Craving crispy fried chicken on a keto diet? You’re in luck. This keto fried chicken recipe delivers everything you love about the classic dish – crunchy coating, juicy meat, and bold flavor – without the carbs. It’s a game-changer for anyone following a low-carb lifestyle who doesn’t want to give up comfort food.
The secret to this keto-friendly version lies in the coating. Instead of traditional flour or breadcrumbs, we use a blend of almond flour, grated parmesan cheese, and a mix of herbs and spices. The result is a crispy, golden crust that holds up beautifully to frying and adds a nutty, savory depth of flavor.
Start by marinating your chicken pieces – thighs, drumsticks, or breasts – in a mixture of buttermilk (or a low-carb alternative like unsweetened almond milk with a splash of vinegar) and your favorite seasonings. Letting the chicken soak for a few hours or overnight helps tenderize the meat and ensures it stays moist when cooked.
When it’s time to fry, dredge each piece in the almond flour coating and gently lower it into hot oil. Avocado oil or coconut oil are ideal for keto diets and have high smoke points. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, then let the pieces rest on a wire rack to keep them crispy.
This keto fried chicken is everything you want it to be – crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor. Serve it with a side of cauliflower mash, zucchini fries, or a fresh cabbage slaw for a full low-carb meal.
Whether you’re planning a family dinner, a weekend treat, or meal prepping for the week, this keto fried chicken is a satisfying option that doesn’t compromise on taste. Once you try it, you won’t miss the original – and your taste buds (and macros) will thank you.

Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 eggs large,
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the almond flour, grated Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- In another shallow bowl, beat the eggs.
- Dip each chicken drumstick into the beaten eggs, then roll it in the almond flour mixture, coating it well. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Place the coated chicken drumsticks in the skillet, cooking them for about 5 minutes on each side, or until browned and crispy.
- Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and crispy.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
I don’t like the taste of almond flour, couldn’t eat it. Better off with regular flour.
Fried chicken is just the best! Even keto can’t change that. 😋
Too much almond flour taste for my liking, I prefer regular flour. But my keto friends loved it!
Sounds good but almond flour isn’t the same as regular flour. I dunno if I can trust this recipe.
The chicken was too dry for my taste. I think it needs more oil or marinade.
This is the best keto recipe I’ve tried! I’m on keto for a month now and this made things easier.
I don’t know, looks a bit complicated for fried chicken. Can’t we just fry it in oil? Why all the baking?
I tried this recipe too and it was AMAZING! My family loved it, and I’m sticking to keto for sure!
Keto or not, this chicken is lit!!! Can’t believe how kinda healthy it is. My kids devoured it in minutes!
This keto fried chicken is amazing! So crispy and flavorful. Definitely a keeper!
Wow, this recipe is a keeper, my kids loved it! Thanks for sharing! 😋
Why do you need to bake it after frying? Seems like a waste of time to me… Just fry it longer!
Baking after frying helps keep the chicken moist inside while making it extra crispy outside. Trust me, it’s worth the extra time!
INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THE RECIPE BOX
Simple and delicious! My family loved it. I’ll make it again for sure!
Meh. Didn’t impress me at all. I guess I’m not a fan of almond flour. 🤷♂️
Is it ok to use chicken breasts instead of drumsticks? Asking for a friend…
I followed the instructions, but mine came out soggy? What went wrong?
I added some cayenne for more heat, and wow, what a kick! My husband loved it!
Cayenne is a great idea! I’ll have to try that next time! Glad you both liked it!
Keto? More like ‘no thanks’. Fried chicken shouldn’t be healthy. What’s the point?
Just ok. I expected it to be crunchier. Maybe I didn’t fry it right. 🤷
Keto? More like a no-go for me! I don’t understand why anyone would skip carbs. 😒
Keto recipes are always a hit, but this one is just chicken. What’s so special about it?
This is a game changer! I never thought keto could taste this good. My family devoured it.
Easy peasy! I’m not great at cooking, but even I managed to pull this off!
This is the best keto fried chicken recipe I’ve tried! So crispy and flavorful. My family loved it!
I totally agree! This recipe is a game changer for keto meals. My kids didn’t even realize it was healthy! 😍
can u use chicken breast? I only have that in the fridge! 🤔
I dunno, I thought this would be better. The almond flour just didn’t cut it for me. Not a big fan.
I tried it but the almond flour just didn’t work for me. It tasted weird. Maybe I did something wrong?
Wasn’t bad but the parmesan overpowered it too much. Next time I’ll skip the cheese.
Keto fried chicken! YES PLEASE! Love it and super easy recipe to follow.
This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it. How often do you make it?
Y’all are crazy, who puts parmesan on chicken?? I mean, what even is this?
This was delicious! My family loved it, even the picky eaters. Will make again!
Delicious! I subbed the olive oil for butter and it made it even better!
Too much work for chicken! I prefer to just grill. Less mess!
I don’t get why people like almond flour. It’s weird. This didn’t taste like chicken at all.
Followed the recipe exactly but my chicken tasted like cardboard. Maybe I missunderstood the oven temp? Idk.
Not bad, but I think it needs more seasoning. The chicken was kinda bland for my taste.
This recipe was amazing! The chicken turned out super crispy just like I love it. Will definitely make this again!
Super easy to make! I didn’t have almond flour so I used regular flour, still turned out great.
Tried it without the paprika coz I didn’t have any. Still turned out great! Gonna make it again, maybe with a twist!
My first time cooking keto and it was easier than I expected. Tasted wonderful!
Can u use chicken breasts instead? Drumsticks are kinda messy for me.
Yeah, chicken breasts should work fine! Just make sure not to overcook them since they dry out faster than drumsticks.
This keto fried chicken is amazing! So crispy and full of flavor. My family devoured it!
Absolutely the best chicken I’ve made! It’s crunchy outside and juicy inside. 10/10!
I love how healthy this is!!! Keto life ftw!! 🥳👍
Keto is awesome! Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing! 🥳
This was okay. I think I prefer the traditional fried chicken, gotta stick to the classics.
I get that! Nothing beats traditional fried chicken for that comfort food vibe! 👍
Yum! The spices are perfect! I’m gonna make this for my cookout this weekend!
Sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it myself. Hope your cookout goes great! 👏🥳
Kinda bland, needs more spices. Maybe next time I’ll add some hot sauce.
Um, I think I did something wrong. My chicken was all soggy, definitely not crispy. What did I miss?
This recipe is amazing! I love how crispy the chicken turns out. My family devoured it!
I found it a bit too greasy. Maybe use less oil next time? Not my favorite.
Too greasy? Nah, I think that’s how fried chicken is supposed to taste! It’s all about the flavor, right?
I actually loved it! The oil gives it that nice crunch. Maybe you just had a little too much on yours?
Followed the recipe but it didn’t turn out as crispy as I wanted. Maybe I did something wrong?
Maybe try cooking them a bit longer or at a higher temp? Sometimes ovens vary.
Yuk, I don’t like chicken skin, so I won’t try this. Do people really eat the skin?
Keto or not, this is the best fried chicken I’ve made! I added some cayenne for a kick.
Sounds delicious! I never thought of adding cayenne, I’ll have to try that next time.
This is just another keto gimmick. Chicken is chicken, no need for all this fuss!
Keto or not, this chicken rocks! Gonna make it again this weekend! ☺️