Fried chicken is something I could eat all day long and then some more. If you are as much of a fan of Kentucky Fried Chicken as I am, then you will definitely love this keto fried chicken recipe.
For some reason, fried chicken recalls the memory of childhood and travel. My mum would fry meat, often chicken or pork, the night before we went on a trip or travelled on vacation. She’d pack it in foil, and we’d eat it with a slice of bread, mustard and gherkins. I still like it this way.
Fried chicken or pork is also part of the Slovakian Christmas dinner, alongside fried carp! ( Yes, carp!🙂) This recipe works for all kinds of fried meat, not just chicken.
And now, with a few tweaks, I’ve made it part of our low-carb lifestyle.
The Switch To Low-Carb Fried Chicken
I didn’t make fried chicken often because of how unhealthy it is. So, while we often travelled, whether for our living history hobby or just weekend trips away, I didn’t pack fried meat in our lunchboxes. It didn’t stop us from pulling over at KFC now and then, though. 😉
But once we moved to a low-carb lifestyle, I saw fried chicken in a whole new light. I started experimenting, looking for the same crispy goodness without all the carbs. This keto fried chicken recipe fits perfectly into a high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carb way of eating, and it tastes just as good as the real thing (if not better).
Nowadays, I often prepare these keto chicken thighs before a road trip. They’re easy to pack, delicious cold or warm, and don’t crumble like sandwiches. It’s become our go-to travel food, satisfying, comforting, and mess-free.
And as always, I keep my meals simple. This one’s ready quickly and uses ingredients that are easy to find and swap.
What Do You Need For This Low-Carb Fried Chicken
I like to make this fried chicken with chicken thighs as they have more juice and are tastier. But you can use chicken breast if you like. It’s a matter of preference, so don’t let me stop you from choosing: breasts or thighs.
NOTE:
This recipe works beautifully for both if you prefer fried pork or fish. Just adjust the cooking time to suit the meat or fish you’re using.
Essential ingredients
- Eggs
- Unflavoured protein powder
- Potato fibre – make sure it’s fibre, NOT potato starch or potato flour
- Salt and pepper
- Oil for frying
Optional for extra flavour:
- Grated parmesan
- Garlic powder
- Mustard powder (Dijon or English mustard would do too)
- Chilly or Cajun powder
- Unsweetened almond, oat or other non-dairy milk (to thin out the batter)
💡TIP:
Can’t find potato fibre? Use oat fibre instead.
🧀 Parmesan takes it to another level – highly recommended.
How to cook keto chicken thighs
1./ Sprinkle salt, pepper and other spices on the meat before dipping it into the batter.
2./ Heat the oil in the frying pan or skillet.
3./ In a bowl, mix eggs, protein powder, potato fibre, and extras to form a batter.
4./ Dip each chicken piece into the batter, coating both sides.
5./ Transfer battered chicken to the frying pan with hot oil and fry on medium heat on each side for a few minutes until the chicken is golden brown.
6./ Transfer cooked chicken to paper towels to drain excess oil.
7./ Keep repeating the process until all the meat is thoroughly cooked.
💡TIP:
You can also deep-fry or use an air fryer.
🧻 Drain the chicken well to reduce greasiness.
Stay in touch
If you like the content, subscribe to my monthly newsletter for updates about new articles.
I promise – no spam, no inbox flooding.
What to serve with gluten-free fried chicken
This low-carb fried chicken is delicious hot or cold, and pairs well with all sorts of keto sides. It all depends on how hungry you are, your mood, and what you have at home.
Here are my favourites:
✔️ Fried celeriac or swede chips
✔️ Cauliflower mash
✔️ Vegetable salad
✔️ Keto coleslaw
✔️ “Potato” salad made with turnip (recipe coming soon)
✔️ Keto cloud bread
✔️ Rye-style bread with mustard and gherkins
NOTE:
Keto chicken thighs are perfect for picnics, road trips, or a weekend treat without the carbs.
Nutrition Info
Nutrition facts are based on 50% oil absorption. Whether air-frying or deep-frying, fat content may vary, but carb count stays the same.
NOTE:
If you’re interested, there is a fascinating story behind the founder of KFC that exemplifies my perspective on ageing.
Final Thought
This gluten-free fried chicken proves that comfort food can be guilt-free. Whether you’re new to keto or want to eat less carbs, this recipe is worth trying.
And yes, I still wrap it in foil sometimes, just like my mum used to. Some habits are too good to give up.
👉If you’re in the mood for easy low-carb comfort food, look at these recipes too – they’re all tried, tested, and delicious.
🍴 Made This Recipe?
✍️ Leave a comment below and tell me how your keto fried chicken turned out! Did you go for thighs or breasts? Add your own twist?
⭐️ Don’t forget to rate the recipe – it helps more food lovers find it!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
EASY CRISPY KETO FRIED CHICKEN – 10x BETTER THAN TAKEAWAY!
Cooking Tools
- 1 Frying pan
- 1 bowl
Ingredients
- 4 large Chicken thighs - boneless and skinless
- 2 Egg
- 2 tbsp Almond milk – unsweetened - optional
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp Potato fibre
- 1 tbsp Protein powder unflavoured
- 1 tbsp Grated parmesan - optional
- 1 cup Olive oil - for frying
Instructions
- Cut the chicken thighs to your desire (see notes in the article)4 large Chicken thighs
- In a bowl, mix the eggs, almond milk(optional), potato fibre, protein powder, parmesan, salt and pepper to make batter.2 Egg, 2 tbsp Almond milk – unsweetened, Salt and pepper, 2 tbsp Potato fibre, 1 tbsp Protein powder unflavoured, 1 tbsp Grated parmesan
- Heat the oil in the frying pan.1 cup Olive oil
- Dip the chicken pieces in the batter one by one. Cover them all over and transfer them to the frying pan. Working with caution since hot oil may squirt.
- Fry the meat for a few minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Remove to a paper towel to let the excess oil absorb.
Nutrition
Nutritional facts in this recipe are only informative. The calculation might slightly vary, depending on the exact ingredients you use. For accuracy, enter your specific ingredients into a nutrition calculator like MyFitnessPal or Calorieking.
To calculate net carb use this method:
Carbohydrates – Fiber – Sugar alcohols = Net carb
Beyond the Recipe…
There’s more than recipes here: personal stories, favourite spots, and a few food myths I’ve challenged.
Wow, such a tasty and simple recipe for the fried chicken. From now on I’m not frying chicken thighs any other way.