• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Healthy Recipes Blog
  • Fall Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fall Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Chicken Recipes » Keto Chicken Nuggets

    Keto Chicken Nuggets

    Last updated: Aug 21, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    These delicious keto chicken nuggets are seasoned with garlic and cayenne, coated in almond flour, and baked until wonderfully crispy.

    They are excellent on their own, even better when dipped in a spicy chipotle sauce.

    Keto chicken nuggets served with  a dipping sauce.

    I make these keto chicken nuggets often. They're fantastic, and my entire family enjoys them. Baked chicken breast isn't very exciting. But when you cut a chicken breast into chunks, season them, coat them, and bake them in the oven, the result is wonderful!

    This is true whether the coating is almond flour, as in this recipe; parmesan cheese, in these parmesan chicken tenders; or pork rinds, in pork rind chicken tenders.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Keto Chicken Nuggets Instructions
    • Expert Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • More Chicken Recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    • For the dipping sauce: Mayonnaise, sour cream, and chipotle pepper sauce.
    • Cooking spray: Avocado oil has a neutral flavor, making it suitable for high-heat cooking.
    • Chicken breasts: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe.
    • Egg: I use large eggs in most of my recipes, this one included.
    • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
    • Almond flour: I use blanched almond flour; a coarse almond meal will work too.

    Variations

    • You can use different spices. Good options that I tried and liked include onion powder, smoked paprika, and cumin. You can add ½ teaspoon of each additional spice.
    • You can coat the chicken pieces with mayo or Dijon mustard instead of dipping them in an egg mixture.
    • Try coating the nuggets with finely crushed pork rinds - it's delicious!

    Keto Chicken Nuggets Instructions

    Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

    • Mix an egg with spices in a small bowl. (Photo 1).
    • Cut raw chicken breasts into bite-size pieces. (Photo 2).
    • Dip the chicken pieces in the seasoned egg and dredge them in almond flour. (Photos 3,4).
    • Arrange the nuggets on a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Spray them with oil and bake them for about 15 minutes in a 450°F oven. (Photo 5).
    • Serve with a spicy dip. (Photo 6).
    A six-photo collage showing the steps for making keto chicken nuggets.

    Expert Tip

    Don't try to bake these nuggets in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes, as some recipes instruct. Baking them in a hot oven makes the coating crispy, helps seal in the juices, and keeps the meat juicy.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you make keto chicken nuggets without eggs?

    Yes. Instead of the egg mixture, mix ¼ cup of mayonnaise with the same spices, then coat the chicken pieces with this mixture before dredging them in almond flour.

    Can you make these nuggets without almond flour?

    Yes. As mentioned above, almond flour is not the only option for low-carb coatings for chicken nuggets. Other options include dry-grated parmesan cheese and crushed pork rinds.

    Do I have to use the chipotle dipping sauce?

    No. Serve them with any dip you like, such as mustard or sugar-free ketchup. I sometimes serve them with sriracha mayo. They are also excellent with no dip at all.

    Serving Suggestions

    You can serve these tasty nuggets as a snack or appetizer, 4 pieces per person. Or serve them as a main course, 6-8 pieces per person, with your favorite side dish.

    I like to serve them with baked zucchini fries. I simply bake the zucchini in the same 450°F oven for 10 minutes per side. They are also good with roasted zucchini and roasted peppers, which can be cooked in the same oven.

    Another excellent side dish to serve with these nuggets is a salad. I often serve them with a cucumber tomato salad or arugula salad.

    Storing Leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave at 50% power or in a 300°F oven.

    The almond flour coating is a bit fragile, so be careful when handling the nuggets. I don't recommend freezing them. The coating will not survive thawing.

    Keto chicken nuggets served on a white plate with a dipping sauce.

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Gluten-free chicken tenders served with a dipping sauce.
      Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders
    • Pork rind chicken tenders served with a dipping sauce.
      Pork Rind Chicken Tenders
    • Grilled chicken tenders served on a white plate with parsley for garnish.
      Grilled Chicken Tenders
    • Almond flour chicken tenders served with a dip.
      Almond Flour Chicken Tenders

    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Keto chicken nuggets served with a dipping sauce.
    4.99 from 53 votes
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Print Recipe

    Keto Chicken Nuggets

    These delicious keto chicken nuggets are seasoned with garlic and cayenne, coated in almond flour, and baked until wonderfully crispy.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 358kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Chipotle dipping sauce:

    • ¼ cup avocado oil mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon chipotle pepper sauce (or more, depending on taste)

    Chicken nuggets:

    • Avocado oil spray
    • 2 chicken breasts 8 ounces each
    • 1 egg
    • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit if serving this to young children)
    • 1 cup almond flour blanched, finely ground

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with high-heat-resistant parchment paper (or foil) and spray it with avocado oil spray.
    • To prepare the chipotle dipping sauce, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and hot pepper sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
    • Cut the chicken breasts into nugget-sized pieces, as shown in the video below.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
    • Place the almond flour in another small bowl.
    • Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture, then dredge in the almond flour, pressing to coat. To avoid a sticky mess, use one hand to dip in the egg and the second hand to dredge in the almond flour.
    • Arrange the chicken nuggets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Spray them with avocado oil. Bake until the bottom is golden, about 8 minutes.
    • Carefully flip, spray with more oil, and bake until golden and cooked through (their internal temperature should reach 165ºF), about 8 more minutes.
    • To promote browning, if your baking dish is broiler-safe, you can finish by broiling the chicken nuggets, in the middle of the oven, for 2-3 minutes.
    • Serve immediately with the chipotle dipping sauce.

    Video

    Notes

    • You won't use all the almond flour. You'll only use about half. But you need all of it to properly dredge the chicken pieces. The nutrition info reflects that.
    • Variation: Instead of the egg mixture, mix ¼ cup of mayonnaise with the same spices, then coat the chicken pieces with that before dredging in the almond flour.
    • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave at 50% power or in a 300°F oven. The almond flour coating is a bit fragile, so be careful when handling the nuggets. I don't recommend freezing these chicken nuggets.

    Add Your Own Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes. They're only visible to you. If you clear your browser's cache, they'll be lost.

    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 4nuggets | Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 302mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
    SubscribeI aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
    Pinterest icon Facebook icon Youtube icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Tiktok icon
    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    ❤️ Let's connect! Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter.

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Greek chicken, sliced and served with lemon slices.
      Greek Chicken
    • Thai chicken salad served in a bowl.
      Thai Chicken Salad
    • Moroccan chicken served in a white saucepan.
      Moroccan Chicken
    • Chinese chicken salad served with chopsticks.
      Chinese Chicken Salad

    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
    Each comment is reviewed before being published. We reserve the right to publish, delete, or edit comments.

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.

    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Fall Recipes

    • Roasted pumpkin on a baking sheet.
      Roasted Pumpkin
    • Cabbage casserole served in a white baking dish with a serving spoon.
      Cabbage Casserole
    • Keto pumpkin pie topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
      Keto Pumpkin Pie
    • Moroccan chicken served in a white saucepan.
      Moroccan Chicken
    • Pulled chicken served in a white bowl.
      Pulled Chicken
    • Keto pumpkin bread, sliced, served on a white tray.
      Keto Pumpkin Bread
    • Pumpkin curry soup served in a white bowl.
      Pumpkin Curry Soup
    • Roasted butternut squash served in a white bowl with a napkin.
      Roasted Butternut Squash
    Pinterest icon Facebook icon Youtube icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Tiktok icon

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked chicken breast served on a white plate with a fork.
      Baked Chicken Breast
    • Cauliflower pizza crust topped with cheese and pepperoni.
      Cauliflower Pizza Crust
    • Microwave bacon served on paper towels.
      Microwave Bacon
    • Oven-baked pork chops in a cast-iron skillet.
      Oven-Baked Pork Chops
    • Turkey burger in a bun.
      Turkey Burgers
    • Grilled chicken breast, sliced and served on a white plate.
      Grilled Chicken Breast
    • Pork roast, sliced, and served on a white platter with broccoli.
      Easy Boneless Pork Roast
    • Baked chicken wings served on a white plate with a dip.
      Baked Chicken Wings

    Footer

    Media mentions

    Media mentions of Healthy Recipes Blog: logos

    The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.


    By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.


    Accessibility Statement


    Copyright © 2023