After transitioning to the keto lifestyle, KFC now stands for Keto Fried Chicken for me. I really did miss fried chicken from KFC and Popeye’s but the flour used in the coating was prohibitive to enjoying on the keto diet.
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Looking for a low carb alternative to flour in fried chicken, crushed pork rind coating as the crust seemed like a logical experiment to try to curb the fried chicken cravings with a low carb version.
Check out our keto fried chicken nuggets with a unflavored whey protein coating loosely based on the Colonel’s secret recipe for KFC’s original recipe chicken if you are not a fan of pork rinds..
Crushed pork rinds are available to purchase. This Pork Panko found at Amazon is great and makes this recipe even easier. Alternatively, you can find pork rinds (also known as pork chicharrones) in the chip aisle at any supermarket. If you do, you can put the pork rinds in a food processor or blender and blend until it resembles bread crumbs. About 3-4 ounces will yield a cup worth of crushed pork rinds.
I like to add some seasoning and spice to the pork rinds to provide additional flavor. So I add grated Parmesan cheese, chili powder and paprika.
This recipe is for 2 pieces of chicken so use the recipe card below to multiply the recipe 2x or 3x for up to 6 pieces. If you choose to Air Fry a large quantity, you can store leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat in the Air Fryer at 375°F for four minutes.
Jump to RecipeThe steps involved for this is to marinate the chicken. Then coat with the pork rind crust and finally air fry the chicken.
Keto Fried Chicken Marination
In a bowl mix chicken, yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, chili powder, paprika and salt. Refrigerate chicken in marinade for at least an hour.
Pork Rind Coating
To the crushed pork rinds whisk in grated Parmesan cheese, chili powder and paprika in a bowl. Beat an egg and keep in a separate bowl. Take a piece of chicken from the marinade and dip in the egg. Then dip chicken into the pork rind until chicken is fully coated. Repeat for the second piece of chicken
Air Fryer Cooking Instruction
Place the uncooked keto fried chicken in the Air Fryer in single layer. Cook at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. Flip halfway through. Cook time dependent on size of chicken pieces. If you do not have an air fryer, you can cook in the over for 35-40 minutes at 375°F, flipping halfway through. You can use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F in its thickest part.
Notes
- You can buy crushed pork rinds but can make it yourself by putting store bought pork rinds (chicharrones) in a food processor or blender. A single bag usually yields about 1 cup of crushed pork rinds.
- Adjust chili and paprika powder to personal taste. I like it with a bit of spice!
- Marinate for at least an hour. The longer the better.
- Can be cooked in traditional oven at 375°F for 35-40 minutes.
- You can use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F in its thickest part.
- If you make a larger batch, you can store leftovers in the fridge and reheat in the Air Fryer for about 4 minutes at 375°F.
Equipment
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt - adjust to taste
- 2 piece chicken thigh
Pork Rind Coating
- 2 oz pork rind - crushed
- 1 tsp parmesan cheese - grated
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
Chicken Marination
- In a bowl mix chicken, yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, chili powder, paprika and salt.
- Refrigerate chicken in marinade for at least an hour.
Pork Rind Crust
- To crushed pork rinds whisk in grated parmesan cheese, chili powder and paprika in a bowl
- Beat on egg and keep in a seperate bowl
- Take a piece of chicken from the marinade and dip in the egg. Then dip chicken into the pork rind until chicken is fully coated.
- Repeat for the second piece of chicken
Air Fryer Cooking Instruction
- Place in Air Fryer in single layer. Cook at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. Flip halfway through. Cook time dependent on size of chicken pieces.°
Notes
- You can buy crushed pork rinds but can make it yourself by putting store bought pork rinds (chicharrones) in a food processor or blender. A single bag usually yields about 1 cup of crushed pork rinds.
- Adjust chili and paprika powder to personal taste. I like it with a bit of spice!
- Marinate for at least an hour. The longer the better.
- Can be cooked in traditional oven at 375°F for 35-40 minutes.
- You can use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F in its thickest part.
- If you make a larger batch, you can store leftovers in the fridge and reheat in the Air Fryer for about 4 minutes at 375°F.
Nutrition
Let us know how this keto fried chicken recipe turns out for you in the comments below.
Excellent recipe! The yogurt makes it very juicy and tender. Air fryer makes the coating super crisp. I kept the skin on, but the fat dripped onto the bottom of my combo air fryer/toaster oven, making it smoke. I just opened my door and let it cook. I’m glad I did because the coating was crispy and tasty. Definitely flip halfway through. Will add this recipe to my roster.
Excellent! I made these last night and they were so good. I had planned to make them night before last and then didn’t so mine marinated all night in the fridge. I made 4 thighs so doubled the recipe. I don’t like yogurt and never have any of it on hand so the only substitution I made was sour cream for the yogurt. They were crispy, flavorful, juicy and tender. Definitely going to be on my rotation from now on.