invite you to read our article are carrots keto to learn more about why we choose to include carrots in our keto diet.

As a good rule of thumb, the majority of your vegetable consumption on a keto-friendly diet will come from above-ground veggies, with occasional below-ground vegetables.

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If what you are looking for is a low carb meal that isn’t boring and is an easy recipe, then next time, consider making this keto Moroccan dish because it’s packed with flavor and makes a lovely presentation. 

Not to mention that at 1.9 net carbs per serving, it is a low carb dinner you can enjoy while doing a keto diet. 

There is absolutely nothing boring about this dinner. I make chicken quite often at home, but when I presented this to my family, it became an instant favorite.  

I sure hope you will give this recipe a try. Once you do, make sure you remember to tag us on Instagram and Facebook. It’s what keeps this girl encouraged to keep sharing and perfecting her recipes.

Also, check out our Amazon Store for our recommendations. You might be surprised by how many great keto options are at your disposal.

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In addition, we have a Keto Recipe App that makes keto an easy, delicious breeze!

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