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    Home » Recipes » Low-Carb Keto Chicken Recipes

    The Best Keto Fried Chicken Recipe (Copycat KFC)

    Published: Dec 21, 2020· Modified: Oct 14, 2022· By Libby Jenkinson May contain affiliate links.

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    5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK STARTER PACK JUMP TO RECIPE
    keto fried chicken in a serving plate with sauce

    Learn how to make delicious and crispy homemade keto fried chicken recipe (copycat keto KFC recipe) with a few simple ingredients and my secret shaker bag method.

    Quick and easy keto fried chicken is only 1.5g NET carbs using a tasty almond flour crust. Baked in the oven or in the air fryer.

    Making keto fried chicken at home is so easy and delicious. No wonder it's one of the most popular recipes on the website.

    collage of how to make keto fried chicken in an air fryer or oven
    Delicious keto fried chicken recipe

    So save your money and your carbs, because this keto fried chicken recipe is grain-free, gluten-free, and guilt-free. This simple and easy homemade copycat recipe will have everyone reaching for keto fried chicken!

    Jump to:
    • Is fried chicken keto?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • How to cook fried chicken in the oven
    • How to cook fried chicken in the air fryer
    • What to serve with fried chicken
    • More healthy chicken recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Fried chicken FAQ
    • 💬 Comments

    Is fried chicken keto?

    No, fried chicken (especially KFC fried chicken) is definitely not keto. Breaded chicken or battered chicken are high-carb because of the crumb coating or batter that is traditionally made with bread crumbs made with wheat flour.

    If you want a quick and easy cheat's keto fried chicken, some fast-food restaurants will allow you to order the fried chicken without the crumbs, without batter, or a grilled version which can be the healthier option.

    How many carbs are in fried chicken?

    There are so many recipes for regular fried chicken that it's truly hard to determine the exact amount of grams of carbs. But, in general, it can range from 7-11 grams of carbs depending on the size of chicken pieces or whether you order chicken "popcorn" which has a higher bread crumb mixture: chicken ratio. 

    Popcorn Nuggets (KFC) = 24.8g net carbs, 17.9g protein
    Chicken Thigh (KFC), Original Recipe (113g) = 7.9g net carbs, 20.4g protein
    Chicken Breast (KFC), Grilled (113g) = 0g net carbs, 37.7g proteinKFC, Chicken Drumstick, Original Recipe (2 pieces = 113g) = 7.4g net carbs, 23.9 protein
    Homemade keto KFC Drumstick (2 pieces = 113g) = 3g net carbs, 33.8g protein

    Nutritional values from cronometer.com

    Keto fried chicken

    If you love the taste of KFC but don't want the carbs, then low-carb fried chicken (copycat KFC) is a great alternative.

    You can eat fried chicken again and it's so easy to make. This fried chicken recipe requires no complicated ingredients and there are no dirty dishes because you prepare the whole recipe in a clean plastic bag!

    PLUS this batch of low-carb fried chicken only cost $6.95 for 6 big chicken drumsticks and were really 'meaty'. No more shriveled-up chicken wings with minimal protein.

    Ingredients

    ingredients needed to make fried chicken labelled on a wooden board
    Simple ingredients to make fried chicken keto.

    Here's a quick list of all the ingredients you'll need for this recipe. As you can see, putting together a low-carb fried chicken is easy!

    • chicken drumsticks - you can also use breasts or thighs. Just make sure to get the skin on variety!
    • almond flour (or almond meal) - while some people use crushed pork rinds to make keto fried chicken, I prefer the flavour and texture of an almond flour mixture. I do not recommend using coconut flour.
    • dried ginger powder
    • dried parsley
    • paprika
    • chili powder
    • dried sage
    • mustard powder
    • Chinese five spice
    • dried basil
    • salt + pepper to taste
    • oil for frying or air fryer - I used olive oil but avocado oil would also work well.

    Variations

    To make delicious breading, you can add these herbs and spices.

    Parmesan cheese - add some shredded parmesan cheese to your almond flour for a cheesy chicken coating.

    Chili powder - (or cayenne pepper) for spicy fried chicken.

    Onion powder - for an extra kick of tangy onion (but without the high carb count).

    Garlic - either use garlic powder or fresh garlic.

    Smoked paprika - adds an earthy smokey flavor to your fried chicken recipe.

    What chicken parts do you use for fried chicken?

    chicken drumsticks on a wooden board

    To make tender and tasty fried chicken you can use any cut of chicken - chicken drumstick, chicken breasts, chicken thighs,chicken wings, or chicken tenderloins.

    You can use the almond flour coating to make crumbed pork chops, chicken breast tenders, and even Southern fried chicken.

    mockups of 5 Ingredients (Or Less) Low-Carb Cookbook on devices and printed cookbooks

    Instructions

    The full method and quantities are in the recipe card below. Instead of deep frying chicken, there are cooking instructions for using theoven or air fryer.

    Place all the low-carb breading ingredients in a bag. Shake to mix.

    a plastic bag with almond flour and chicken pieces
    Easy fried chicken recipe (shaker bag method).

    Place the chicken pieces into the bag and seal the top, then shake to coat every part of the chicken with the almond flour (or almond meal) herbed coating.

    Top tip: To ensure the low carb keto fried chicken breading doesn't fall off during cooking, massage the almond flour crust into the chicken meat through the bag, or with your hands.

    chicken in a bag

    Using kitchen tongs, lift each chicken piece and place it into an oiled baking dish or your air fryer basket.

    How to cook fried chicken in the oven

    Choose your favorite cooking oil or cooking spray to coat the bottom and sides of your baking dish.

    Place each crumbed chicken piece onto the oiled baking dish.

    To give each drumstick a fried chicken taste, spray the almond flour coating with cooking oil.

    Cook the chicken in a pre-heated oven at 180C/350F for 45 minutes. Make sure to use kitchen tongs to turn the chicken over a few times so each piece gets coated in oil and "fried" evenly.

    Bake until golden brown. Cooking times will depend on the thickness of the chicken.

    keto fried chicken in a oven baking dish
    Keto friendly fried chicken baked in the oven

    How to cook fried chicken in the air fryer

    You can also cook this recipe in the air fryer. This is my preferred method as it produces the best fried chicken without having to even turn the oven on!

    Spray the air fryer basket and the chicken herbed coating with cooking oil to make sure you get that traditional crispy chicken crust.

    keto fried chicken in an air fryer
    The best keto fried chicken (in the air fryer).

    Using an air fryer to cook fried chicken is a quick and easy mid-week dinner.

    1. Preheat to 190C/375F.
    2. Spray the wire basket with cooking oil.
    3. Gently place each chicken piece into the oiled basket. Ensure there is plenty of space between them.
    4. Cook for 15 minutes, open the drawer and turn each piece.
    5. Cook for a further 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces being cooked. Chicken must be completely cooked into the center of each piece.

    If you love using your air fryer, I have 101 keto air fryer recipes for you to choose from (chicken, pork, ground beef, salmon, vegetables, and even desserts). Discover how to use your air fryer plus FREE printable air fryer cooking cheat sheets.

    What to serve with fried chicken

    collage of the best side dishes for pork
    The best low-carb side dishes to serve with chicken

    There are so many delicious low-carb and keto side dishes to serve with fried chicken. Chicken is a versatile family-friendly dinner and so you need to choose quick and easy healthy side dishes the whole family will love.

    Here are some of my favorite keto side dishes to serve with chicken. All your family favorites, only lower carb.

    • Cheesy keto garlic bread
    • Easy mashed cauliflower
    • The best low-carb bread, pasta, and potato substitutes
    • Low-carb keto almond flour bread
    • Baked cheesy broccoli and cauliflower

    There are so many delicious keto side dishes to serve with chicken. This fried chicken is delicious served with spicy Mexican Coleslaw recipe. It's so refreshing and pair so well.

    You could also create the KFC meal copycat using the mashed cauliflower for the full experience.

    Other options are to serve with some fresh side salads and homemade mayonnaise.

    More healthy chicken recipes

    As well as these quick and easy healthy chicken recipes, you might like to use the keto breading from my keto fried fish recipe to make chicken wings, chicken nuggets, and even keto fried chicken.

    • Oven-baked keto chicken parmesan (chicken parmigiana)
    • Quick and easy chicken drumsticks (Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and Indian)
    • 21 easy chicken family dinners
    • 29 copycat recipes (you need to try)
    • Keto fast-food survival guide
    • Easy keto chicken meatballs (high-protein low-carb)
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    📖 Recipe

    keto fried chicken in a serving plate with sauce with an air fryer in the background

    Please rate this recipe.

    4 from 105 votes

    Keto Fried Chicken KFC (Copycat KFC Recipe)

    Delicious and crispy homemade keto fried chicken recipe (copycat keto KFC recipe) with a few simple ingredients and my secret shaker bag method. Oven-baked or air fryer fried chicken.
    Servings: 6 drumsticks
    NET carbs: 1.5g
    Author: Libby Jenkinson
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes
    Category: Dinner. Lunch. Lunch boxes
    Diet: Diabetic. Gluten Free. Low Lactose
    Dairy Free. Gluten Free. Grain free. Keto. LCHF. Low Carb. No Sugars. Paleo. Wheat Free
    Review Recipe Print Pin Email

    Recipe Video

    Calculate ingredients

    Adjust servings: 6 drumsticks
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    Ingredients

    • 6 chicken drumsticks skin on
    • 100 g (1 cup) almond meal/flour
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon chilli powder
    • ½ teaspoon dried sage
    • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Chinese five spice
    • ½ teaspoon dried basil
    • +/- salt and pepper

    Equipment

    • Casserole Dish
    • Air Fryer

    Instructions

    • Put the ground almonds and all the herbs and spices into a plastic food bag, twist the top and shake to mix.
    • Add the chicken drumsticks, twist the top, shake and rub the mixture through the bag onto the chicken.
    • In a baking dish, add enough olive oil to cover the bottom well (1-2mm).
    • Place the chicken drumsticks on the oil and bake at 180C/350F for 45 minutes.
    • Turn 2 or 3 times while they are cooking so all the coating gets covered in the olive oil.
    © Copyright Ditch The Carbs

    5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK

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    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Fried Chicken KFC (Copycat KFC Recipe)
    Serving Size
     
    1 drumstick
    Amount per Serving
    NET carbs
     
    1.5
    g
    Total Carbohydrates
     
    3.5
    g
    1
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    0.6
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    16.9
    g
    34
    %
    Fat
     
    15.3
    g
    24
    %
    Sodium
     
    78.7
    mg
    3
    %
    Potassium
     
    168.8
    mg
    5
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    34.8
    IU
    1
    %
    Vitamin B1
     
    0.1
    mg
    7
    %
    Vitamin B6
     
    0.3
    mg
    15
    %
    Vitamin B12
     
    0.4
    µg
    7
    %
    Vitamin D
     
    0.1
    µg
    1
    %
    Vitamin E
     
    0.1
    mg
    1
    %
    Vitamin K
     
    1.9
    µg
    2
    %
    Calcium
     
    42.6
    mg
    4
    %
    Folate
     
    2.3
    µg
    1
    %
    Iron
     
    1.1
    mg
    6
    %
    Magnesium
     
    15.1
    mg
    4
    %
    Selenium
     
    14.7
    µg
    21
    %
    Zinc
     
    1.5
    mg
    10
    %
    % Daily Value*
    -
    Calories
    214.5
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Approximate nutrition information is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. For the most accurate nutritional data, use the actual ingredients and brands you used in your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Fried chicken FAQ

    Can I cook chicken in an air fryer?

    The air fryer makes perfectly crispy fried chicken and the air fryer keeps the chicken tender and moist.

    What oil is best for frying?

    The oil temperature when baking or air frying, is not as high as the hot oil when you deep fry. So it is safe to use a medium-high heat stable oil such as olive oil or coconut oil. Do not use oils such as peanut oil or sesame oil because it will make all the chicken pieces taste nutty.

    What to serve with low-carb fried chicken?

    Traditionally, you might mashed potatoes or garlic bread, both of which are avoided on the keto diet. To make this a fried chicken keto friendly meal, serve with mashed cauliflower, keto garlic bread, or Mexican coleslaw.

    How to make spicy keto fried chicken?

    Add chilli powder to the almond flour coating or serve with a hot sauce to bring this keto meal to life.

    What can I use instead of almond flour?

    Ground pork rinds are a crunchy and high-protein alternative to almond flour in keto fried chicken. Do not use coconut flour because the chicken will end up dry and flakey.

    How to store fried chicken?

    Fried chicken should be cooked immediately after preparation. The leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for a maximum of three days in the refrigerator. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.

    How to reheat fried chicken?

    You can reheat fried chicken in the oven for 15 minutes, in the air fryer for 10 minutes, or use the reheat setting on the microwave. Reheating times will depend on the thickness of your keto fried chicken pieces.

    Can I make fat-free fried chicken?

    You can't make fat-free fried chicken but you can reduce the fat and reduce the calories by removing the chicken skin and removing any visible fat. Once cooked, drain the cooked keto chicken on kitchen paper towels.

    More ... The Best Low-Carb keto Chicken Recipes

    • Quick Cheesy Keto Chicken Casserole (Pork Rind Crust)
    • The Best Keto Chicken Parmesan (Oven Recipe)
    • How To Cook Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Keto Chicken)
    • Easy Homemade Keto Taco Seasoning (Gluten-Free)
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    I'm Libby Jenkinson MPS. A registered pharmacist, Health Coach, Cert.Adv Nutrition, mother of 3 and founder of Ditch The Carbs and Low-Carb Practitioners.

    Learn more about me →

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    1. Marti

      August 22, 2022 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      I want to make the KFC chicken recipe in my air fryer. You mention several times this is doable in the air fryer BUT you fail to give the instructions for cooking it in the air fryer. I wonder IF I am just missing something?? Please help.

      Reply
      • Libby Jenkinson

        August 26, 2022 at 11:59 am

        5 stars
        Hi. Marti, the instructions and all the different variations, substitutions etc are in the body of the post. Here is a direct link to how to cook keto fried chicken in the air fryer.

        Reply
    2. Jess

      January 04, 2021 at 6:17 am

      What can you sub for almond flour? Would coconut work?

      Reply
      • Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com

        January 04, 2021 at 3:46 pm

        5 stars
        You can use coconut flour, however, the mild coconut taste may affect the final flavour. Maybe use ground pork rinds? That would be insanely delicious.

        Reply
        • Moe

          May 09, 2021 at 5:57 am

          Lobby I am going to try this via an air fryer version ,. I'll let you know what happens! Live the adventure, right?

          Reply
          • Libby Jenkinson

            May 10, 2021 at 9:31 pm

            Love it, Moe. Livin' life on the edge!

            Reply

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