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.
I’m not usually into keto stuff, but this came out so crispy. The almond flour + parm combo is legit. I did bake closer to 20 min and it was perfect.
Right?! I’m not keto either, but almond flour + parm really does make it crackly. I’ve also found 20 minutes is the sweet spot—15 felt a bit under for my oven.
Way too much almond flour for my taste, I prefer more spice!
The chicken was too dry for my taste. I think it needs more oil or marinade.
Turned out super crispy and actually stayed crunchy even after cooling a bit. Keto-friendly and way easier than I expected—would make again.
That’s awesome to hear! The crisp staying crunchy after cooling is exactly what I look for—keto chicken can get soggy fast. I’m definitely trying this method again.
I tried it but my chicken turned out soggy. Maybe I did something wrong.
My coating kept falling off when I moved the drumsticks. I think I didn’t dry the chicken enough before egging it. Next time I’ll pat it dry—still tasty!
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!
Pretty good! Seasoning tasted great, but mine wasn’t as crispy as I wanted—maybe my oil heat was off. Still delicious and juicy though.
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?
Only 1/4 cup parm?? I had to use more or it felt bland. Maybe that’s just me. Would definitely make again but I’d bump the seasoning.
Just ok. I expected it to be crunchier. Maybe I didn’t fry it right. 🤷
Keto fried chicken… in the oven. Not gonna lie, I was skeptical. But the result honestly surprised me—crunch held up better than I expected.
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.
Not sure about the oven part… frying it 5 minutes per side then baking seems like overkill. But my chicken did come out cooked through, so I guess it works.
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!
The flavor is great—garlic and paprika really come through. I used pre-grated parm though and it still worked. Texture was nice!
Yes! Love hearing the garlic + paprika combo comes through. I’ve also used pre-grated Parm in the past—glad it still crisped up for you.
Good to know it still worked with pre-grated parm, but I worry it won’t be as “fresh” and salty. Next time I’ll use the block and grate it myself. Texture sounds promising though!
yummy!! will def make again, quick and easy! 😍
So glad you enjoyed it! It’s super easy and tasty, right? 😄
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!
Good flavor, but mine didn’t get “crispy” until I baked a little longer—more like 25 minutes. Also make sure the skillet oil is hot or it’ll just kinda fry in place.
That makes sense—mine wasn’t crispy right away either. I ended up going closer to 25 min in the oven like you said, and it finally browned up. Also keeping the oil actually hot helped a lot (when it’s not, it definitely feels like it just steams/frys in place). Great tip!
My first time cooking keto and it was easier than I expected. Tasted wonderful!
It’s not real fried chicken without the oil, this keto version don’t even compare. No offense!
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!
Made this tonight and it’s shockingly crispy for keto. The almond flour + parm combo is doing the heavy lifting. I used thighs instead of drumsticks and still worked great.
Whaaaat? KETO chicken??! Why not just use bread crumbs? This is CRAZY.
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?
This was a game changer! My family loved it, even the kids. Will make again!
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.
lol I followed it but my eggs wouldn’t cling to the chicken at first… then it turned into a mess. Taste was okay, but I’m not convinced.
I’ve made this—eggs not “clinging” usually means the chicken wasn’t dry enough or the coating was too thick/dry. Try patting the drumsticks really dry and let them sit 2–3 minutes after dipping so the almond flour sets. Also, medium heat matters; if the oil is too cool the coating slides off. Taste okay but not sold is fair—crispy comes down to crisping time.
Way too salty for my taste. I used salted parmesan too, so that didn’t help. If you’re sensitive to salt, reduce it a bit.
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! ☺️
We did turkey legs instead and they was bomb! Glad I tried this, kinda funky but cool.
Turkey legs? That’s interesting! I never tried that with this recipe. 🤔 But if it was bomb, maybe I should give it a shot! 👏
I was skeptical about almond flour but it turned out really tasty. Next time I’ll add a pinch of cayenne for some heat. My kids (not keto) stole pieces lol.
Pretty solid keto option—flavor is good and the coating sticks well once you’ve got the egg part down. Next time I’ll make sure the skillet is hot-hot because 5 min a side felt a tad fast for my stove.
2 pounds of drumsticks for 1/2 cup almond flour feels kinda like not enough coating? Mine was a little thin, but still yummy. Maybe I just messed up lol.
This is a solid recipe, but 5 minutes per side in the skillet feels short for drumsticks. I ended up browning longer and the bake time was still needed.
I totally get that—drumsticks usually need more than a quick flip. I usually brown a bit longer first too, then I trust the 15–20 min bake to finish them through.
Hmm, 5 min/side seems a lil low to me. Also 200°C oven sounds fine but mine took more like 30 mins last time. Maybe thicker drumsticks or the skillet heat matters a lot.
The oven temp is 400 and then bake 15-20—sounds about right. But I forgot the parmesan once and it tasted… sad. Parmesan is key. Would do again.
Hmm I might be different: I forgot parmesan once and it was still ok? Maybe I had more garlic powder. Also I cooked it longer at 400 and it got dry, so I think bake time matters more than cheese.
100% agree—parmesan is what makes that almond flour coating taste “real” and not just eggy. I did it without once too and it was kinda bland and sad 😅
This recipe is okay, but I think it’s more like baked chicken than fried. Still, the flavor is good. Would be 5 stars if it was crispier.
I followed it pretty much exactly, but I think my skillet was too hot—browned fast before the inside was fully done. Next time I’ll reduce heat and bake a bit longer.
I think you should’ve flipped it sooner? Like if it browned fast, maybe 5 min each side is too long? Also 400°F seems kinda low for drumsticks… but idk.
Good catch! Medium heat can vary a lot by skillet. I’ve had the same issue—browning early—so I now aim for closer to medium-low and make sure the bake finishes the inside. 👍
Made this tonight and it actually came out super crispy. The almond flour + parm combo is a great vibe. I cooked mine maybe 2-3 min longer in the oven and it was perfect.