Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by Toya
Are you making a keto recipe that calls for breadcrumbs? If you are, then you must be looking for keto bread crumb substitute ideas that can actually work. Keep reading to see how to replace breadcrumbs in any keto dish!
Bread crumbs are usually made with dry bread that has been toasted to remove any moisture and then crushed to make a coarse powder.
Bread crumbs are used in quite a lot of recipes, such as pasta, seafood, and meatballs, for frying, for desserts, and more. But, if you’ve started keto, you should know that 1 cup of breadcrumbs has almost 80 grams of carbs! That is definitely a no-no for any keto or low carb lifestyle.
If you’re just starting keto, or maybe you’ve already started but you don’t know all the best keto food substitutions for all your favorite foods, then this Keto Substitutions Guide is for you! It includes over 300 amazing keto food swaps that actually work and taste good!
So, is there a keto substitute for breadcrumbs?
Thankfully, there are at least 5 great ways to substitute for breadcrumbs including homemade keto breadcrumbs, almond flour, coconut flour, pork rind crumbs, and Parmesan cheese. Keep reading to see how each of these can be used in place of breadcrumbs.
Best keto substitutes for bread crumbs
Homemade keto bread crumbs
The best keto bread crumb substitute are undoubtedly your very own homemade keto bread crumbs. To make it, all you need is to dry your favorite keto bread then roughly chop it into small pieces and blend it for 1 minute until it forms low carb bread crumbs!
Use those keto friendly bread crumbs just like you would regular bread crumbs in any recipe! This low carb bread crumbs substitute is also gluten-free!
Almond flour
Often, people ask,
Can I use almond flour instead of bread crumbs?
You sure can! Almond flour is also a great low carb substitute for bread crumbs. Find almond flour with a coarser texture, usually labeled as almond meal or just almond flour, mix in a few of your favorite spices and dried herbs, and then use it in the same way you would use regular breadcrumbs.
It is great for adding to meatballs such as these sausage balls, keto meatloaf, as well as for dredging meats to add that crispy outer layer.
Almond flour does have a slightly nutty flavor, but with a little dressing up with some spices and herbs, you will barely be able to perceive it, and this makes it a really good keto substitute for bread crumbs.
And if you’re wondering how much almond flour to substitute for bread crumbs, here’s a simple guide:
- ½ cups almond flour
- ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Mix well, then use this easy low carb bread crumb substitute in place of 1 cup of regular bread crumbs.
Coconut flour
Like almond flour, coconut flour can also be used as a keto substitute for breadcrumbs. I love using coconut flour as a keto substitute for breadcrumbs in meatballs, meatloaf, frying foods like chicken, and more.
Use ½ the amount required in the recipe. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of bread crumbs, use ¼- ½ cups of coconut flour instead. This is because coconut flour absorbs a lot of liquid, so smaller quantities are required when cooking with it.
Also, while coconut flour is a good low carb breadcrumb substitute, it does have that distinct coconut-y flavor that you may want to mask with the use of spices or dried herbs.
Pork rind crumbs
If you have it available, pork rind crumbs can also make a fantastic 1:1 substitute for breadcrumbs on keto. This type of low carb bread crumbs is made with 100% pork rinds that have been ground to form a coarse powder that can be used to make desserts, pizza crusts, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and more.
The best thing about pork rinds is that they make an excellent keto alternative to bread crumbs since they have a very similar texture to regular bread crumbs and can be used in the same way.
If you can’t find pork rind crumbs, you can always purchase pork rinds since they’re reasonably priced and grind them yourself, although this is a little inconvenient. If you want to give it a try with a store-bought version, this is my favorite brand of pork rind crumbs. You should give it a try to see if you like it as much as I do.
To make a super easy keto substitute for bread crumbs with pork rinds, add 2 cups of pork rinds, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoons of garlic powder, and ½ teaspoons of onion powder to a ziplock bag. Crush these with a rolling pin until they resemble breadcrumbs, and use as desired.
Parmesan cheese
Note that parmesan cheese is not the best keto breadcrumb alternative if you need a binder for food. As such, it cannot and should not be used as a low carb substitute for breadcrumbs in meatballs.
However, parmesan cheese sticks to food well, so it makes a great replacement for breadcrumbs on keto when coating. You can use it to make recipes like Parmesan-crusted chicken, Parmesan-crusted salmon, Parmesan-crusted steak, and more.
Parmesan cheese is low in carbs and high in fat, which makes it the perfect keto sub for breadcrumbs.
Parmesan cheese and pork rind crumbs
Another amazing keto breadcrumb substitute is a combination of pork rinds and parmesan cheese. I’ve used this breadcrumb substitute before in a delicious keto mac and cheese recipe, but you can also use it for chicken tenders, casseroles, meatballs, etc.
To make this easy keto breadcrumbs substitute, you simply need to use equal parts pork rind crumbs and equal parts parmesan cheese. Mix these well. Then use this keto breadcrumb replacement in the same way you would use any other type of bread crumbs at a 1:1 ratio!
This means, if you need 1 cup of keto friendly breadcrumbs, simply mix ½ cups of parmesan cheese with ½ cups of pork rind crumbs, and you have what you need!
Other keto breading options
Besides the keto bread crumb alternatives listed above, I’ve found a few other great bread crumb alternatives that are keto friendly:
Chia seeds
As odd as this may sound, you can use chia seeds as a handy keto replacement for breadcrumbs. Chia seeds are tiny, so there’s no NEED to process them. They’re also a very ideal keto substitute for bread crumbs in meatballs because they will help your meatballs keep their shape. Also, chia seeds are a great breadcrumb substitute for chicken recipes. While not very popular, you can take a look at how to make chia crusted chicken breasts here.
I always have chia seeds on hand so this makes it a very handy keto replacement for bread crumbs.
Flaxseeds
Another simple yet effective low carb bread crumb substitute is an equal mix of flaxseed meal and almond flour mixed with some garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Use this to bread vegetables, chicken, fish fingers, or even meatballs and meatloaf!
Sesame Seeds and Pork rinds
Another easy keto replacement for breadcrumbs is a mix of sesame seeds, crushed pork rinds, and some seasonings of your choice. This is an excellent substitute for chicken recipes like coated chicken breasts and chicken tenders.
To make this simple low carb breading, mix ¼ cups of sesame seeds with ¾ cups of crushed pork rinds and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Use this keto replacement for bread crumbs as desired.
How to make a simple keto Panko substitute
The easiest way to make keto Panko breadcrumbs is to use store-bought keto bread. To make it,
Grab eight slices of keto friendly Sola Bread.
- Then, preheat the oven to 350°F (150°C).
- Remove the crust from each slice of Sola bread.
- Grate the bread by hand or pulse it 1 to 2 times in a food processor.
- Place the processed/grated bread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 5 to 7 minutes. Do not let it brown too much.
- Remove it from the oven. Let cool and store in glass jars. Voila! You have your own homemade low carb panko substitute.