Frying chicken using almond flour is a great alternative to traditional frying with vegetable oil. I offer this overview of how to do it, and it’s relatively easy. By the way, when I say ‘fry’ I mean ‘pan-fry.’ Why are you using flour for frying chicken? That stuff is so heavy and dense! It does a poor job of holding moisture. You might as well fry it in sand if you’re using flour.
Almond Crusted Fried Chicken
If you enjoy juicy, crispy fried chicken, this chicken with an almond crust is the dish for you.
You’ll get juicy chicken pieces with a crispy almond coating once the cooking is done. You’ll want to eat more of these because they are the ideal chicken pieces.
Even your non-paleo family and friends will enjoy this pan-fried chicken because this recipe is just as wonderful as others that use conventional breadcrumbs.
If you are not following the paleo diet, you should still try this recipe. This recipe, for instance, is gluten-free; therefore, whether you are intolerant to gluten or just want to reduce the amount of gluten in your diet, this almond fried chicken is ideal for you.
What to Serve with the Almond Fried Chicken
The chicken might not be sufficient by itself, so you might prepare a side dish to serve with it. There are many side dishes that go well with the chicken and are ideal for expanding the meal’s caloric value. Here are a few of my preferred side dishes.
Fries made of sweet potato are the perfect side dish for this paleo-friendly fried chicken. They can take a while to cook because they are oven-baked, but the extra time is well worth it.
This chicken pairs well with a variety of paleo-friendly dipping sauces, such as ketchup, ranch dressing, or even some delectable BBQ sauce. Ranch dressing is one of my favorites, and it’s very simple to make at home.
There are many other side dishes that go well with chicken, so if you have any recommendations, please share them with us.
Perfecting the Crispy Chicken
Making sure your oil is heated enough before placing the chicken in is one of the crucial steps to producing that perfect crispy chicken. The best test is to sprinkle a small amount of breadcrumb into the pan; if it sizzles, the food is prepared.
Simply re-dip the chicken into the egg after the initial crumbing for a thicker coating. You may repeat this process as much as you like, but you don’t want the sauce to be too thick or the chicken could not cook.
The chicken tenders taste fantastic in a salad the next day if you have any leftovers. You could, for instance, construct a salad that is suitable for the paleo diet by adding crinkly bits of chicken, baby spinach, tomato, sliced red onion, and a vinaigrette.
You can easily prepare this almond fried chicken by following the instructions in the video we’ve included below.
Almond Crusted Chicken Recipe
Prep time10 Minutes
Cook time20 Minutes
Total time30 Minutes
Serves2
Ingredients
- 250 g (8.8 oz) chicken breasts
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- Coconut oil or a different cooking oil
Instructions
- Chicken should first be cut into tiny pieces. (0.8-inch/2-cm slices)
- Eggs are cracked into a bowl.
- Mix the almond flour, thyme, salt, and pepper thoroughly in a separate basin.
- After dipping the chicken in the egg, place it in the bowl with the almond flour mixture.
- Continue until all of the chicken is covered.
- Add enough coconut oil to the pan to cover half the height of the chicken while cooking it over medium heat.
- Add the chicken that has been coated after the oil has reached 350°F (175°C).
- Cook each side for 5–10 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan once it is fully cooked and golden brown.
- Serve and savor.
Recipe Tips
- Reduce the heat of the pan if you notice that the chicken’s coating is browning and burning too quickly.
- If you move the chicken pieces around too much, the crumb may start to come off. The best approach is to flip to the second side only when the first side has turned golden brown.
- Use a meat thermometer or a piece of chicken to determine whether the chicken is cooked through. The meat must be white and have an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F).
- I suggest adding additional shredded coconut to the dry crumb mixture if you enjoy coconut.
- Almond meal or ground almonds are other names for almond flour.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: 222g (7.8 oz)
Servings Per Recipe: 2
Calories Per Serving: 549
Total Fat: 32.8g
Saturated Fat: 3.2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Total Carbohydrate: 11.9g
Dietary Fiber: 6.7g
Sugars: 2.5g
Cholesterol: 271mg
Sodium: 1370mg
KETO FRIED CHICKEN – AIR FRY OR FRY
Fried chicken was a constant in my life as a child growing up in the South. This gluten-free, low-carb Keto Fried Chicken has all of the flavor and texture that I grew up adoring. This comfort food is the epitome of comfort: juicy, tender, and crispy.
Since I had a Southern grandmother who was an excellent cook when I was growing up, fried chicken has always been a staple in my cuisine.
It is difficult to imagine that this keto fried chicken meal is low carb because it is so filling. It tastes exactly like conventional fried chicken.
It doesn’t get any better than this when you want a dinner that feels like a hug on a platter!
INGREDIENT 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
- If you’re not careful, breading chicken can become messy! For fluid ingredients, I advise using one hand, and for dry ingredients, the other. You can avoid breading your own hand because of this!
- I advise working in batches when frying to prevent the oil temperature from dropping too low and the chicken from sticking together.
- You are welcome to season the food to your liking with salt and pepper.
- You can omit the heavy cream and substitute almond milk instead. If you do, I advise thickening the marinade by stirring in a beaten egg. This will aid in the chicken’s low-carb breading sticking to it.
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.
TOOLS NEEDED TO MAKE ALMOND FLOUR FRIED CHICKEN
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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 it for up to three months.
REUSING OIL FOR FRYING
It is safe to repurpose old frying oil as long as you use the proper oil, such avocado oil, and take care to keep the oil below the smoke point.
The first step is to filter it to get rid of any cooked food fragments. For this, you can use a coffee filter or a strainer with an incredibly fine mesh.
When you do this, make sure the oil is not hot!
The oil should be put in a container and kept in the fridge.
There isn’t a hard and fast limit to how many times the oil can be used again, but typically between four and six.
When it gets dark and starts to smell “off,” it’s time to toss it. Avoid storing oil for more than two months.
HOW TO MAKE KETO FRIED CHICKEN
Create the marinade and seasoning combination first.
To achieve this, combine the paprika, cayenne, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a bowl.
Cream and vinegar should be combined in a sizable basin. Give it 15 minutes to sit. Add 2 teaspoons of the seasoning mixture after that, along with the yellow mustard.
In a shallow dish, place the chicken and marinate for at least four hours or overnight.
Make the breading by combining the almond flour, parmesan cheese, and baking powder after the chicken has marinated.
The chicken should be taken out of the marinade and placed on a baking pan covered with parchment paper.
FRIED CHICKEN
In a big deep skillet, heat the oil to 350 ° F. (An additional choice is deep frying.)
Cook for 6 minutes with the skin side down or until golden brown. When the internal temperature reaches 160° F, flip the burger and cook for an additional 4 minutes.
Prior to serving, rest for 10 minutes.
AIR FRIED CHICKEN WITH ALMOND FLOUR
your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spray some oil on the chicken and fry it for 13 minutes.
Reverse and reapply. 350° F is the new temperature setting.
Cook until an instant-read thermometer reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Crispy Keto Fried Chicken
You’ll think you’re eating your grandmother’s recipe for keto fried chicken thanks to how simple it is to create and how wonderful it is to consume! Who doesn’t enjoy fried chicken, after all? We’ll demonstrate how to prepare “Fried Chicken and eat it too!” low carb.
I’ve been craving fried chicken ever since I was told I had diabetes, but I’ve been on a strict diet in an effort to keep my blood sugar levels down. For the first several months, I had no idea that some of my favorite dishes, like fried chicken, might be substituted in an appropriate way. Who doesn’t enjoy delicious fried chicken?
So Stephanie and I got to work and started experimenting, and after a few tries, we nailed the recipe for crispy low-carb fried chicken! It’s simple to make, and I’m confident that you and your family will adore it.
What is Fried Chicken?
Fried chicken is chicken that has been coated in egg and some kind of breading or flour and then cooked until it is crispy and tasty. Unless you don’t eat meat, I don’t think there are too many people who don’t like fried chicken!
When the skin and the entire outside coating crisp up, the hot, juicy chicken underneath is so delectable to bite into!
You can use whatever kind of chicken pieces you like, including white meat, dark meat, thighs, breast meat, wings, with or without bones, and even chicken nuggets, which are a favorite among youngsters and the go-to option for moms who need to prepare a quick supper for their children.
Can You Eat Fried Chicken on a Low Carb Diet?
We all know how amazing fried chicken is, which is why so many people love it! However, as you might think, it contains a lot of carbohydrates; for example, a drumstick and thigh typically have around 16 of them. We developed a new recipe as a result, and each serving of our Keto fried chicken contains just 2.9 NET Carbs. That’s a significant variation in carbs!
For anyone following the Keto diet, low-carb fried chicken is an excellent option. Given that you prepare it the Keto way, it has a very low carb count, and nearly no recipe is off-limits to a keto diet. In fact, eating fried chicken while on the ketogenic diet can make you feel as though you aren’t even trying to lose weight.
What Ingredients are in Keto Fried Chicken?
Chicken – I prefer dark meat but you can use white meat too, whichever you prefer. You can also choose to use chicken which still has bones or boneless, also whichever you like the best or if you’re like me, I use whatever I have in my house or whatever is on sale.
Almond Flour – Once I found out about almond flour my whole world opened back up to some of the foods that I love but had to give up to be able to eat a low carb diet.
Now I use Almond flour in so many things and I always have at least 2 bags of it in my house at all times in case I feel like making fried chicken or some kind of other delicious cookies or pancakes or pie crust….etc. It’s just made only from ground up almonds and is very low in carbs.
Olive Oil and Lard – I tried a few different things to fry my chicken but what I found works really good is a combo of Lard and olive oil. If you don’t have lard then just use a good extra virgin olive oil.
Spices – Any spices of your choice are ok. A lot of spices, 11 if you want it to taste the famous Kentucky Fried, which are salt, pepper, garlic salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, dried mustard, paprika, ground mustard. Or maybe if you want it more simple then just use salt and pepper, garlic powder and parsley the way that we did.
What Is Low Carb Fried Chicken Breading Made Of?
We need to discover a substitute for the standard white flour that is typically used to make fried chicken because it is rich in carbohydrates.
Almond flour, which is made solely of ground almonds, is excellent for cooking fried chicken. A fantastic match for our low-carb chicken is a 1/4 cup, which has roughly 2 NET Carbs.
Here’s a tip for all of our gluten-free readers: as almond flour is also gluten-free, our Keto Fried Chicken is also gluten-free.
What Is the Best Flour Substitute for Breading?
According to my culinary expertise, almond flour is the most adaptable in terms of baking and cooking, making it the greatest substitute for conventional flour. It contains solely crushed almonds, which are suitable for many different diets, and is low carb, with only 2 NET carbohydrates in every 1/4 cup. It’s the greatest option because it very much measures 1 for 1 like ordinary flour.
Can I Use Buttermilk on Keto?
Due to its high carb content, buttermilk cannot be consumed while following the Keto diet. One cup of buttermilk has 12 grams of sugar and 12 grams of carbohydrates. It’s more so the production of buttermilk procedure, which discards all the sugars and other undesirable ingredients. It will increase your blood sugar and force you out of ketosis if you consume too much of it too frequently.
You can replace almond milk or ghee, which are low in carbs, low in sugar, and high in healthy fats, for buttermilk in a recipe by making mock buttermilk out of heavy whipping cream and vinegar.
What Is The Best Oil For Frying Chicken
There are many different oils that can be used to fry chicken, but some of the better ones include lard, sesame oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil. Keep in mind that certain oils are more expensive than others.
Personally, I combined avocado oil with lard as well as olive oil and lard. Lard is a traditional frying ingredient that gives fried meals a great flavor and crisp texture. In comparison to some oils that can be pricey, it has no flavor or odor and is also incredibly inexpensive.
Best Spice Mixture for Fried Chicken
The only seasonings we used for our Keto Fried Chicken dish were salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley. Although I intended to prepare it with this base of spices, you can surely add more, just as a certain man who used more than that rose to fame did.
There are a lot of spices that you can use in Keto Fried Chicken. Some of the best spices you can use with fried chicken are these 11:
- Salt
- Thyme
- Basil
- Oregano
- Celery Salt
- Black Pepper
- Dried Mustard
- Paprika
- Garlic Salt
- Ground Ginger
- White Pepper
Therefore, I would argue that you could use any or all of these spices. Feel free to experiment with some as even Colonel Sanders made a fortune by selling fried chicken with 11 herbs and spices. Simply add salt and pepper if you prefer a milder flavor.
Which Parts of the Chicken are Best for Frying?
The good thing about chicken is that you can fry the entire bird. Who doesn’t love a good fried drumstick or fried chicken wings? Every single part of the chicken is edible and tasty, including the white meat for those who prefer it and the dark meat for those who prefer it.
Even though I’ll eat any fried chicken, the drumsticks, thighs, and of course wings are the finest, I prefer the darker meat.
Should I Leave the Skin On or Off?
It’s a personal preference whether or not to leave the skin on the chicken before coating and frying it, just as it’s a preference what kind of chicken you use to prepare your Keto/Fried Chicken.
The drumsticks, thighs, and wings with the skin on are my personal favorites. I believe the chicken is crispier and juicier when the skin is still on.
Some individuals find the skin on chicken to be too fattening to consume, but while eating fried chicken on the keto diet, you need some fat to help you lose weight. So feel free to eat the chicken if you like the skin.
Pan Frying vs. Deep Frying Chicken
You have a choice as to whether you pan-fry or deep-fry your keto fried chicken. I’ve tried both methods, and they both produce excellent results.
The primary lesson here is that pan-frying your chicken uses less oil than deep-frying it, and vice versa.
If I have enough oil or lard on hand, I’ll usually deep-fry the chicken to cook it faster because all sides cook at once when it’s completely submerged in oil.
Yes, if you prefer to deep fry your chicken, you will need to purchase additional oil, but it is worthwhile because the fried chicken tastes better when it is deep-fried. It won’t matter how you prepare the chicken since whether you pan fry it or deep fry it, either way it will make your kitchen smell like fried food.
Do You Cook Chicken Before Deep Frying?
Given that chicken is one of the meats that needs to be properly cooked, you might ask if you need to pre-cook the chicken before frying it.
However, there is no need to pre-cook your chicken before deep-frying it because the oil is so hot during the deep-frying process that it completely cooks the chicken.
How Long Does Chicken Take To Fry?
Your Keto Chicken will take about 10-15 minutes to get lovely and crispy if you deep-fry it with oil completely covering it. Your chicken will take around 20 minutes to cook if you fry it with only the bottom half of the piece in the hot oil and the top half exposed to the air.
What Temperature Do You Fry Chicken At?
If you’ve never made fried chicken at home, you might be unsure of the ideal temperature to fry it at. It will cook too quickly, get too black, or burn if you cook it at a temperature that is too high.
It won’t crisp up very well and will take a lot longer to cook if the temperature is too low. After numerous attempts, I’ve determined that 350 degrees is ideal for cooking both white and dark meat.
How to Make Keto Fried Chicken
Here, we want to share our knowledge in making Keto Fried Chicken with you and provide step-by-step directions to make it as simple as possible for you. Just adhere to these easy directions…
The first step is to give your chicken a quick washing in cold water. Clean off.
The eggs are beaten in a bowl with a fork to create the egg mixture.
Next, add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, and almond flour to a bowl.
(You are welcome to add more spices from the list already mentioned. To add some heat, you can add cayenne pepper.
Now coat the chicken pieces with almond flour before dipping them in the egg.
Repeat this process using egg and then flour for an additional coating. Place aside on a dish right now.
Once the chicken has been thoroughly coated, prepare to fry it by putting it in heated olive oil, melted lard, or whatever other oil you decide to use, and cooking it until golden brown.
You can use any frying pan, but if you have a dutch oven, use it. The tall sides will reduce splatter, and dutch ovens fry food so nicely because they control the temperature so well.
Keep an eye on the oil’s temperature with a thermometer. That’s one of the tricks to making Keto fried chicken crispy. When you add the cold chicken, the temperature of the oil will naturally drop to 300–325 degrees, which is a safe range to fry the chicken at. The oil should be heated to between 350 and 375 degrees.
Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is around 170 degrees and cook it for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it is golden brown on both sides. That will guarantee that the inside is juicy while the outside is crispy.
To remove and absorb the grease, place on paper towels.
Best Tips for Making Keto Fried Chicken
Here are a few of the key recommendations we discovered to assist you in creating the ideal keto fried chicken:
Use the white meat or the dark meat of the chicken that you like. Although either of these can be utilized to prepare fried chicken, I believe utilizing thighs results in meatier chicken. You have two options: either buy a whole chicken and chop it yourself, or buy the parts already sliced.
Your almond flour combination can be improved by adding a few of your preferred spices before putting it in an airtight container and storing it in the refrigerator. This way, the flour will be ready when you’re ready to create Keto Fried Chicken.
Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the oil to remove any uncertainty from the procedure. Your chicken will overheat on the outside and undercook on the interior if you rush it.
To ensure that the chicken is cooked through, check its temperature using a thermometer as well.
Because cast iron transmits heat well, making it ideal for frying food, and because dutch ovens are deeper and have higher sides that minimize splatter, cooking your keto fried chicken in one will result in flavorful fried chicken.
How to Keep Fried Chicken Juicy
You might worry about how to keep the chicken juicy because no one enjoys dried-out chicken. The ideal technique, in our opinion, is to use a thermometer to check that the temperature of the oil is no higher than 350 degrees and that of the chicken is no higher than 175 degrees. It will be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
The chicken will start to dry out and become overdone if you cook it longer.
How Can I Make Fried Chicken Crispier?
The finest cooking vessels for preparing crispy Keto Fried Chicken are a cast-iron frying pan or a Dutch oven. Both of them distribute heat evenly, preventing your chicken from burning and preserving its juicy texture.
Once the chicken is cooked, set it aside to cool over a baking sheet covered in paper towels to catch any drippings. The breading will stay crisper if you do this.
Whey protein isolate can be used as an alternative to parmesan, pig rinds, or almond flour when making crispy chicken. When consumed, it is incredibly crispy, clings to the chicken well, and bubbles up in the hot oil.
How to Not Burn Fried Chicken
My experience with creating low-carb fried chicken has taught me that the key to keeping your chicken from burning is to ensure that the oil is not too hot. When you add the chilled chicken, the temperature of the oil will drop to a perfect 325 degrees from its initial temperature of roughly 350 degrees.
Otherwise, the chicken will cook too quickly and end up burning if the oil is too hot, like 375 degrees.
How Can I Keep the Breading from Falling Off the Chicken and Stick?
One of the first things that you need to do to make sure that your breading sticks to your chicken, is to make sure that you dry off the chicken well before breading it. If you don’t, the egg will not stick to it and as a result then your breading will not stick to it.
Make sure that you do not overcrowd your pan. If the pieces of chicken are rubbing against one another it can loosen up the coating that you worked hard to put on.
If you need to turn over the chicken during the frying process only do it once….the less you flip it the better your breading will stick to your chicken.
You can also double bread the chicken so that if a little breading falls off in the cooking process then you will still have some on there as a backup.