Baking Keto Fried Chicken: How Long Should You Bake?

If you're craving fried chicken but want to stick to a keto diet, there are some great recipes for keto-friendly fried chicken that you can bake in the oven. The breading on traditional fried chicken is usually made with white flour, but there are some tasty alternatives that are low-carb and gluten-free.

One popular option is to use crushed pork rinds, which give the chicken a crispy texture. You can also use almond flour, almond meal, or coconut flour. For extra flavour, you can add spices like thyme, sea salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

To make keto fried chicken, start by coating the chicken with a wet mixture, such as whisked eggs, heavy cream, mayonnaise, or mustard. Then, dip the chicken into the dry mixture of your choice. Place the chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet and bake in the oven for around 40 minutes at 400°F.

So, if you're looking for a delicious, crispy, and keto-friendly alternative to traditional fried chicken, baking your chicken in the oven with a low-carb breading is a great option!

Keto fried chicken ingredients

The ingredients for keto fried chicken are similar to those for traditional fried chicken, with a few substitutions to make the dish low-carb and keto-friendly. Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make keto fried chicken:

• Skin-on chicken: A mix of drumsticks, thighs, and breast pieces are ideal. If you prefer to use only one cut of chicken, drumsticks are the best option.
• Salt and pepper: To taste.
• Eggs: Whisked with heavy cream to create a coating similar to traditional buttermilk fried chicken.
• Heavy cream: A zero-carb alternative to buttermilk, which contains more carbs than desired for a keto diet.
• Almond flour: Blanched almond flour is preferred, but almond meal will also work.
• Keto breadcrumbs: These can usually be found in the potato chip or snack aisle of the supermarket. To crush them, place them in a ziplock bag and use a meat tenderizer or a food processor/blender to break them down to the consistency of breadcrumbs.
• Parmesan cheese: Adds flavour to the batter.
• Garlic and onion powder: For extra flavour.
• Oil: Any neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, safflower oil, or peanut oil, is ideal for deep frying the chicken.

Optional Ingredients and Substitutions

There are also some optional ingredients and substitutions you can consider for your keto fried chicken:

• Cayenne pepper: Adds a kick of heat to the dish.
• Smoked paprika: Regular paprika can also be used.
• Apple cider vinegar: Helps to "sour" the cream and mimic buttermilk.
• Yellow mustard: Dijon mustard can be used as an alternative.
• Baking powder: Ensure it is fresh!

Tips for Preparing Keto Fried Chicken

• Use one hand for wet ingredients and the other hand for dry ingredients when breading the chicken to avoid mess and clumping.
• Work in batches when frying to avoid the oil temperature from getting too low and to prevent the chicken pieces from sticking together.
• Adjust the amount of salt and pepper to your personal preference.
• If using almond milk instead of heavy cream, add a beaten egg to the marinade to help the low-carb breading adhere to the chicken.
• Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place a baking rack on top of the lined baking sheet to ensure even cooking and crispiness on all sides of the chicken.
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before marinating and coating.
• Crush the pork rinds into a powder-like texture, leaving a few larger pieces for added texture.
• If you don't eat pork, almond flour or almond meal can be used as a base for the keto-friendly breading.
• For a more creative twist, try using a combination of almond flour and Parmesan cheese, as in the keto fried oysters recipe.
• Use a wire rack to bake the chicken to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• If you prefer to fry the chicken instead of baking it, use a heart-healthy, keto-friendly oil such as coconut oil, avocado oil, lard, tallow, or duck fat.

Keto fried chicken oven-baking instructions

Keto Fried Chicken: Oven-Baking Instructions

Ingredients

• Skin-on chicken parts (drumsticks, thighs, or breasts)
• Eggs
• Heavy cream
• Almond flour
• Keto-friendly breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt and pepper
• Oil (avocado, safflower, or peanut oil)

Optional Ingredients

• Smoked paprika
• Dried thyme
• Cayenne pepper
• Yellow mustard
• Baking powder
• Apple cider vinegar

Method

• Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and place a wire rack on top.
• Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and heavy cream.
• In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder. You can also add other spices like smoked paprika, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper.
• Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then coat it with the almond flour mixture. Make sure to press the coating onto the chicken.
• Place the coated chicken on the prepared wire rack, leaving space between each piece.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 75°C/165°F.
• Serve immediately.

Tips

• For a crispier texture, use a combination of crushed pork rinds and almond flour for the coating.
• If you don't eat pork, you can use only almond flour or substitute it with coconut flour or another nut flour.
• You can also use buttermilk or a mixture of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard instead of eggs for dipping the chicken.
• For a healthier option, bake the chicken on a wire rack to allow excess oil to drip off.
• If you prefer not to deep-fry the chicken, you can air fry it at 200°C/400°F for 20 minutes, flipping it halfway through.

Keto fried chicken air-frying instructions

Ingredients

• Skin-on chicken (drumsticks, thighs, and/or breasts)
• Salt and pepper
• Eggs
• Heavy cream
• Almond flour
• Keto breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Oil for frying (co: 3>avocado oil, safflower oil, or peanut oil are recommended)

Optional Ingredients

• Smoked paprika
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Apple cider vinegar
• Yellow mustard
• Baking powder

Instructions

• Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and heavy cream.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the keto breadcrumbs, almond flour, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder.
• Dip each piece of chicken in the egg/cream mixture, then in the breadcrumb mixture, until coated. Repeat this process until all the chicken is coated.
• Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded.
• Air fry at 200C/400F for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through.
• Check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 75C/165F.

Tips

• You can use one hand for wet ingredients and the other for dry ingredients to prevent mess and clumping.
• If you are using an air fryer, be sure to spray the chicken with oil before placing it in the basket.
• You can experiment with different spices to change up the basic recipe. Some options include smoked paprika, ground cumin, and dried oregano.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can also bake the chicken in the oven. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F and place the chicken on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the chicken is golden and the internal temperature reaches 165F.

Enjoy your keto fried chicken!

Keto fried chicken deep-frying instructions

Ingredients

• Skin-on chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, or breasts)
• Salt and pepper
• Eggs
• Heavy cream
• Almond flour
• Keto breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Oil for deep frying (co: 3>avocado oil, safflower oil, or peanut oil)

Method

• Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
• Set up a breading station with two shallow bowls. In the first bowl, whisk together the eggs and heavy cream. In the second bowl, whisk together the almond flour, keto breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder.
• Dip each piece of chicken into the egg/cream mixture, then into the almond flour/breadcrumb mixture, until fully coated. Repeat this process for all chicken pieces.
• Heat oil in a deep pan or pot to 350°F. You can use a candy thermometer to check the temperature.
• Carefully place the chicken pieces into the hot oil. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding and maintain the oil temperature.
• Fry the chicken until golden brown and crispy, with an internal temperature of 165°F. This should take around 6-10 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
• Remove the chicken from the oil and place on a wire rack to allow excess oil to drip off.

Tips:

• Use one hand for the wet ingredients and the other hand for the dry ingredients to prevent mess and clumping.
• If you don't have a thermometer, you can check if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small piece of bread into it. If it sizzles and turns golden within 60 seconds, the oil is ready.
• Avoid using wings or mini drumsticks, as they are smaller and may cook faster than other cuts.
• For a healthier option, you can bake the chicken in the oven at 400°F for 35-40 minutes or air fry at 400°F for 20 minutes.

Keto fried chicken serving suggestions

Keto fried chicken is a delicious, low-carb meal that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas for serving this tasty dish:

Side Dishes

• Mashed cauliflower
• Keto collard greens
• Coleslaw
• Simple side salad with ranch dressing
• Cauliflower mac and cheese
• Keto chicken roulade
• Raspberry glazed chicken wings
• Chili lime chicken drumsticks

Sauces

• Mayonnaise and hot sauce
• Blue cheese dressing
• Ranch dressing

Drinks

Keto-friendly cocktails

Desserts

• Keto-friendly chocolate chip cookies
• Keto desserts

Keto fried chicken is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or even as a snack. It can be served as a comforting home-cooked meal or as a fun party food. Get creative with your sides and sauces to make the perfect plate for any occasion!

Frequently asked questions