Keto Fried Chicken Thighs – So Crispy & Tender

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Last Updated on September 13, 2023 by Toya

See how to make the best keto fried chicken thighs in minutes! These crispy yet tender fried chicken thighs are quick and easy. They’re the perfect keto fried chicken recipe made with an awesome keto breading made of coconut flour and ground almonds!

If you’ve been wanting a great low carb fried chicken recipe, then this is the keto breaded chicken thighs recipe you absolutely need. 

Keto pan fried chicken thighs

Keto fried chicken FAQs

Is fried chicken ok on keto?

Yes. As long as the fried chicken is made with a keto friendly breading such as coconut flour, almond flour, or pork rinds, you can eat fried chicken on keto. Any other fried chicken, especially fried chicken that uses all-purpose flour or regular panko bread crumbs to bread and coat the meat before frying is not okay on keto as it has too many carbs.

What is a good low carb breading for fried chicken?

There are many different keto breading ideas that can be used for a fried chicken recipe. Some people use almond flour, coconut flour, crushed pork rinds, ground almonds, and so much more.

You can use just about anything that is low in carbs to make a wonderful low carb breading.

For this recipe, a combination of coconut flour, ground almonds, salt, pepper, paprika, and oregano to make a tasty breading. These ingredients are used to make this recipe taste its best.

• Coconut flour: This flour is not only low in carbs and high in fiber. It is also very absorbent and makes the perfect addition to this breading.
  
• Ground almonds: Many people prepare this recipe with almond flour. If you only have this one hand, this is great to use. The ground almonds are also great, as they add a  richer flavor to the recipe.
  
• Salt & pepper: Used to add flavor to this recipe.
  
• Paprika: This will help add a nice orange color to the fried chicken
  
• Chili flakes: Chili flakes or red pepper flakes will add a nice hint of smokiness and bring out the flavor of the other ingredients in this recipe.
  
• Oregano: Dried oregano goes well with meats and will also help bring out the flavors of the recipe.

Can almond flour be used to fry chicken thighs?

Yes, almond flour is a good low carb breading option that you can use to coat chicken thighs before frying. I used a combination of ground almonds (almond flour) and coconut flour in this recipe, but you can use just almond flour for some delicious almond flour fried chicken if that is all you have. 

Can you make keto fried chicken without a deep fryer?

Most people do not own a deep fryer. Therefore, this recipe is adapted to cater to people who do not. The fried chicken recipe is made in a frying pan and tastes just as good as it would if it were deep fried.

Yes, a deep fryer would make frying these chicken thighs easier, however, even using a pan to cook your chicken, you can have yourself a delicious batch of fried chicken that everyone will really enjoy.

Why use chicken thighs in this recipe?

To be honest, the cut of chicken you use is all up to you. However, for me, I really enjoy chicken thighs, as I find that they’re the most flavorful and juiciest cut of chicken. It’s as easy to cook as a chicken breast, with one big difference. It will not dry out.

For this recipe, the chicken thighs were used with their bones, however, you can use boneless chicken if you prefer. It can make the process of frying easier.

With this easy keto recipe, you can enjoy these crispy chicken thighs and fries for lunch or dinner and enjoy your own keto version of KFC!

Related: Crispy Baked Low Carb Keto Zucchini Fries

How to make keto fried chicken thighs

To start, gather all of your ingredients in one place and preheat the oil.

Then, in a large bowl, combine coconut flour and ground almonds. Next, add in salt and pepper to taste, chili flakes, and dried oregano, and mix.

Your mixture should look something like this:

Coat each piece of chicken completely in this keto breading. Make sure you coat both sides. It should look like this once done:

Next, add your coated chicken to your preheated oil on medium heat.

Note: The more pieces of chicken you have in the preheated oil, the colder your oil will get. Therefore, depending on the size of your frying pan, keep this in mind. For this recipe, 1-2 pieces were added at a time for the best results.

Fry for about 10 minutes until golden brown.

Once done, the fried chicken should look like this. Crispy, golden brown and fried to perfection!

Serve these delicious keto pan fried chicken thighs with lettuce, a few cherry tomatoes, and your favorite keto sauce. You can also serve this pan fried keto chicken with these delicious zucchini fries or some low carb jicama fries for a satisfying meal.

Variations of fried keto thighs

To make these keto crispy chicken thighs more interesting, you can switch up the flavors each time you make the recipe. Here are some seasoning ideas to consider:

Taco fried chicken – You can check out this keto taco seasoning mix here. 

Southern fried chicken  – Cajan seasoning, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, salt, and paprika

Spicy fried chicken – Cayenne pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, ground ginger, and salt

Storing and freezing keto fried chicken thighs

To store these coconut flour fried chicken thighs, place your leftover in an air-tight container or wrap your fried chicken in foil and place in the fridge for up to 2 days. 

To freeze, place your fried chicken in a shallow, airtight container or wrap each piece individually in foil and place it in a freezer bag. Freeze these for up to 5 months.

What recipes can you make with coconut flour fried chicken?

There are a number of recipes you can make out of these fried chicken thighs if you have leftovers. Some examples include:

Chicken fried chicken salad: Chop the fried chicken thighs and use them in a chicken salad.

Keto fried chicken casserole: Shred or chop your fried chicken and use it in a chicken casserole.

Chicken flatbread pizza: You can shred your leftover chicken to make a flatbread pizza with it. Simply add shredded fried chicken, cheese, and a sauce of your choice for an easy flatbread pizza.

And if you like this fried chicken recipe, find more easy low carb recipes for lunch right here. 

More keto chicken recipes:

• Easy Keto Chicken Skewers
• Keto buffalo chicken thighs
• Keto adobo chicken thighs