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This is the last recipe of the year! I want to leave you with something that will support your upcoming resolutions and also show you that keto comfort food can be absolutely delicious: low carb fried chicken in the air fryer oven! This keto fried chicken recipe is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside.
You’re going to love it. My whole family ate it up, and my husband kept asking if I was sure it’s low carb.
Is Fried Chicken Keto Friendly?
Can you eat fried chicken on keto? Unfortunately not regular fried chicken, which is breaded with high-carb wheat flour.
But, that doesn’t mean we have to say goodbye to the concept. We’ll just make low carb fried chicken in the air fryer instead!
So, how to make fried chicken low carb? It’s totally easy and doable – promise!
The key is making the right keto fried chicken breading…
How To Make Keto Fried Chicken Breading
You guys, I’m obsessed with this breading! I’ve been using it on so many things.
You need to setup three bowls to make it. Set them up in a line, in this order:
- Coconut flour with salt & pepper – This is for dredging to help the egg wash stick.
- Egg wash – whisked
- Pork rinds with spices – This is the crispy exterior.
Important Tip: Use one hand to handle the dry ingredients (coconut flour and pork rind mixtures) and the other to handle the wet egg wash. This will help keep the dry bowls dry, so that you don’t end up with clumpy breading that doesn’t stick.
How To Make Low Carb Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer Oven
Once you have your bowls setup, you can make your low carb fried chicken!
Use one hand to to dredge the chicken drumsticks in the coconut flour, then the other hand to dip in the eggs, and finally use the first hand to press it into the pork rind breading mixture. You can also just scoop the breading over the drumstick to help it stick.
Another Tip to prevent clumping: Keep most of the third mixture in a separate bowl and add a little at a time to the bowl where you’ll be coating the chicken. With this method, the breading will stick very well.
Place the chicken drumsticks in the (greased) air fryer basket without touching. It’s the perfect size to fit 4 of them!
Finally, bake the keto fried chicken in the air fryer oven at 400 degrees F. You can do this on the Manual setting to set the time and temperature.
I love the GoWise USA Air Fryer Oven, because it’s larger than a regular air fryer and has more settings. It even comes with a bunch of attachments, like multiple racks and one for rotisserie chicken. I can’t wait to share more low carb air fryer recipes with you soon.
And, air fryer fried chicken is soooo crispy!
What To Serve With Keto Fried Chicken
Need some ideas for what to serve with these deliciously crispy drumsticks? Here are some of my favorite sides:
- Crispy Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts
- Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
- Parmesan Zucchini Fries
- Asian Green Beans
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
For more ideas, check out all the low carb side dishes or low carb salad recipes.
More Keto Chicken Recipes
- How To Make Juicy Baked Chicken Breast
- Keto Low Carb Chicken Francese
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Coconut Curry Chicken
Tools To Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken:
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- GoWise USA Air Fryer Oven – My air fryer oven has been a total game changer! It has made low carb fried chicken a reality.
Air Fryer Keto Low Carb Fried Chicken Recipe:
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RECIPE CARD
Air Fryer Keto Low Carb Fried Chicken Recipe
The best low carb fried chicken ever! This keto fried chicken is so crispy, you won't believe it. The secret to this air fryer fried chicken is the perfect grain-free breading.
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Instructions
RECIPE TIPS + VIDEO in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
Stir the coconut flour, sea salt and black pepper in a medium shallow bowl. Set aside.
In a second medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. Set aside.
In a third bowl, mix the crushed pork rinds, smoked paprika, garlic powder and thyme.
Dredge the chicken pieces in the coconut flour mixture, dip in the eggs, shake off the excess, then press into the pork rind mixture. For best results, keep most of the third mixture in a separate bowl and add a little at a time to the bowl where you'll be coating the chicken. That way, it won't get clumpy too fast.
Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for 5 minutes. Lightly grease the metal basket and arrange the breaded chicken on it in a single layer, without touching.
Place the basket into the air fryer. Cook the fried chicken in the air fryer for 20 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 drumstick
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Net carb count excludes fiber, erythritol, and allulose, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support
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Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator 
Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF
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74 Comments
Amanda
I love this recipe, and all of your recipes, but I swear. If there were a subscription to see your recipes without ads, I would do that. It’s so freaking hard to navigate! But again, thanks for this and keep on making keto really easy 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Amanda, Thank you so much, glad to hear you like this recipe and my others! I completely understand that some people would prefer an ad-free site, so even though they support the free content, I am working on an ad-free alterative! 🙂 Sign up here to be notified when it’s ready (no obligation to sign up, this is just to be notified).
Kelleigh D Williams
Can this recipe be deep fried as is? I don’t have an air fryer.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Kelleigh, I don’t recommend deep frying this recipe, the coating would fall off. If you don’t have an air fryer I suggest baking in the oven. You can use the same temp as listed for the air fryer, just be sure to check the temp and pull when your chicken hits 165 degrees F.
Tori
This was delicious! The breading had a really nice flavor and was so nice and crispy. I had a side of loaded cauliflower with it. One drumstick filled me right up! My only critique would be that you should lightly season the chicken directly too as all the flavor was in the breading leaving a bland inside. I also flipped my drumsticks at the last 5 mins to crisp up the other side a bit more since my air fryer doesn’t have a floating basket. Came out perfectly cooked.
Marianna
Hi,
Have you tried baking in the oven? I dont have an air fryer and was hoping to put in the oven instead.
Thanks
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Marianna, Yes, this recipe should work fine in an oven. Bake time will probably be longer. Check the internal temperature after 20 minutes, at 165 degrees F you can pull them from the oven.
Michele
Ii just received my new GoWiseUSA airfryer oven and this was my 1st time using it. My chicken was cooked perfectly. Instead I used 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts. Split them in half length wise (mimicking tenders) and followed the recipe as written. They were delicious, tender and juicy. It was a hit with my family. Yum, I will definitely make again and again.
Laura Hopson
Hi, this looks amazing!…Question..could I substitute almond flour for the coconut flour? I don’t have coconut flour on hand. Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Laura, Yes that should work fine. Enjoy!
Deborah Johnson
Can the coconut flour be substituted for almond flour
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Deborah, Almond flour will give a different texture for the coating, but the recipe will still work if you sub with almond flour.
Amy
I tried this recipe as is in my ninja foodie last night – it was so good that I made it for lunch today also. Best Gluten Free ‘fried’ Chicken I’ve ever had. I will be using the recipe for chicken parm this weekend. Thanks!
Jen Dickens
These were amazing! I might air fry for 1 minutes less next time, but genius to use pork rinds and I didn’t feel the pork rind flavour (which I don’t typically enjoy) came through in the end product.
Kelli
What would the timing, or changes, be on thighs instead? Or just the same, making sure it comes to temp to know its done?
Thank you in advance
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Kelli, The cook time should be fairly similar. I would start checking the internal temp for doneness around 15 minutes.
Jeremy
Just started my Keto journey 4 days ago and love being able to find ways to make the foods I love without all the carbs. Last night, I tried this recipe but altered it a bit. Instead of the seasonings, I used a Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning I found at the grocery store and the chicken came out amazing! Spicy Fried Chicken without all the carbs?
This recipe is definitely going into a heavy rotation!!!
Terry Black
I made this last night and it turned out very good. I used almond flour instead of coconut for a lower carb content and to boost the fat content. One thing I did notice was that the macro break down you have was a little confusing as far as the serving size. How many drumsticks is a serving according to your calculations?
Wholesome Yum A
Hi Terry, the serving size is 1 drumstick.
DaBu
Used Carbquick biscuit mix instead of pork rinds. Best damn fried chicken I’ve made since I’ve been on KETO.
WAYYYY to salty, though, and I used about half what is called for.
This one goes in my personal 5 star recipe book.
Shelly
I am not a fan of the taste of pork rinds. Is it noticeable with this recipe?
Wholesome Yum
Hi Shelly, you might taste some pork flavor if you’re sensitive to it. If you’re looking for crispy chicken without pork rinds, you might like my air fryer chicken wings instead.
Karol Mabin
The chicken looks so delicious! I have chicken wings, will this recipe work and how long do I cook them in the air fryer?
Wholesome Yum
Hi Karol, try my air fryer chicken wings recipe for recommended cooking times!
Sue
Can you double dip the chicken in the egg mixture and then into the pork rinds?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sue, Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean. You can’t move the chicken back and forth between egg and pork rinds. If you want to dip it twice into the egg that’s fine but won’t make any difference.
Chrissy
Hi, here we have 2 types of pork rinds, the traditional hard greasy natural ones and others that are drier and puffed up but still just made of pork rind. Which should I use?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Chrissy, These would be dry puffed up pork rinds.
Lisa Cirillo
Can I substitute parmesan cheese in place of pork rinds?
Wholesome Yum
I don’t think that would work as well here, Lisa. Let me know if you try it, though.
Maggie
Hi! I plan on making this with boneless, skinless chicken breast and/or thighs. Breast would be sliced into strips or nuggets. How long would the bake time be?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Maggie, That sounds delicious but have not tested it to give you a baking time.
Lorri
I made this last night. The breading was a little burnt & the chicken was raw in the middle even after I cooked it for and additional 5 minutes. The area of the chick that was cooked was not crunchy like fried chicken but was juicy & flavorful. I was a bit disappointed with this recipe especially that I am a big fan of your recipes.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lorri, Sorry you had issues with this recipe. Chicken pieces vary, so I always recommend using a meat thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature is done – 165 degrees. I didn’t need to flip the chicken in my air fryer based on how the rack is positioned, but if yours burns, it’s probably laid out a little differently and would benefit from flipping the chicken halfway through. Hope this helps!
Valerie E Jordan
Can I use something besides pork rinds, I don’t eat pork or beef.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Valerie, There isn’t a replacement that will get this crispy. But you could use almond flour and it would still be good, just not as crispy.
Jodi
Great photo! Is there a substitute for the coconut flour? I hate coconuts!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Jodi! You can’t taste the coconut at all so I recommend sticking to that. Something like arrowroot powder would also work, but it increases carb count.
Makenna Avery
This is simply amazing! Thank you so much Maya for sharing. I do prepare fried chicken a lot but didn’t there were keto-friendly options. I tried this out last weekend, loved it.
Mercedes
I have both air fryer and convection oven. Can I use the latter and how much heat should I use? Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Mercedes, I’m sure you could but haven’t tested it to confirm a time or temperature.
Teresa Dale
This looks delicious. I have a combination of drum sticks and chicken breast. Would you cook these together or separately? I think that they would cook differently. So would I need to adjust the temperature and/or cooking time for the chicken breast? Especially if I cook them separately.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Teresa, The chicken breast will need less cook time than drumsticks, so you could either cook them separately or take them out sooner.
Isabella
Love this healthier version of the classic favorite!
Katie
This was so good! I’d make this, whole 30 or not!
Anne Lawton
This chicken looks delicious! Isnt’t the air fryer great! everything turns out nice an crispy with less mess too.
Zuzana
All I need is Airfryler and will make one. 🙂 I just LOVE the look of those. maybe just because of your recipe, I will get an AirDryer
jennifer
And THIS is exactly why I need to get an air fryer, looks so delicious
Megan Stevens
I’m impressed!! So golden and yummy! And thanks, as usual, for all your small tips to ensure our success! Can’t wait to make these!
Laura
Hi. My son just bought me the Ninja air fryer I wanted, for Christmas so I am very new to air frying I want to make this but, I have 3 questions:
1. Will this work in a regular air fryer as I do not have an air fryer oven?
2. Would this work using almond flour instead of coconut flour? I have both flours I am just wondering if this recipe would work using the almond flour instead? And,
3. Can the pork rinds be any flavor or do they have to be the original flavor?
Thank you for your time.
Laura
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Laura, Great questions! Yes, you can use a regular air fryer. I don’t recommend almond flour, as the coconut flour has a finer texture and is better for dredging. Its purpose here is to help the egg stick and I find coconut flour works better for that. You can use any flavor pork rinds you like! Watch for added sugar in some flavors, though.
Shelby @Fitasamamabear
This looks delicious- I love coconut flour!
Kelly
Yet another reason that I need an air fryer. These looks amazing!
Joni Gomes
I’m always so amazed by what the air fryer is capable of! These look AMAZING! What do you use to grease the metal basket with?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Joni! Any kind of fat will do – butter, avocado oil, etc.
Vanessa
Wow, this breading is such a revelation! The chicken looks perfectly crispy. I will definitely try this soon!
Jean
I’ve been learning to use my new air fryer recently and this crispy coating was absolutely perfect.
Kari
This is amazing, I’ve been wondering about the air fryer and it really lives up to all expectations!
Raia
Looks pretty perfect and sounds easy, too!
Renee D Kohley
That looks seriously legit! So crispy! I can’t wait to try this!
Amanda M Patterson
I don’t have an air fryer so could this be done in the oven? I undrrstand it wouldn’t be as crispy. What would the temp and approximate time be? Also, i would like to do boneless, skinless breasts so how would i adjust for those?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Amanda, You probably can but it would be less crispy. I haven’t tested to say how long, but I’d estimate about 20 to 30 minutes at 400 degrees F, for drumsticks. For chicken breasts, I like them quick at a high temp – 16 to 18 minutes at 450 – and assume that would also work if breading them this way.
Jane
If you don’t have an air fryer (which I don’t) can this be done in a fan forced oven?
Thank you, I enjoy your recipes very much.
Jane
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jane, Yes, you can, but it turns out more crispy in an air fryer. Also, the time for a regular oven may take longer than the air fryer.
Meagen Brosius
I love finding great air fryer recipes. This came out SO great and the whole family loves it!
Sha
I don’t eat pork so, what can I substitute for the pork rinds? Also, will the recipe work in a regular oven as well?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sha, You could try more almond flour instead, but it will be significantly less crispy than using pork rinds.
Judy
Hi Maya. I don’t have an air fryer. Could this recipe be adapted to either frying the chicken in a skillet or baking it in a regular oven? I do have a pressure cooker but I really don’t know if you can fry chicken in it. Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Judy, The skillet would not cook it all the way through easily. You could bake it, but it would be less crispy than the air fryer. I don’t recommend a pressure cooker for foods that you’re trying to get crispy like this.
Judy
Ok. Thank you so much!
Suzanne
Can you make this in a regular oven? What’s the baking temperature for US?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Suzanne, You can, but it’s less crispy than an air fryer. You can set the same temperature as the instructions for the air fryer.
Pam
I live on a fixed income and can’t afford an air fryer. Can this be made in the oven? I do love your recipes.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Pam, Yes, you can. It doesn’t get as crispy as it would in an air fryer, but is still good!