Name: Keto Fried Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon sea salt; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons yellow mustard; 4 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken pieces; 1 1/2 cups finely ground almond flour; 1 1/2 cups finely ground parmesan cheese; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; Oil (for frying)

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Growing up in the South, fried chicken has always been a fixture in my life. This Keto Fried Chicken has all of the flavor and texture that I grew up loving while remaining gluten-free and low carb. Juicy, tender, and crispy, this is comfort food perfection.

Photo of a white platter of Keto Fried Chicken garnished with parsley and lemons.

I grew up with a Southern Grandmother who was a phenomenal cook, so naturally, fried chicken has always been part of my cooking repertoire.

This Keto Fried Chicken recipe is so satisfying - it is hard to believe that it is low carb. It has all the flavor of regular fried chicken.

When you crave a meal that feels like a hug on a plate, it doesn't get any better than this!

Ingredients for Making Fried Chicken Keto

Smoked Paprika: You can use mild or hot; you may also use regular paprika.
Salt: Adding salt to the marinade will help it permeate the chicken's muscle fibers, and the result will be juicer chicken.
Garlic Powder: Adjust the about to your liking. I do not recommend using fresh garlic. It can burn too quickly when you are frying.
Black Pepper: Fresh ground is best.
Cayenne Pepper: I like the kick of heat that cayenne pepper gives, but feel free to omit this if you are serving small children or dislike heat. The amount I have used isn't enough to make it hot, so if you want spicy almond flour fried chicken, consider adding more.
Heavy Cream: If you are low carb and not keto, half and half will work too.
Apple Cider Vinegar: This helps to "sour" the cream to mimic buttermilk.
Yellow Mustard: Dijon would work as well.
Bone-in Skin On Chicken: We love keto fried chicken thighs, but feel free to use any piece you like. If you fry chicken breasts, I recommend preheating the oven to 350° F. Fry the chicken until it is golden brown. Use your Instant Read thermometer to determine the internal temperature. Bake the chicken until it reaches the recommended temperature of 160 ° F.
Almond Flour: I do not recommend substituting almond meal.
Parmesan: Finely grated parmesan is best when it is grated fresh.
Baking powder: Check the date to make sure it is fresh!
Oil: For brushing when air frying or frying. I recommend using Avocado Oil. Refined coconut oil is another option.

Tips & Tricks

Breading chicken can get messy if you aren't careful! I recommend using one hand for wet ingredients and the other hand for dry ingredients. This keeps you from breading your own hand!
When frying, I recommend working in batches to avoid the oil temperature from getting too low and prevent the chicken from sticking together.
Feel free to adjust the salt and pepper to your personal preference.
You can use almond milk in place of the heavy cream. If you do so, I recommend adding a beaten egg to the marinade for thickness. This will help the low-carb breading to adhere to the chicken.

Serving Suggestions

Keto Crispy Chicken is amazing with mashed cauliflower, keto collard greens, or coleslaw. You can also serve it with a simple side salad with Ranch dressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fried Chicken Low Carb?

Most chicken is not low carb because it has either flour, breadcrumbs, or both. This keto-friendly version uses almond flour and parmesan cheese and is perfect for your low-carb diet.

Can I Use Pork Rinds?

Yes, if you would like to you can use pork rinds in place of the almond flour.

Recommended Tools

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Shallow bowls or breading trays.
Deep fryer or heavy-duty deep skillet or Air Fryer
Instant Read Thermometer and Heat Safe Thermometer for Oil

Storage

This recipe is best served immediately after cooking, but leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days. You may freeze them for up to three months, but you should expect a deterioration in quality when frozen.

Reusing Oil for Frying

As long as you choose the right oil - such as avocado oil - and are careful to keep the oil below its smoke point, it is safe to reuse oil that has been used for frying.

The first step is to filter it so that you can remove any bits of cooked food. You can use an extremely fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter to do this.

Make sure that the oil is not hot when you do this!

Place the oil in a container and keep it in the refrigerator.

How many times the oil can be reused isn't a hard and fast rule, but generally, you can use it between four and six times.

It is time to throw it out when it turns dark and begins to have an "off" odor. Don't plan on keeping oil for more than two months.

How to Make Keto Fried Chicken

First, start by making the seasoning mixture and marinade.

To do this, whisk together the paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Photo of a red bowl with heavy cream and vinegar.

Photo of seasonings and mustard being added to a red bowl.

In a large bowl, combine the cream and vinegar. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes. Next, add in the yellow mustard and 2 tablespoons of the seasoning mixture.

Place the chicken in a shallow dish, and marinate for at least four hours or overnight.

After the chicken has marinated, make the breading by combining the almond flour, parmesan cheese, and baking powder.

Photo of a shallow dish with chicken thighs marinating in it.

Remove the chicken from the marinade, and transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Fried Chicken

Heat the oil in a large deep skillet until it is 350 ° F. (Deep Frying is another option.)

Cook, skin side down, for 6 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip and cook another 4 minutes, until the internal temperature is 160° F.

Rest for 10 minutes prior to serving.

Air Fried Chicken with Almond Flour

Preheat your air fryer to 400° F.

Spray the chicken with oil and cook for 13 minutes.

Flip and respray. Reduce the temperature to 350° F.

Cook until an Instant Read Thermometer registers 160 ° F.

More Keto Chicken Recipes

Keto Chicken Parmesan is a delicious meal that the family will beg you to make again and again.
Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken is an easy way to get dinner on the table when you forget to plan ahead. You won't believe how flavorful this chicken is!
Keto Recipes like this Everything Bagel Chicken are perfect for busy families!

Photo of three pieces of Keto Fried Chicken on a white background with a bowl of collard greens next to it.

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Square photo of a white platter of Keto Fried Chicken garnished with parsley and lemons.

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5 from 7 votes