These easy Keto Chicken Nuggets are fantastic for any night of the week for the entire family. These homemade chicken nuggets are picky kid approved! Oven or air frying option to cook as well! Just 4 main ingredients plus spices and you've got a delicious batch of low carb chicken nuggets to enjoy or even prep ahead and freeze if you prefer.
Are Chicken Nuggets Keto?
Regular chicken nuggets made with wheat flour and seed oils are not keto friendly. Vegetable oils like canola oil, and soybean oil are highly inflammatory in the body which can make it difficult if you are trying to lose weight on a keto diet or low carb diet.
Here's the breakdown for you:
Carbs in Frozen chicken nuggets like the brand Tyson has 15 grams of carbs per 10 nuggets and just 14 grams of protein.
Carbs in Fast Food Chicken Nuggets like McDonald's chicken nuggets have 15 grams of carbs for a 6 piece meal with just 15 grams of protein. While they use white chicken breast, the breading is not gluten free and is high carb.
Carbs in Traditional Chicken Nuggets that you can make at home with breadcrumbs made with white bread flour has 12 grams of carbs for 5 nuggets and 30 grams of protein.
Carbs in our Homemade Keto Chicken Nuggets; The serving is 6 nuggets for just 2 net carbs or 3 total carbs and 40 grams of protein! I think ours wins!
Paleo Chicken Nuggets
Chicken nuggets aren't just for kids. If you love easy keto recipes that require just a few ingredients that the whole family will eat, this healthy chicken nuggets recipe is for you!
After I posted my recipe for my Oven Fried Cheesy Keto Chicken Nugget recipe everyone went wild and loved them!
The only problem was since that recipe contains cheese, many people who are dairy free, including my own daughter, could not enjoy them.
I was determined to make these paleo, but still delicious chicken nuggets, and I have conquered and won!
These are the best keto chicken nuggets and even easier then my orginial since I went with using already ground chicken instead of grinding chicken breast. Of course you can still do that if you prefer since it is less expensive then buying ground chicken.
Either way, this recipe is now a family favorite and I believe you're going to love it as well.
Carnivore Chicken Nuggets
If you've not heard about the carnivore diet, it's simply a direction the keto diet movement has made.
It's an elimination diet that is a very low carb diet with minimal if any carbs and really does help many who have autoimmune or other conditions. It truly can heal the body through simply eating protein and salt. Some include dairy as well.
This family friendly chicken nuggets recipe can be carnivore by removing the seasonings I used and using full fat cream cheese.
I've tested these keto low-carb chicken nuggets both ways, using regular cream cheese as well as using dairy free cream cheese to keep them paleo and both were successful.
Tools to Make Keto Chicken Nuggets
Stand Mixer- Using a stand mixer is efficient for these keto chicken nuggets because it helps blend everything so quickly.
Large Cookie Scooper-The batter will be sticky and soft so using a cookie scooper to drop the meat mixture into the outer coating is a great way to decrease having the mixture stick to your fingers. Once you drop in the meat mixture, roll it around a bit and coat it, then pat and shape into a nugget.
Baking Sheet Pan-You will need two large baking sheets for these since this paleo chicken nugget recipe makes over 2 dozen.
Air Fryer- If you want to air fry these nuggets and have a large family like me, we have an extra large air fryer basket by the brand Phillips.
What to Serve with Low Carb Nuggets
Our favorite dipping sauce to serve with these keto air fryer chicken nuggets is of course, Keto Ranch dressing! Other sauces you night like to dip these nuggets in, Sugar Free Ketchup or even marinara sauce!
If you are serving these nuggets as your main course, here are some keto sides to enjoy with:
How to Make Keto Chicken Nuggets Recipe
This is a quick overview of the ingredients. To see the exact measurements and the option to print the recipe, please scroll down to the very bottom of the blog post and you will find the recipe card along with nutritional information.
Simple Ingredients
Ground chicken or chicken breast or chicken thighs
Dairy free cream cheese (I used Kitehill) For Carnivore- use full fat cream cheese
Large egg
Onion powder, optional for carnivore
Garlic powder, optional for carnivore
Paprika, optional for carnivore
Cayene pepper, optional for carnivore
Sea salt, I use Redmond's
Black pepper, optional for carnivore
Keto Breading
Panko crushed pork rinds (just like bread crumbs but keto friendly)
Dried Italian seasonings, optional for carnivore
Black pepper optional for carnivore
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Use olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray to grease two large baking sheet pans or use parchment paper to line the pans. Set aside.
Place all the ingredients, except the outer coating, into a stand mixer mixing bowl with the paddle attachment.
Blend until well combined. Refrigerate 30 minutes. If you are using chicken breast or thighs, you will need to use a food processor to grind the meat with the rest of the ingredients.
Whisk the coating ingredients together in a shallow small bowl.
The mixture will be soft and sticky. Use a large cookie scoop or measure 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture. Drop and roll into the coating mixture and pat all around to coat the chicken and shape into a nugget and place onto baking tray.
Make 28 nuggets. Bake 15 minutes, flip over and bake another 10 minutes or until nicely browned.
Air Fryer Option
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. You will need to cook in batches and place about 12 nuggets in a single layer onto the air fryer basket.
Cook for 10-12 minutes then flip them over and cook another 3-5 minutes or until golden brown. Continue with remaining ingredients.
More Keto Air Fryer Recipes
How to Store Keto Chicken Nuggets
Store any leftover nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Crispy Keto Chicken Nuggets
Keto Paleo Chicken Nuggets (optional Carnivore)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground chicken
- 8 ounces dairy free cream cheese (I used Kitehill) For Carnivore- use full fat cream cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon onion powder optional for carnivore
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder optional for carnivore
- ¼ teaspoon paprika optional for carnivore
- ¼ teaspoon cayene pepper optional for carnivore
- 1 teaspoon sea salt I use Redmond's
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper optional for carnivore
Coating
- 1 cup panko pork rinds
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasonings optional for carnivore
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper optional for carnivore
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease two large baking sheet pans. Set aside.
- Place all the ingredients, except the outer coating, into a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Blend until well combined. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Whisk the coating ingredients together in a shallow bowl.
- The mixture will be soft and sticky. Use a large cookie scoop or measure 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture. Drop and roll into the coating mixture and pat all around to coat the chicken and shape into a nugget.
- Make 28 nuggets. Bake 15 minutes, flip over and bake another 10 minutes or until nicely browned.
Air Fryer Option
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. You will need to cook in batches and place about 12 nuggets onto the grate of the air fryer. Cook for 10 minutes then flip them over and cook another 5 minutes. Continue with remaining nuggets.
Jess
Could these be frozen and reheated?
Brenda
Yes, I cook them, cool and place into an airtight container in the freezer.
Judy
How do you get 6 servings of 6 nuggets each when you only suggest that 28 nuggets will be made?
Shirley
Is there any way you could make these lower in salt
Cheryl
I have not made them yet, but knowing the ingredients am positive they will be delicious. I don't normally use ground chicken, but am adding it to my shopping list. Thank you.
Jessica A Felkel
Oh my goodness these are soooooooo good! I served with remoulade sauce and it was incredible. My 2 year old may have thought it was kinda spicy, but the rest of us could not get enough. Thanks!
Eric
Just made these and they are incredible! Excellent recipe. Thank you for posting and giving me something delicious to make for dinner.
Carol
These were absolutely delicious!! Thanks for a great kid friendly recipe!
Brenda
thank you!