These easy keto chicken nuggets are a delicious and simple take on a childhood classic, complete with easy seasoning and breading! I’ll show you how to make low carb almond flour chicken nuggets with just 5 ingredients — great for kids and grownups. Serve ’em with keto French fries for a classic meal (and don’t expect leftovers!). I created these low carb chicken nuggets after vacationing while I was pregnant. Nuggets were one of the only chicken recipes I could tolerate with morning sickness, despite being highly processed, high in carbs, and hard to find on many restaurant menus. (And I had so much “fun” trying to explain why I need to order off the kids’ menu at many of them.) After returning home, I was so happy to come back to a cleaner version that still tasted delicious!
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for keto chicken nuggets, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – The standard choice in keto recipes for chicken nuggets. You might also be able to use chicken thighs, but cook times may vary.Mayonnaise – We’re using this as a binder instead of egg to help the breading stay on the chicken. Use any keto store-bought mayo you prefer, or make your own avocado oil mayo recipe. You can also just use whisked egg instead, but the mayo makes these extra flavorful.White Vinegar – Adds more authentic flavor to these mcnuggets without breading. Apple cider vinegar would be another close substitute, but you could also sub pickle juice.Wholesome Yum Almond Flour – If you never made keto chicken nuggets with almond flour before, you have to try them with this flour! With a fine grind, it sticks better to the chicken than other popular keto nugget coatings, like parmesan cheese or crushed pork rinds.Salt & Pepper – For simple seasoning.Olive Oil – For shallow frying. You can also use avocado oil, or any neutral oil you prefer.
How To Make Keto Chicken Nuggets
This section shows how to make low carb chicken nuggets, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below. These nuggets only have salt and pepper to keep prep super simple, but you can also add seasonings to the meat or mix them into the almond flour. Try onion powder, garlic powder, or paprika!
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.Reheat: Warm up keto nuggets in the oven at 350 degrees F. The air fryer is another great option to crisp them up.Freeze: Add breaded nuggets (cooked works best) to a lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe container for long-term storage. No need to thaw before baking, but you may need to add a few minutes to the cook time.
What To Serve With Keto Chicken Nuggets
There are so many ways to dish up these keto chicken nuggets, for kids and grown-ups alike! Brining creates a more tender and juicy nugget (I do the same for baked chicken breast). You can skip this step if you’re short on time. I prefer the chicken meat as is, but some chicken nugget recipes mince it. If you want to do this, place the chicken in a food processor with a bit of water to mince. Shape into nuggets, then freeze for about 20-30 minutes before proceeding with the recipe. Avoid putting the wet hand into the dry mixture too much, which will prevent the breading from clumping. For best results, arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray with cooking spray. Cook for 8 minutes at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway through.
Sauces – Sugar-free ketchup (shown in the photos!) is a classic choice, but sugar-free honey mustard, ranch dressing, or sugar-free bbq sauce also taste great.Homestyle Veggies – Try these nuggets with cauliflower mac and cheese, keto coleslaw, or Southern fried cabbage.Potato Swaps – Serve this dish with cauliflower potato salad, jicama fries, or sauteed radishes. If you have family members who aren’t low carb, make easy roasted potatoes for them and a low carb side dish for you.Keto Breads – Try nuggets with almond flour biscuits, keto garlic bread, or a batch of keto cornbread.
More Family-Friendly Keto Chicken Recipes
These chicken dinners are always a winner in my household — and still low in carbs! Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it!
