Keto Bread Crumbs

This recipe for keto bread crumbs is a fantastic low carb alternative to traditional bread crumbs! Made with crushed pork rinds, it is perfect to coat your favorite protein, vegetables, or use in recipes in place of bread crumbs- No day-old bread needed!

Keto Bread Crumbs

If you have a sneaky look in my pantry, you’ll see a bunch of homemade keto staple ingredients. You’ll find some almond flour, a jar of condensed milk, and some homemade keto bread crumbs. 

How do you make fried protein, veggies, or appetizers taste even better? Coat them in bread crumbs before frying! Let’s use onions as an example. Fried onions? Delicious. Crumbed fried onions? Even better. Now let’s do chicken. Fried chicken breast? Delicious. Breaded fried chicken breast? Let me find my second stomach!

Now, as the name suggests, bread crumbs contain a key ingredient- bread. Unless you are using a loaf of several-day-old keto bread to make them, they are not keto friendly. Luckily, there is a cheeky way to enjoy bread crumbs on a keto diet- Crushed up pork rinds!

Keto substitute for bread crumbs

Pork rinds have to be a staple ingredient in anyone’s keto diet. Not only is it a zero carb snack that you can enjoy, but they also make the perfect keto bread crumb alternative. Crushed up pork rinds mimic the same texture of bread crumbs and work in the same way that bread crumbs do in recipes.

Alternatively, you can dry out a loaf of keto bread but using pork rinds is far superior- You don’t need to add any extra salt or seasonings, and they can also be made panko style (thicker!). 

I’ve been using these bread crumbs as a coating for chicken, to make my zucchini chips even crispier, and even making battered fish!

How do you make low carb breadcrumbs

The Ingredients

• Pork rinds– Pork rinds are often found in the snacking or potato chip aisle. In some countries (like Australia or the UK), they are referred to as pork crackles or pork crackle chips. 
• Seasonings– Optional, but feel free to add some Italian seasoning or more intense spices, like smoked paprika. Do not add any salt, as pork rinds are salty enough on their own. 

The Instructions

• For traditional bread crumbs– Add the pork rinds in a high speed blender and blend several times until mostly fine in texture. 
• For keto panko bread crumbs– Place the pork rinds into a ziplock bag and using a rolling pin, crush them down until mostly crushed. 

Can almond flour replace bread crumbs? 

Depending on the recipe, almond flour can somewhat replace bread crumbs. However, they need to be mixed with some other key ingredient, like parmesan cheese. This works well for something like a keto chicken parmesan. 

On its own, however, it will not be the best alternative. 

Storing and freezing tips

• To store: Leftovers can be stored at room temperature, covered, for up to 6 months.  
• To freeze: Place leftovers in a carefully sealed ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. The bread crumbs must be thawed completely before using. 

How to use keto bread crumbs

I have a plethora of recipes that use this fabulous keto bread crumb substitute. Some of my favorites include-

• Meatballs
• Meatloaf
• Fried chicken
• Mozzarella sticks
• Crab cakes