Keto Chicken Nuggets
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My keto chicken nuggets are crispy, juicy, and made in the oven, air fryer, or stovetop! Ready in 20 minutes, I love how there are only 1 gram of net carbs!
My partner loves chicken nuggets, so developing a low carb version has been high on my list for years.
The trickiest part was creating a coating that could rival traditional chicken nuggets. I initially tested almond flour and eggs, which work well for keto chicken tenders, but the nuggets lacked that signature crunch. I also tried regular keto bread crumbs, but the coating fell off once cooked. It wasn’t until I used a combination of crushed pork rinds and parmesan cheese that things worked well: the nuggets developed a golden, crispy coating that stayed attached while the chicken remained juicy inside.
While I usually bake these nuggets in the oven, I’ve also tested them in the air fryer and deep-fried them in oil, so you can choose whichever method works best for you.
Arman’s tips before starting
Pat the chicken dry before coating. Any excess moisture can make the coating slide off during cooking. I always give the chicken a quick pat with paper towels first so the breading sticks properly.
Keep the chicken pieces a similar size. This helps them cook evenly and prevents some nuggets from drying out while others are still undercooked. I aim for bite-sized pieces that are roughly the same thickness.
Use a wire rack when baking. I tested these directly on a baking sheet and a wire rack, and the rack won every time. It allows the hot air to circulate around the nuggets, giving them a crispier coating.
Don’t overcrowd the pan. The nuggets need a little space around them so they can crisp up. Whenever I’ve crammed too many in at once, they’ve steamed instead of browned.
Key Ingredients
Here’s what goes into low carb chicken nuggets, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Chicken breast. I use boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces. Try to keep them roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Crushed pork rinds. My favorite keto breadcrumb substitute. I found this to be the only one that delivered the crunchy texture I wanted. If you don’t have pork rinds, blanched almond flour works, but the nuggets won’t be quite as crispy.
- Parmesan cheese. To add flavor to the batter and promote a golden crust.
- Celery salt. My secret ingredient. It gives the nuggets that subtle fast-food flavor (seriously).
- Salt and black pepper. To taste. Start lightly since the celery salt will be quite flavorful.
- Eggs. To dredge the chicken pieces in.
How to make keto chicken nuggets
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top. In one bowl, whisk the eggs with both salts and pepper. In a second bowl, combine the parmesan and breadcrumbs.
Step 2- Dredge the chicken. Toss the chopped chicken in the egg mixture until fully coated. Add the chicken pieces to the dry ingredients and toss to coat.
Step 3- Bake. Place the breaded chicken on the baking sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden and crispy. Serve warm.
Alternative cooking methods
If you’d rather make your chicken nuggets in the air fryer or over the stovetop, you definitely can. Here’s how:
Air fryer method. A low-carb version of my air fryer chicken nuggets, prepare the nuggets as instructed, and add them to a greased air fryer basket in an even layer. Air fry at 200C/400F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Stovetop method. Prepare the nuggets. Heat a deep skillet with oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the nuggets and cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Transfer the nuggets to a paper towel-lined plate.
What to serve with these
I like serving them alongside keto French fries or zucchini fries. Don’t forget your favorite dipping sauces- we love sugar-free ketchup, sugar-free BBQ sauce, keto honey mustard, or keto ranch dressing.
Keto Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast chopped into bite sized pieces
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup keto bread crumbs crushed pork rinds
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top. Pat the chicken dry using a paper towel.
- In a mixing bowl, add your celery salt, salt, and pepper, and whisk together with the eggs. Add the chopped chicken and mix well so all the chicken is coated. In a separate bowl, whisk together the parmesan cheese and keto bread crumbs.
- Add the chicken pieces in the dry mix, ensuring all sides are completely coated.
- Place the breaded chicken on the wire rack, ensuring there is room between each nugget. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
- Remove the nuggets from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
More low carb chicken recipes
Originally updated May 2022
I used 2 cans of drained chicken breast from Costco (14 oz)..mixed everything except coating in a food processor then formed them into nuggets (22-24 g each) I did add some ground cayenne to the egg and chicken mix.. Cooked them for about 14 min, turning halfway through.I’ll be making these again!
This one looks so good and well shaped-like it is frozen bought. I wanna explore it, I mean try to make it.
Couldnt find keto bread crumbs so I would use coconut flour. Would that be okay?
Hi Mario- glad you got my email and good job on finding the crushed pork rinds- it works much better than coconut flour, which can dry things out considerably.
These are fantastic! I used Almond Flour and they baked right up. Great texture and crunch for the nuggets. Next I’ll try using your Keto Breadcrumbs recipe with pork rinds for the nuggets. Thanks so much for this recipe and all the others. Looking forward to trying your Keto Breadcrumbs to make some battered fish very soon.
Sounds delicious Jarrell! So glad you’re enjoyed the keto recipes here 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave some feedback.
Hm for this recipe I cannot find keto bread crumbs. I think they dont sell it.
But almond flour okay!