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Home » Chicken Recipes » Keto-Fried Chicken

Keto-Fried Chicken

A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.
by Vered DeLeeuwUpdated Jun 30, 2025
4 Comments
5 from 17 votes

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Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this delicious keto-fried chicken is coated with crushed pork rinds and baked in the oven to crispy perfection.

Keto-fried chicken is served on a white plate with a napkin.

This keto-fried chicken is amazingly close to the real Southern fried chicken I used to make in the past. It's so good that I don't miss the fried version anymore! Made with seven simple ingredients and ready in about an hour, it's an easy weeknight recipe that everyone will love.

Ingredients and Substitutions

The ingredients needed to make keto fried chicken.

See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.

  • Crushed pork rinds: You can make your own or buy prepackaged "pork panko." However, making your own will yield crispier results.
  • Spices: Black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and dried thyme. There's no need for salt because pork rinds are very salty.
  • Eggs: I dip the chicken pieces into them before coating them in the crushed pork rinds. Instead of dipping the chicken pieces in eggs, you can dip them in thick buttermilk. Another option is to coat them in mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, or a mixture of both.
  • Skin-on chicken parts: I use bone-in thighs, drumsticks, or a mix of both.

Instructions

The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.

Crush pork rinds into panko-style crumbs and season them with spices. Dip the chicken pieces in eggs and dredge them in the seasoned crushed pork rinds.

Dredging the chicken in crushed pork rinds.

Place the coated chicken pieces on a greased rack placed on a rimmed baking sheet.

The coated chicken is on the pan and ready for the oven.

Bake the chicken until browned and cooked through, 40-45 minutes in a 400°F oven. Serve immediately.

The chicken is ready in the pan.

5 stars rating. Made this for dinner tonight. My husband and I LOVED it!! We will definitely be making this again!
Kelly
Read more comments

Recipe Tips

  1. Coat the chicken pieces lightly - they don't need a thick layer of panko on them - and focus on the tops. The bottoms won't be crispy anyway.
  2. Divide the crushed pork rinds into at least two portions. The more chicken pieces you dip in the coating, the soggier it becomes. Dividing it into two portions ensures you can dip the chicken into dry, crispy pork panko.
  3. I use paprika not just for its flavor but also because it adds gorgeous color to the chicken.
  4. Pork rinds are very salty, so I don't add any salt. However, if you wish, you can add ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to the pork rind mixture.

Recipe FAQs

What type of pork rinds should I use?

I use plain pork rinds. The ingredients list should only include pork skins (fried in their own fat) and salt.

You simply pulse the pork rinds in the food processor into fine crumbs. You can also place them in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin, although they won't be as finely crushed if you do it by hand.

Another option is to buy "pork panko." It's certainly the easiest option, but in my experience, it doesn't come out as crispy as crushing your own pork rinds.

Can I use almond flour instead of pork rinds?

Yes. However, almond flour does not crisp as well as crushed pork rinds and is also less flavorful.

Can I deep-fry the chicken pieces instead of baking them?

I don't recommend it. Low-carb coatings like pork rinds or almond flour don't adhere to chicken as well as flour-based batter does. They tend to disintegrate and fall apart when submerged in oil.

How long can I keep the leftovers?

As you can probably guess, this dish is best enjoyed fresh. But if you end up with leftovers, you can place them in an airtight container on paper towels and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat them uncovered in a 350°F oven or enjoy them cold! Cold leftover chicken is yummy, and not just on a picnic.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve keto-fried chicken with a side dish that can be baked in the same 400°F oven, so I often serve it with one of the following:

  • Roasted cauliflower
  • Roasted cabbage
  • Jicama fries
  • Roasted mini peppers

It also pairs well with salads, including homemade coleslaw, cucumber vinegar salad, and cherry tomato salad.

Recipe Card

Keto-fried chicken is served on top of a red checkered napkin.
5 from 17 votes
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Keto-Fried Chicken with Pork Rind Coating

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this keto-fried chicken is coated with crushed pork rinds and baked to crispy perfection.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time40 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 304kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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Video

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces pork rinds - finely crushed; 1 cup
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 eggs
  • 10 chicken drumsticks - 4 ounces each, 2.5 pounds total weight

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil (for easy cleanup) and fit it with a roasting rack. Grease the rack.
    A baking sheet is lined with foil and fitted with a wire rack.
  • Process the pork rinds in your food processor into fine crumbs. You can also do as I do in the video below – place them in a resealable bag, close the bag well (removing as much air as possible), and crush the pork rinds with a rolling pin. But this method will result in bigger crumbs. They should still adhere to the chicken pieces, but not as well.
    Crushed pork rinds in a resealable bag.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the crushed pork rinds, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme. Divide the mixture between two shallow bowls. 
    Two plates with crushed pork rinds.
  • Whisk the eggs in another shallow bowl. About half the egg mixture will remain in the bowl (and this is reflected in the nutrition info), but I find that you need two eggs to coat the chicken pieces properly.
    A bowl with whisked eggs.
  • Dip each chicken piece in the eggs, then dredge it in the crushed pork rinds. When you finish one bowl of pork rinds, move on to the next. Focus on coating mostly the tops of the chicken pieces – the bottoms will become slightly soggy anyway.
    Dredging the chicken in crushed pork rinds.
  • Place the coated chicken pieces on the prepared rack.
    The coated chicken is on the pan and ready for the oven.
  • Bake the chicken in the preheated oven until the tops are golden brown and crispy and the insides are fully cooked to 165°F. In my oven, it takes about 40 minutes. Serve immediately.
    The chicken is ready in the pan.

Notes

  • Please use plain pork rinds. The ingredient list should only include pork skins (fried in their own fat) and salt.
  • Pork rinds are very salty, so I don't add any salt. If you wish, you can add ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to the pork rind mixture.
  • You can use commercial pork panko, but it's not as crispy as crushing your own pork rinds. 
  • Instead of dipping the chicken pieces in eggs, you can dip them in thick buttermilk. Another option is to coat them in mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, or a mixture of both.
  • This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but if you end up with leftovers, you can place them in an airtight container on paper towels and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them uncovered in a 350°F oven or enjoy them cold, picnic-style. 

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 2 drumsticks | Calories: 304 kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.7 g | Protein: 35 g | Fat: 16 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Sodium: 443 mg

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Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.

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Comments

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  1. Christina says

    June 12, 2024 at 9:21 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome turn out. I baked mine in the over directly on the oven rack. I placed foil on the rack below it. Easy clean up and crispy all the way around. I baked mine 50 minutes as my chicken legs where large. Perfection! Thank you for this recipe.

    Reply
    • Vered DeLeeuw says

      June 12, 2024 at 9:28 pm

      You're very welcome, Christina! I'm so glad this was a success. Thank you for sharing your method.

  2. Kelly says

    May 09, 2024 at 5:20 pm

    5 stars
    Made this for dinner tonight. My husband and I LOVED it!! We will definitely be making this again!

    Reply
    • Vered DeLeeuw says

      May 09, 2024 at 7:05 pm

      Yay! I'm so glad this was a success, Kelly.

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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.

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