Can you have fried chicken if you are eating keto or paleo? Some will say you can’t, but you can! You can do this with almond flour or almond meal! This Almond Flour Fried Chicken recipe is delicious and actually quite easy to make.
I’m so glad I was able to make this, by the way, because fried chicken is one of my favorite foods EVER. It’s always difficult to completely give something up you love so much if you are on a diet.
Dark meat vs. White meat?
Note about the chicken – I prefer to use Chicken thighs, as I find that it cooks juicier. However, you are welcome to use white meat if that is your preference. (Learn more about white vs. dark meats here.)
Pan Fried vs. Oven Baked?
This Paleo and Keto Fried Chicken is pan fried. However, if you prefer you can also bake it in the oven! If you’re going the oven route, bake at 350 degrees F. Bake in oven for 30 minutes, then turn pieces over and bake for another 30 minutes.
Best oil to pan fry chicken
The best oil for frying chicken is really any oil that has a high smoke point. This includes avocado, vegetable, or peanut oil, or grape seed oil.
I don’t recommend using olive oil or coconut oil as it is not good with high heat.
How to make almond flour fried chicken?
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 cup almond flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper, as desired
- Cooking oil/fat of your choice
Instructions
Crack the eggs in a bowl and whisk.
In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together (almond flour/meal, paprika, garlic powder, salt/pepper and cayenne pepper if you want a kick!).
Dip the chicken thigh in to the bowl of eggs, then in to the flour mixture.
Heat up your cooking oil in a pan on medium heat. Note about the heat: Almond flour/meal burns more easily than normal flour, which means that if the heat is too high, you will end up with some burnt friend chicken 🙁 so start at medium, and bump down the heat and cook longer as needed!
Once your oil is heated and ready, place your chicken pieces in to the pan slowly. Do not crowd the chicken (this will also help it not burn).
Cook the chicken for about 10 minutes, and then using tongs, flip them over to the other side. Now, cook for another 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear. (Remember the note from before, that if the chicken is burning, to bump down heat/cook longer!)
And that’s it! When complete, put aside on some paper towels if you want to make it a little bit less greasy, but when I make this, I don’t even do that as they don’t usually turn out too greasy for me.
Looking fore MORE delicious Keto Chicken Recipes like these Keto Fried Chicken? Check out The Ultimate Ket Chicken Recipes Round Up! I rounded up over 50+ Delicious and Keto Chicken recipes to try out. There’s Fried Chicken, Roasted Chicken, Chicken Salad, Chicken Soup, Chicken Crock Pot recipes, Asian Chicken recipes, and MORE.
Almond Flour Fried Chicken (Pan Fried, Keto, Paleo)
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 cup almond flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper, as desired
- Cooking oil/fat of your choice
Instructions
- Crack the eggs in a bowl and whisk.
- In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together (almond flour/meal, paprika, garlic powder, salt/pepper and cayenne pepper if you want a kick!).
- Dip the chicken thigh in to the bowl of eggs, then in to the flour mixture.
- Heat up your cooking oil/fat in a pan on medium heat. Note about the heat: Almond flour/meal burns more easily than normal flour, which means that if the heat is too high, you will end up with some burnt friend chicken so start at medium, and bump down the heat and cook longer as needed!
- Once your oil is heated and ready, place your chicken pieces in to the pan slowly. Do not crowd the chicken (this will also help it not burn).
- Cook the chicken for about 10 minutes, and then using tongs, flip them over to the other side. Now, cook for another 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear. (Remember the note from before, that if the chicken is burning, to bump down heat/cook longer!)
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 483Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 259mgSodium: 337mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 4gSugar: 1gProtein: 40g
Marie
Saturday 2nd of March 2024
Can I use my air fryer for this recipe?
Carolyn
Saturday 27th of August 2022
Has anybody tried cooking this in an air fryer?
RedCardinal
Saturday 12th of February 2022
Confused - blog says I don’t recommend using olive oil or coconut oil as it is not good with high heat. But, instructions mention to use coconut or olive oil????
Wendy
Monday 24th of April 2023
@RedCardinal, my Nutritionist said Canola Oil is Lo carb!
TinaTsai
Sunday 13th of February 2022
Sorry about the confusion! This recipe was posted super long ago and then I had updated later that it's actually not good to use it but forgot to update that instruction!
Hungry Buffalo
Wednesday 6th of October 2021
Coming from a southern gentleman such as myself I found that the texture of the breading was more kin to cornmeal. However, I have concluded that it makes extraordinary fried catfish. It was a marvelous treat let me tell you. Hushpuppies? Yes, ma'am an absolutely stunning low carbohydrate southern feast with tater sauce and the best hot sauce this side of the Mississippi. Will cook again
TinaTsai
Wednesday 6th of October 2021
Ha! That's awesome - I've gotta try this myself! Thank you!!
Tammy
Friday 30th of July 2021
I tried your recipe last night and was a HIT!!!! I took your advice of putting the chicken carefully in the already heated oil (avocado) and put the timer to 5 minutes each side and there were perfect as yours pictured! I think is also important to put like a finger (horizontal) of oil in the pan (mine are stainless) and keep the heat to #4 in the cooker. I'll repeat this recipe every time from now! Thanks!
TinaTsai
Friday 30th of July 2021
Glad you enjoyed it, Tammy! Thanks for your insight!!