Crispy, flavorful Keto Fried Chicken is a delicious and satisfying low carb dish.

A breading of almond flour, crushed pork rinds, and special seasonings make this fried chicken rival any restaurant version.

You can serve this to the whole family - nobody will notice that the carbs are missing!

KETO FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE

Fried chicken is pure comfort food. A southern tradition that has made it to all parts of the country, I don't know anyone who doesn't love a crispy, juicy, fried chicken leg.

This recipe for Keto Fried Chicken has everything that you want to find in a great fried chicken meal: crunchy breading, tender, juicy chicken, and the right blend of seasonings to make it all delicious.

Each piece of this keto fried chicken has just 4 grams net carbs. Serve it with Mashed potatoes and gravy, and Keto Coleslaw for a Kentucky fried experience at home.

If you don't need to stick to keto, try this white beans recipe as a side dish.

IS FRIED CHICKEN KETO?

If only it were that easy! If you could run through the drive-through at Popeyes or KFC and pick up a bucket of keto fried chicken, that would be a dream come true.

Alas, traditionally prepared fried chicken is breaded with flour and/or breadcrumbs that are wheat-based and very high in carbohydrates. If you want delicious keto fried chicken, you are going to want to follow this easy keto recipe and make it yourself.

INGREDIENTS IN KETO FRIED CHICKEN

Chicken - We are frying up chicken legs and thighs with the bones and skin still on. You can also use boneless chicken thighs with this recipe, although they may cook a bit more quickly than the bone-in cuts. You'll have enough breading for six pieces of chicken.

Eggs and Heavy Cream - Use two large eggs whisked together with heavy cream to make the liquid that is the first step of the two-part breading for this keto fried chicken.

Pork Rinds - Crushed pork rinds are a must when you're trying to replicate the texture of breadcrumbs without carbs. Crush them until they are in very small pieces that look like breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs.

Almond Flour - Along with the pork rinds, almond flour makes a crispy low-carb breading.

Grated Parmesan Cheese - This adds flavor to the breading, and also works to keep everything stuck together as the chicken is cooked.

Seasonings - Any good fried chicken recipe will have a blend of tasty seasonings in it! Here we're using garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and ground cayenne pepper.

Oil - You'll need an oil with a high smoke point, such as peanut oil or canola oil, for frying.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you.

HOW TO MAKE KETO FRIED CHICKEN

1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. 
2. In a shallow bowl whisk together eggs and heavy cream. In a second shallow bowl, combine pork rinds, almond flour, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and peppers.
3. Dip chicken pieces in the egg mixture one at a time, then dredge through the pork rind mixture, pressing to coat. Place the chicken on the baking sheet and set aside.
4. Add 1 ½-2 inches of oil to a deep Dutch oven and heat to 350 F (or use a deep fryer). Working in batches, carefully fry the pieces of breaded chicken for about 5 minutes. Depending on the thickness of the pieces, you may need to flip them and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the chicken is 160°F.
5. Transfer cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining breaded chicken.

For the full list of ingredients and instructions for making this keto fried chicken recipe, please see the recipe card below.

KETO FRIED CHICKEN TIPS AND TRICKS

• If you need to avoid dairy, use non-dairy milk or coconut cream in place of the heavy cream.
• It's important to really press the crumbs into the chicken and make sure that you've coated every bit of each piece.
• A frying or candy thermometer is very useful to ensure that your oil is at the right temperature for frying chicken.
• Depending on the size of your chicken pieces, it may take more or less time to fry them. Keep a close eye on your chicken as it's frying, and use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is fully cooked, and at least 160°F.
• Only fry a few pieces of chicken at a time. You don't want to crowd the pan, or cause the oil temperature to drop too much when you add the chicken in.
• If you'd like to use a deep fryer to make this recipe, follow the manufacturer's instructions to know how much oil to use.

CAN YOU MAKE KETO FRIED CHICKEN WITH COCONUT FLOUR?

I have not tested this recipe with coconut flour, and I would avoid using it in place of the almond flour in this recipe, as coconut flour behaves very differently than almond flour does.

If you are looking for a coconut flour fried chicken recipe rather than an almond flour fried chicken recipe, you will want to look for one that is specifically tested with coconut flour.

HOW TO MAKE KETO FRIED CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER

You can air fry this keto breaded chicken! Work in batches so that the air fryer isn't crowded. With a basket style air fryer, you will be able to do 3 or maybe 4 pieces at a time.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Add the breaded chicken pieces, and spray generously with oil.

Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 12 minutes. Flip the chicken and spray again with oil. Continue cooking for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

CAN I BAKE THIS CHICKEN INSTEAD OF FRYING IT?

You sure can! Just know that it won't be as crispy as if you fried it. Place the breaded pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 45-50 minutes or until fully cooked.

You don't need to add oil if you plan to bake the chicken, since the fat will render from the skin as it cooks. If you want to, you can spray it toward the end of cooking with some oil to get everything extra crispy.

CAN I EAT FRIED FOOD ON A KETO DIET?

Here at Four Score Living we are all about eating well, eating healthy, and eating delicious food - all in moderation.

So while a diet filled with fried foods isn't the healthiest, it's ok to enjoy fried foods on keto sometimes, so long as they are made using low-carb ingredients.

Our Keto Mozzarella Sticks and Keto Chicken Fried Steak are two other deliciously crispy fried and low carb recipes.

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