Homemade Keto Chicken Nuggets are delicious & the recipe is so easy. They are crunchy on the outside & juicy on the inside. The best bite-sized comfort food that no kid or adult can resist them. You won't believe they are only 2 net carbs per serving!
Boneless skinless breast bites are deep-fried until the grain-free/gluten-free coating is crispy good. Seriously so yummy & no one will miss the traditional breading or carbs.
Just 6 ingredients & 20 minutes to cook - these will be on your regular dinner rotation. Serve them with a few Homemade Pickles using Leftover Pickle Juice or some Air Fryer Keto Crispy Radishes, which is a great low-carb french fry alternative.
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Ingredients for Keto Chicken Nuggets
You only need a few ingredients for this easy homemade keto nuggets recipe. Most of them you probably already have in your refrigerator and pantry. All are low-carb & keto-approved.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - easy to cut into chunks & what traditional nuggets are made from (thighs & tenders work too)
- Eggs - it helps the keto coating stick to the breast meat
- Grated Parmesan Cheese - adds saltiness & crunch to the nuggets
- Almond Flour - I recommend super-fine so it sticks
- Seasonings - seasoned salt, regular salt, & black pepper (cayenne for a spicy version)
- Olive Oil - pan-frying chicken nuggets in olive oil may be uncommon, but I avoid processed oils, and coconut oil affects taste.
See recipe card for full amounts and instructions.
How to Make Keto Chicken Nuggets
Here are all the easy steps for making keto chicken nuggets from scratch. You will be surprised how simple it is to make these at home.
- Cut the Chicken into Nugget-Sized Pieces
- Make the Grain-Free Coating Mixture
- Dredge & Dip the Chicken
- Fry the "Breaded" Nuggets
1 - Cut the Chicken into Nugget-Sized Pieces
Using a sharp knife, cut the meat into bite-sized chunks about 1.5" squares. Make sure they are uniform in size so they cook up evenly.
2 - Make the Grain-Free Coating Mixture
Combine all the "breading" ingredients in a shallow baking dish or pan. Stir so the spices are evenly distributed.
3 - Dredge & Dip the Chicken
Now set up the dredging station so you can dip one item and the next easily. I like to use shallow pie pans for all my ingredients - see my picture below. This is exactly what I do also for my Classic Fried Southern Chicken Tenders.
You will need 3 shallow plates or pie pans to have all the following ready to go. The three include:
- Whisked eggs with salt & pepper (and a splash of water)
- Grain-free coating of parmesan, almond flour, seasoned salt, and black pepper
- Chicken cut into chunks
Here are the steps to dip & dredge. Once the oil is hot (see next section & photos below) this is how you will proceed:
- Dip each chicken chunk into the beaten egg.
- Roll or toss gently in the grain-free coating mixture.
- Place each nugget gently into the frying pan.
4 - Fry the "Breaded" Chicken Nuggets
Once the ingredients are ready, get a frying pan ready on the stove and add the oil. Heat on medium-high heat for a few minutes so the oil can come to temperature.
Place each nugget gently into the frying pan. DO NOT overcrowd the pan, this recipe will make about 2-3 batches in my 10-12" frying pan.
Cook for 3-5 minutes per side, flipping over carefully with tongs. When done, place on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain and cool before eating. Repeat until all are done.
Serving Suggestions & Dip Ideas
Serve these will hot, fresh, & crispy. Here are some amazing recipes and the best dip ideas:
- HOT HONEY - is sweet, sticky, and spicy goodness
- HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING WITHOUT MAYO is cool and creamy
- Or try store-bought favorites liked Blue Cheese, Ketchup, Honey Mustard, BBQ sauce, or Red's Hot Sauce.
Storing, Freeze, & Reheating
These chicken nuggets are great for leftovers. They store and reheat easily so make a double batch ahead of time for meal planning.
Place nuggets in a container with a lid for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the air fryer easily or in the oven at 400° for a few minutes.
You can also freeze these nuggets after they have been cooked. To prevent sticking, freeze leftovers spaced out on a plate or tray for an hour, then store them in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 30 days & reheat frozen keto nuggets directly from the freezer at 400° for 20-30 minutes.
FAQ
Yes for a healthier take on these fried nuggets, you can bake them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400° & cook for 20 minutes - flip them halfway. Make sure they reach 165° internal temperature.
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Add the nuggets in a single layer and lightly spray with a high heat oil like avocado oil - cook for 12-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
If the breading is falling off while you are frying the chicken nuggets, try fixing it with one of these methods.
- Use only super-fine almond flour otherwise, coarse-ground slides off.
- Make sure you have enough egg coating
- Make sure the oil is HOT and the chicken sizzle otherwise the
They are safe to eat when the coating is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
If you have a nut allergy, other grain-free or keto friendly flours can be used. Try coconut flour if it is safe for you - the taste will be different with a slightly sweet undertone. Or try Lupin Flour - up the fiber & protein by using ½ lupin flour & ½ almond flour
Yes, you can omit the parmesan and use all almond flour instead.
Robert C Baker invented the chicken nugget. He actually is credited with over 40 poultry-related innovations. He made the recipe in the 1950s but didn't patent it. McDonald's later did, and it is all history from there. Learn more about him and his accomplishments on the Wikipedia page for Robert C Baker.
Keto Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- 10-12" frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (2 large) cut into medium sized chunks
- 2 eggs
- ¾ C Parmesan Cheese grated
- ¾ C Almond Flour super-fine
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- salt & pepper
- water splash
- olive oil
Instructions
- In 3 pie pans or shallow rimmed plates, prep the ingredients. In one pan place, the cut-up chicken.
- In another pan, whisk together the eggs, add some salt and pepper. Then add a splash of water and whisk again.
- In the final pan, add the parmesan, almond flour, seasoned salt, and black pepper.
- Once the ingredients are ready, get a frying pan ready on the stove and add enough oil so that it is about ½' deep. . Heat on medium-high heat for a few minutes so the oil can come to temperature. You can check to see if it is ready for frying by sticking the end of a wooden spoon handle gently into the oil, is little bubbles form around the wooden spoon end, it is ready!
- Dip each chicken chunk into the beaten egg and then roll or toss gently in the grain-free coating mixture. Place each nugget gently into the frying pan. DO NOT overcrowd the pan, this recipe will make about 2-3 batches so you will only fit some of the nuggets in about the frying pan.
- They will cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side. It will depend on the size you make the nuggets. For the size shown above, 4 minutes was just right. You can use a digital instant-read thermometer on them to be sure they cook to an internal temperature of 165°.
- Remove nuggets that are ready and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any remaining oil and keep crispy. To keep nuggets warm as you cook other batches, you can put them on an oven-safe plate to keep warm in the oven on the lowest setting your oven allows.
- Enjoy with your favorite dips.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 400°F for 5-8 minutes
- Freeze precooked nuggets for up to a month. Bake frozen in a 400°F oven for 20 minutes or until hot inside.
Nutrition
Keto Side Dish Ideas
These recipes go great with keto nuggets.
NOTE: this recipe was originally published in 2020 & republished in 2025 - it now includes updated air fryer information, nutritional information, & new side dish & similar recipe recommendations
Sabrina DeWalt says
I always save the tenderloin when I break down whole chickens. When I have enough in the freezer I use them for nuggets. I love that this recipe is keto friendly.
Angela says
That is a great usage of the full bird and making the best recipes from each cut. Thanks for sharing.
Alexis Farmer says
These look so good and a lot healthier, definitely want to try them!
Angela says
They sure are and I hope you cook up some grain-free chicken nuggets soon to enjoy.
Nisha says
This looks absolutely delicious .Love that its grain free and almond flour is used and perfectly done!
Bonnie says
Wondering if the coating could be used for onion rings or other foods as well as chicken?
Angela says
Yes, it can. I have used it for pork chops and for zucchini "fries" too. I have not yet tried it on onion rings but when I was making these to go with traditional onion rings, I thought of making the onion rings grain-free next time and hope the coating stays on when we drop them in our deep fryer.
Kendra says
I made the mistake of ordering chicken and waffles for the family for dinner last weekend. Watching them nom on the fried chicken was so mean to myself! These grain free fried chicken nuggets would definitely be a great way for me to satisfy my fried chicken cravings! Yum!
Angela says
Oh yes, you have to treat yourself too. These grain-free chicken nuggets are all the love and none of the guilt!
Emily Ackerman says
This looks great!! dO you think it would do well in an air fryer?
Angela says
I am not 100% sure but I think they would. I do not own an air fryer so I am not familiar with them. Another reader plans to try it out and will hopefully let us know how they turn out.
Sandra Barrett says
Wonderful alternative to fast food option.
Angela says
Thank you.
Karie says
Looks delicious. I bet that almond flour really gives it a great taste.
Angela says
Almond flour on chicken nuggets as great texture and flavor.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
That whole plate looks amazing!! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party! Have a great week.
Amanda says
Ohhh, I can't wait to try these! My toddler is going through that picky phase where she won't eat anything but somehow loves McDonald's. Maybe she will actually eat this! Thank you!
Angela says
Oh, I hope your little girl likes these - much healthier than fast-food chicken nuggets.
Dee | Grammy's Grid says
Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 16.
Beth says
These look so tasty and such a great alternative to take-out nuggets. I also don't use corn or vegetable oils, but in playing with my new-ish air fryer I've been using avocado oil spray since it has such a high smoke point - I'd likely cook these nuggets that way.
Angela says
I would love to hear how these turn out, especially if you make the grain-free nuggets in the air fryer. I do not own one but fellow readers would love to know your works out. Enjoy!
Barbara says
Sounds and looks scrumptious!
Cindy Mailhot says
Looks yummy. I love that it is grain free.
Beth Shields says
These look great and I love the use of the parmesan cheese and almond flour. Great way to keep it low carb! Thanks for sharing. Look delicious.
Angela says
You are welcome and I hope you enjoy the chicken nuggets recipe.
Tera says
Prefect! Now I can make an easy chicken nugget meal everyone in the family can eat!
Leah says
Fast food chicken nuggets really gross me out, like I want to know what the chicken looked like before it was covered and fried. I think these chicken nuggets would easily taste better and I’m loving that you’ve added parmesan cheese! Looks delicious!
Angela says
Yes, no mystery what is in these chicken nuggets. Just great real ingredients!
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
I love homemade nuggets and these were so good! They were a hit in my house Angela!
Angela says
I am glad the homemade chicken nuggets were a hit. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
LaRena Fry says
Love that this is a grain-free recipe. Chicken nuggets is a classic kid favorite. Even adults like them too. Yum!
saif says
I love fried chicken nugget. It is so easy yet delicious. One of my favorite fried food. Thanks for the recipe.
Ai says
YUM! I bet these would be so delicious with your hot honey!
Angela says
They absolutely are!
Angela says
They absolutely are!
Lathiya says
The chicken nugget looks yummy. Can't wait to try.
Mary says
Crunchy but without wheat is finally achieved. I have been using almond flour before it was bland and not really crispy. The parmesan was what I was missing. So excited to have this recipe for regular meals.