Easy Keto Chicken Nuggets (Carnivore)

Perfect for keto and carnivore diets, these easy keto chicken nuggets are a crispy, low-carb snack or meal! Made with chicken, cheese, egg, and pork rinds, they’re a healthier alternative to traditional nuggets.

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Why make carnivore/keto chicken nuggets?

Most nuggets are coated in allergenic starches like wheat and corn. If that weren’t enough, they often have added sugar and are fried in seed oils. (McDonald’s nuggets have dried glucose syrup in them.)

These nuggets avoid carbs and fillers, making them perfect for low-carb diets or those who prefer animal-based ingredients. They also steer clear of inflammatory seed oils.

Best of all, though, is how easy these are to make! In just a few minutes, you can mix the ingredients to form a mixture that is easily shaped into nuggets. The nuggets are quickly coated in pork rind crumbs and baked in an air fryer to golden perfection! (You can even personalize the shape for a bit of fun!)

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Ingredients

This recipe is very easy to make and uses simple ingredients.

The most important, of course, is the chicken. Use skinless, boneless chicken breasts for the easiest nuggets. You can also use dark meat from the thighs or drumsticks, but it takes more time to remove all the tendons from the meat. I enjoy the flavor of dark meat but prefer the ease of making nuggets with chicken breasts, so I usually use a mix of both.

To add moisture and lightness to the nuggets, I add an egg and cheese. For flavor, I add salt. You can add garlic powder or herbs to your nuggets for extra seasoning. (My son loves the addition of garlic and sage!)

To coat the nuggets, I use homemade pork rind crumbs! They’re quick to make and are the perfect low-carb coating for crispy, delicious nuggets! I also use melted homemade lard or bacon grease for deep-frying or crisping nuggets in the air fryer.

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Instructions

1. First, we’ll mix the chicken, egg, cheese, salt, and seasonings in a food processor. Blend until a smooth paste is formed. (If using a less powerful food processor, cut the meat into smaller pieces and use previously shredded cheese.)
2. Once the past is formed, shape the nuggets by flattening balls of the mixture in your hands. You can form the nugget shape with spoons on parchment paper. For parties or special occasions, you can even use cookie cutters to form the mixture into fun shapes! (I made mine into Halloween chicken nuggets!)
3. Coat the shapes with ground pork rinds. To coat the nuggets in pork rind crumbs, press them directly onto the crumbs on a plate. For delicate shapes, sprinkle the pork rinds on top and press them gently into the nuggets. Once coated, the nuggets are less sticky and much easier to handle.

Now, all that’s left is to cook the nuggets! I have successfully deep-fried them in lard before, but I now prefer using an air fryer! Not only is the process quicker, but it’s less messy and uses much less lard.

4. To deep-fry the nuggets, heat lard or tallow in a deep skillet over medium heat. Fry the nuggets for about four to five minutes, on each side, until they’re golden and cooked through.
5. To bake them or cook them in an air fryer, brush each nugget with melted lard or bacon grease before cooking. This helps them brown evenly and gives them a delicious, crispy coating.
6. Then air fry at 375°F (190°C) for around eight minutes. Then flip them and continue cooking until the outside is crispy and golden.

Storage / Making them ahead of time

You can enjoy these delicious nuggets right away or meal prep by saving them for later. While you can shape the nuggets and store them uncooked in the fridge for a couple of days, depending on the freshness of the chicken, they won’t keep long.

For maximum storage time, make the nuggets and freeze them for later. I pre-form the nuggets and place them on a tray covered with parchment paper before popping them into the freezer. Once frozen, I store them in a freezer bag in the freezer until I’m ready to cook them.

To save time on cooking day, pre-coat the nuggets with melted fat before freezing them! Either way, they freeze beautifully!

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Tips for perfect keto chicken nuggets:

• Too sticky? If the mixture feels too sticky, you can add a bit more cheese to firm it up. The cheese will also melt beautifully, adding to the flavor and texture. You can also wet your hands before forming the nuggets to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands.
• I love how easy it is to coat the nuggets without an egg wash, but for extra crispiness, you can double-coat them. Just roll them in pork rinds, dip in beaten egg, and roll in pork rinds again before cooking!

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