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When I first made this crispy keto fried chicken recipe, my husband kept asking if I was sure it’s low carb. With a crunchy breading on the drumsticks that sizzles to perfection in the air fryer (or the oven), it’s hard to tell the difference!
If you want a simpler way to make them, my oven baked chicken legs and crispy air fryer drumsticks are just as delicious without the fuss of breading.
Why You’ll Love This Keto Fried Chicken Recipe
- Crispy zero carb coating
- Tender, juicy chicken
- Smoky, savory taste
- Quick 10 minute prep
- Air fryer and oven options
- Only 2g net carbs
- Naturally gluten-free
Is Fried Chicken Keto?
Regular fried chicken in not keto friendly, because it is breaded with high-carb wheat flour, but you can make it keto by using a low carb breading instead.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need…
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for keto air fried chicken, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Chicken – I used bone-in skin-on chicken drumsticks, but you can also use chicken leg quarters, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or a variety of chicken cuts. Select ones that are uniform in size, so that they cook evenly at the same rate.
- Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour – Used for dredging, which helps the egg stick, and in turn helps the breading stick.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Eggs – Dipping the chicken in egg will allow the breading to stick. You should be able to use an egg substitute (such as a flax egg) here if you need to.
- Pork Rinds – You can make homemade pork rinds or buy them. Either way, once you crush them up, this is the keto equivalent to breadcrumbs. You can even get them pre-crushed to save time. If you like a cheesy flavor, replace half of the crushed pork rinds with grated parmesan cheese.
- Smoked Paprika – Smoked paprika adds a wonderful smoky flavor and color. If you don’t have this spice, you can use regular paprika as a substitute.
- Garlic Powder – Instead of using fresh garlic, which can burn easily, we’ve opted for garlic powder. To incorporate the flavor of fresh garlic, you can mix minced garlic with some butter and place the mixture under the skin like I do for air fryer chicken drumsticks.
- Dried Thyme – Dried parsley, basil, or chives would also work here. Or, use fresh herbs instead (triple the amount).
- Cooking Spray – I used olive oil cooking spray for extra crispy chicken, but you could use avocado oil cooking spray as well.
VARIATION: Use different seasonings.
Replace the seasonings with add Italian seasoning or lemon pepper seasoning. Or, complement the seasonings above with oregano, onion powder, or cayenne pepper. Reduce or omit the salt if the spice blends you use contain it.
How To Make Keto Fried Chicken
This section shows how to make low carb fried chicken, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Combine the dredging ingredients. In a medium shallow bowl, stir together coconut flour, sea salt and black pepper. Set aside.
- Whisk the eggs. In a second medium bowl, whisk eggs. Set aside.
- Mix the breading. In a third bowl, mix crushed pork rinds, smoked paprika, garlic powder and thyme.
- Dredge the chicken. Place a chicken drumstick into the coconut flour mixture and coat on all sides. Dip into the egg mixture and shake off the excess. Press the chicken into the pork rind mixture. Repeat dredging, dipping, and coating the remaining drumsticks.
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.
I also recommend keeping 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.
- Air fry. Preheat the air fryer. Lightly grease the air fryer basket and arrange the breaded chicken in it in a single layer, without touching. Spray with cooking spray on all sides. Cook the keto fried chicken in the air fryer until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.
VARIATION: Keto oven fried chicken!
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line baking sheet with foil and place an oven safe rack on top. Bake the chicken legs in the oven for 25 minutes. Flip and bake for another 10-20 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reaches the internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftover keto air fryer fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: You can reheat keto fried chicken in the air fryer at 350 degrees F or in the oven at 375 degrees F, until warm.
- Freeze: Wrap tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Keto Fried Chicken
Need some ideas for what to serve with these deliciously crispy drumsticks? Here are some of my favorites:
- Sauces – For more flavor, add sauces to your chicken legs. Use the hot sauce from my baked buffalo wings to coat the chicken after cooking, or dunk the legs in sugar-free teriyaki sauce, sweet BBQ sauce, or herby chimichurri sauce.
- Air Fryer Vegetables – Make a full meal with air fryer okra, garlicky air fryer green beans, easy air fryer cauliflower, or tender air fryer asparagus.
- Classic Sides – I love to pair these legs with cauliflower mashed potatoes, creamy keto coleslaw, buttery almond flour biscuits, or sweet keto cornbread. A side of cauliflower mac and cheese also pairs well!
- Salad – Broccoli cauliflower salad or cauliflower potato salad make quick and easy cookout-style options, but kale salad is another one of my favorites.
- Keto Fries – For a quick and simple side dish, pair keto friendly fried chicken with garlic and parmesan zucchini fries, crispy keto fries, or jicama fries.
For more ideas, check out all my low carb side dishes or low carb salad recipes.
More Easy Keto Chicken Recipes
It’s easy to make chicken that satisfies your cravings — without the excess carbs! Try some of these flavorful recipes next:
Recommended Tools
- Air Fryer – This is my favorite air fryer because it cooks evenly and has a roomy basket without taking up too much counter space. It has made low carb fried chicken a reality!
- Baking Sheet – If you want to bake your chicken, you’ll need a baking sheet with a rack like this one.
Keto Fried Chicken
Keto Fried Chicken (Air Fryer Or Oven)
Make the BEST keto fried chicken, with air fryer or oven options! It's super crispy, easy, and only 1.6g net carbs per serving.
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Ingredients
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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In a medium shallow bowl, stir together the coconut flour, sea salt and black pepper. Set aside.
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In a second medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. Set aside.
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In a third bowl, mix the crushed pork rinds, smoked paprika, garlic powder and thyme.
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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.
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Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for 5 minutes. Lightly grease the basket, spray the chicken with cooking spray on all sides, and arrange the breaded chicken on it in a single layer, without touching.
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Cook keto fried chicken in the air fryer for 20 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). (The safe internal temperature is 165 degrees F, but for dark meat, 170 is optimal for the most tender, juicy results.)
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our free low carb support group, too – I’d love to see it!
Related Easy Recipes
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 drumstick
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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130 Comments
Scott Mottern
0This recipe was delightful. The chicken was super crispy and the only thing I think I will do differently next time is monitor my cook time a little closer. Mine turned out a little dry; but the texture of the crust was excellent.
Simi
0Honestly the best keto fried chicken recipe I’ve ever tried. It was so easy to make. The Chicken came out so crispy. Will definitely be making this again.
Rita
0I’ve never had an air fryer, never made wings at home! On first try, these came out as the best wings I’ve ever had! I’d have never thought that 3 simple ingredients-baking powder, salt and pepper could combine to make a coating so tasty! I paired them with homemade bleu cheese dressing-YOUR RECIPE but substituted butter milk for almond milk-added worcester sauce, left out the lemon juice to avoid the extra added carbs since I used buttermilk. DELICIOUS!!! You’re a genius and I appreciate your recipes so much!
Wholesome Yum A
0I 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
0Hi 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. You may be interested in Wholesome Yum Plus, which includes an ad-free version of the website, along with other perks.
Kelleigh D Williams
0Can this recipe be deep fried as is? I don’t have an air fryer.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi 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
0This 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
0Hi,
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
0Hi 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
0Ii 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
0Hi, 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
0Hi Laura, Yes that should work fine. Enjoy!
Deborah Johnson
0Can the coconut flour be substituted for almond flour
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Deborah, Almond flour will give a different texture for the coating, but the recipe will still work if you sub with almond flour.
Amy
0I 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
0These 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
0What 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
0Hi Kelli, The cook time should be fairly similar. I would start checking the internal temp for doneness around 15 minutes.
Jeremy
0Just 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
0I 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
0Hi Terry, the serving size is 1 drumstick.
DaBu
0Used Carbquick biscuit mix instead of pork rinds. Best 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
0I am not a fan of the taste of pork rinds. Is it noticeable with this recipe?
Wholesome Yum
0Hi 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
0The 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
0Hi Karol, try my air fryer chicken wings recipe for recommended cooking times!
Sue
0Can you double dip the chicken in the egg mixture and then into the pork rinds?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi 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
0Hi, 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
0Hi Chrissy, These would be dry puffed up pork rinds.
Lisa Cirillo
0Can I substitute parmesan cheese in place of pork rinds?
Wholesome Yum
0I don’t think that would work as well here, Lisa. Let me know if you try it, though.
Maggie
0Hi! 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
0Hi Maggie, That sounds delicious but have not tested it to give you a baking time.
Lorri
0I 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
0Hi 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
0Can I use something besides pork rinds, I don’t eat pork or beef.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi 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
0Great photo! Is there a substitute for the coconut flour? I hate coconuts!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank 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
0This 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
0I have both air fryer and convection oven. Can I use the latter and how much heat should I use? Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Mercedes, I’m sure you could but haven’t tested it to confirm a time or temperature.
Teresa Dale
0This 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
0Hi Teresa, The chicken breast will need less cook time than drumsticks, so you could either cook them separately or take them out sooner.
Isabella
0Love this healthier version of the classic favorite!
Katie
0This was so good! I’d make this, whole 30 or not!
Anne Lawton
0This chicken looks delicious! Isnt’t the air fryer great! everything turns out nice an crispy with less mess too.
Zuzana
0All 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
0And THIS is exactly why I need to get an air fryer, looks so delicious
Megan Stevens
0I’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
0Hi. 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
0Hi 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
0This looks delicious- I love coconut flour!
Kelly
0Yet another reason that I need an air fryer. These looks amazing!
Joni Gomes
0I’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
0Thank you, Joni! Any kind of fat will do – butter, avocado oil, etc.
Vanessa
0Wow, this breading is such a revelation! The chicken looks perfectly crispy. I will definitely try this soon!
Jean
0I’ve been learning to use my new air fryer recently and this crispy coating was absolutely perfect.
Kari
0This is amazing, I’ve been wondering about the air fryer and it really lives up to all expectations!
Raia
0Looks pretty perfect and sounds easy, too!
Renee D Kohley
0That looks seriously legit! So crispy! I can’t wait to try this!
Amanda M Patterson
0I 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
0Hi 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
0If 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
0Hi 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
0I love finding great air fryer recipes. This came out SO great and the whole family loves it!
Sha
0I 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
0Hi Sha, You could try more almond flour instead, but it will be significantly less crispy than using pork rinds.
Judy
0Hi 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
0Hi 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
0Ok. Thank you so much!
Suzanne
0Can you make this in a regular oven? What’s the baking temperature for US?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi 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
0I 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
0Hi Pam, Yes, you can. It doesn’t get as crispy as it would in an air fryer, but is still good!