Homemade Keto Chicken Nuggets are delicious & the recipe is so easy. With just 6 ingredients & 30 minutes, you have the best keto chicken nuggets and no kid or adult can resist them.
Boneless skinless breast bites are deep-fried until juicy on the inside & golden on the outside. The grain-free/gluten-free coating is low-carb, crispy & crunchy. Seriously so yummy & no one will miss the traditional breading.
At only 1.6 net carbs per serving, you can enjoy these often. Serve them my recipe for Air Fryer Keto Crispy Radishes, which is a great low-carb french fry alternative.
Jump to:
- Why Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Ingredients for Keto Chicken Nuggets
- How to Make Keto Chicken Nuggets
- How to Pan Fry Chicken Nuggets
- Dip & Serving Suggestions
- How Many Carbs & Calories in Keto Chicken Nuggets?
- Side Dish Ideas
- Who Invented the Chicken Nugget?
- Substitutions & Variations
- Air Fryer Instructions
- Storage
- Equipment
- FAQ
- Keto Chicken Nuggets
Why Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Besides being so tasty when they are hot & fresh, there are many reasons why you should make chicken nuggets at home. Here is why you will love this recipe for keto chicken nuggets.
- Control the ingredients - use organic, white meat, dark meat, etc.
- Season the coating with your favorite herbs & spices
- Can make them mild or spicy
- Only need 6 ingredients
- Takes only 30 minutes
- Best when eaten freshly fried when hot & crunchy
- Better than store-bought or frozen!
- Less expensive than going out for fast food or Wingstop
No more running to McDonald's, Chic-fil-A, or Burger King to get the kids to eat dinner. These also taste so much better than any frozen brand of premade chicken nuggets like those made by Tyson, Perdue, or Costco. This is the only chicken nugget recipe you will ever need.
Ingredients for Keto Chicken Nuggets
You only need a few ingredients for this homemade recipe. Most of them you probably already have in your refrigerator and pantry.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - easy to cut into chunks & what traditional nuggets are made from
- 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
- Olive Oil - pan-frying chicken nuggets in olive oil may be uncommon, but I avoid processed oils, and coconut oil affects taste.
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 Best Coating Mixture
- Dredge & Dip the Chicken
- Fry the "Breaded" Nuggets
Cut the Chicken into Nugget-Sized Pieces
If the boneless skinless chicken breast is not already in pieces, you will need to cut them. Using a sharp knife, cut the meat into bite-sized pieces. Make sure they are uniform in size so they cook up evenly.
I like them to be about 1.5" squares. This medium size is ideal for holding, dipping, & biting into.
Make the Best Coating Mixture
The coating for grain-free chicken nuggets consists of equal parts of almond flour and parmesan cheese. It is the perfect low-carb and gluten-free coating for the best keto chicken nuggets.
Seasoning is also added for additional flavor. Combine all these ingredients in a shallow baking dish or pan.
Dredge & Dip the Chicken
Once you have cut the boneless chicken breasts into equal-sized nuggets, get the rest of the ingredients ready. I like to use shallow pie pans for all my ingredients to dip from one item to the next.
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) 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.
How to Pan Fry 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.
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 about some of the nuggets in about a 10-12" frying pan.
How Long Does it Take to Fry Nuggets
They will cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side. It will depend on the size you make your nuggets. For the size seen here, 4 minutes was perfect.
How to Tell When Nuggets are Done Frying
You can use a digital instant-read thermometer on them to be sure they cook to an internal temperature of 165°. (if you are making bigger pieces like chicken tenders you will fry for longer, estimating about 6 minutes on each side but use your thermometer to be sure they are 165° in the center so they are cooked throughout)
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.
Once all the batches are complete, serve with your favorite dips and side dishes. Enjoy immediately while fresh & hot.
Dip & Serving Suggestions
Everyone has a favorite dipping sauce to serve with chicken nuggets. The good news is no matter what you choose to eat with these keto nuggets, you cannot go wrong. 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
- Blue Cheese dressing for tang and creaminess
- Ketchup for the kid's favorite
- Honey Mustard for some sweet and spicy kick
- Red's Hot Sauce for buffalo-style nuggets
How Many Carbs & Calories in Keto Chicken Nuggets?
This recipe is for 6 servings. Per serving, this low-carb nugget recipe is under 300 calories & has less than 2 net carbs. Yeah, chicken nuggets are ok to have on a keto, low-carb, high-protein, diabetic, or high-fat diet. Here is some nutritional information, see more in the recipe card below.
- 249 calories
- 1.6 net carb
- 13.6 grams fat
- 26 grams protein
Side Dish Ideas
Want some more delicious keto & low-carb ideas? These recipes go great with keto nuggets.
Who Invented the Chicken Nugget?
And a final note and a bit of trivia to discuss while enjoying them. It is always great to teach your kids a bit more about food and history, right? Many think that McDonald's invented the chicken nuggets. They sure did make them famous, but they did not invent them.
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.
Substitutions & Variations
Try these ingredient alternatives & recipe variations to make this exactly what you are looking for. For those with a dietary restriction, or allergy, or are out of an item, hopefully, these tips will help you.
- Almond Flour - you can use coconut flour but the taste & texture will change quite a bit; however, it is still gluten-free & keto.
- Lupin Flour - up the fiber & protein by using ½ lupin flour & ½ almond flour
- Chicken - instead of boneless skinless breast meat use thighs or tenders
- Diary-Free - omit the parmesan & double the amount of almond flour
- Spicy - add 2 tablespoons of your favorite buffalo or hot sauce to the egg wash or ½ teaspoon of cayenne to the coating mixture.
Air Fryer Instructions
Yes for a healthier take on these fried nuggets, you can make them in the air fryer. Follow these easy steps for air frying instead of deep frying these keto chicken nuggets.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375° and set the cook timer to 12-15 minutes.
- Once it is preheated, add the breaded nuggets to the air fryer in a single layer.
- Let them cook, shake or flip them halfway through the cooking time. Make sure they reach 165° internal temperature.
- You may need to air fry several batches depending on the size of your machine.
Storage
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 350° for 20-30 minutes.
Equipment
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FAQ
Yes for a healthier take on these fried nuggets, you can bake them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°. Once it is preheated, add the breaded nuggets to a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer. Let them cook for 16-20 minutes & flip them halfway. Make sure they reach 165° internal temperature.
If the breading is falling off while you are frying the chicken nuggets, try fixing it with one of these methods. Make sure you are using super-fine almond flour otherwise, coarse-ground will fall off easily. Make sure you have enough egg on the chicken for the coating to stick too. Lastly, make sure the oil is HOT and the chicken sizzles immediately otherwise the coating just soaks into the oil and it will turn into mush and fall off.
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
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 249 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 13.6g | 16% |
| Saturated Fat 5.2g | 26% |
| Cholesterol 103mg | 34% |
| Sodium 1019mg | 44% |
| Total Carbohydrate 2g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.4g | 2% |
| Total Sugars 0.1g | |
| Protein 26g | |
| Vitamin D 5mcg | 26% |
| Calcium 259mg | 20% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 22mg | 0% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
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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.