Is Fried Chicken Keto? - Keto Nutrition (2024)

Is Fried Chicken Keto? - Keto Nutrition (1)

Eating delicious food is certainly possible on keto, and meat is one type of food that you are free to indulge in. It is high in protein and generally has no carbs to speak of. However, eating plain meat again and again can get old. If cooked chicken breast is a staple in your diet, you might be wondering if you can branch out a bit. Is fried chicken keto?

Unfortunately, fried chicken uses flour or cornmeal (and sometimes cornstarch) to create its familiar beloved crunchy crust. That means it’s not keto-friendly. Traditional fried chicken can be made keto-friendly if you remove the breading before eating. You can also fry unbreaded chicken in lard or avocado oil to stay in ketosis. Another alternative is to substitute almond flour for the more traditional white flour and dip the chicken in heavy cream and eggs instead of milk.

Is Fried Chicken Keto?

The keto diet is all about keeping your carb count low. Chicken is a great addition to your meal plan because a cup of plain chopped or diced chicken has zero carbs, but this isn’t the case for traditional fried chicken, which is breaded. As a result, fried chicken is almost certain to put you over the top of your carb count.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is one of the most popular restaurant options for fried chicken. With their Original Recipe fried chicken, you could be eating four grams of net carbs on a single drumstick. Opting for a chicken thigh or breast will raise that carb count, giving you somewhere between eight and eleven grams of carbs. [1]A Popeyes chicken thigh has 6 grams of net carbs, while a fried chicken breast from Popeyes has 14 grams of net carbs. [2]

Given that most people try to stick to fewer than 20 grams of carbs each day, traditional fried chicken does not fit well into a keto diet, although you may be able to have a small amount and remain in ketosis if you’re careful with your other carbs for the day. You can also try removing the breading and eating just the meat if you have no other options. This should give you close to zero carbs.

The good news is that there are a few ways you can enjoy “fried” chicken without having to be paranoid about your carb count. However, you will have to make your fried chicken at home instead of choosing the easier option of takeout.

How to Make Fried Chicken Keto

There are a few ways that you can go about making a substitute for traditional fried chicken while keeping in ketosis. The first is to forgo the breading altogether. In a small bag, mix together all of the seasonings that you would ordinarily use in your breading but exclude the flour. You might put in some thyme, paprika, salt, pepper, and oregano.

All you have to do is toss your plain chicken breast in these seasonings and then fry it in some lard or keto-friendly oil.

Is Fried Chicken Keto? - Keto Nutrition (3)

However, many people turn to fried chicken because they like the crunch and the taste of the breading. If this describes you, there are a few substitutions you can make to create a keto version of your favorite fried chicken.

Most people dredge their usual fried chicken in milk which has too many carbs for your keto diet. Instead, dip your chicken in heavy cream and eggs so the seasoning coating with stick. Some people choose to dip their chicken in a keto-friendly milk like unsweetened almond milk, but we found that heavy cream and eggs were preferable.

Instead of flour, you will mix your seasonings into almond flour prior to frying. While the flavor may be a little different, the carb count is also significantly lower. A quarter-cup of almond flour comes in at just 2 grams of net carbs while traditional all-purpose flour has about 19 net carbs for the same amount. [3] [4]

You have several options for healthy oils that you can fry in. Some people like to use the more traditional extra virgin olive oil in lieu of vegetable oil because it is generally healthier. If you’re looking for a healthy fat with a higher smoke point, you can fry your chicken in lard or avocado oil.

The result is that you can have two chicken thighs and come in at just 2.1 grams of net carbs. This is pretty impressive given the high carb count of KFC chicken. For more details on how you can make fried chicken, you can see our full fried chicken recipe here.

There are also tasty fried chicken recipes that use ground pork rinds to create a crispy crust instead of almond flour. Check out our recipe for air-fryer chicken nuggets using pork rinds here.

Making Your Fried Chicken Keto

The good news is that you do not have to forgo your favorite foods when on the keto diet. You can still indulge in favorites like fried chicken, but you have to pay attention to how much you eat–and what the ingredients are. Choosing to run through the drive-thru to pick up some fried chicken is not the best option for those trying to stick to a keto lifestyle, but you can easily make your own at home while staying in ketosis. Try out the substitutions found here to see if you can satisfy your craving for crunchy seasoned chicken!

Ashley Simpson

Ashley Simpson is a freelance writer dedicated to helping people improve theirlives -- in every way possible. She understands that food and diet are necessarycomponents to a healthy lifestyle and experiments with both. When she isn'ttyping away, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son.

References

1.

Full nutrition guide - KFC. (n.d.). Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.kfc.com/full-nutrition-guide

2.

PLK Nutrition FEBRUARY 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://plk-use1-prod.sites.rbictg.com/nutrition/PLK_Nutrition.pdf

3.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Flour, Almond. FoodData Central. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2261420/nutrients

4.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Flour, Wheat, All Purpose, Enriched, Bleached. FoodData Central. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/789890/nutrients

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Is Fried Chicken Keto? - Keto Nutrition (2024)

FAQs

Is Fried Chicken Keto? - Keto Nutrition? ›

Fried chicken can be part of a healthy keto diet as long as you prepare it right, substituting high-carb ingredients with healthy fat and low-carb alternatives. These primarily include breading and cooking oil. As much as possible, avoid consuming take-out fried chicken unless you remove the breading before eating it.

Can I eat unlimited chicken on keto? ›

However, if you want your chicken to have more flavor, then chicken thighs are considered the best kind of meat. Can you eat as much chicken as you want on keto? If you've decided to get started on a ketogenic lifestyle, you should be aware that you can't eat an unlimited quantity of meat on the keto diet.

How much chicken can I eat on keto per day? ›

"With a keto diet, the breakdown is approximately 75 percent fat, 20 percent protein and 5 percent carbohydrates." For example, a woman who weighs 150 pounds and is moderately active is recommended to eat 25 grams of carbs (think one medium sized apple!), 86 grams of protein (a little over three 3 oz chicken breasts) ...

Can you have KFC fried chicken on keto? ›

Though other chicken options at KFC may not be keto-friendly, the grilled chicken is. KFC Fried Chicken is not a healthy choice at all as it contains about 8-11 grams of carbs per medium-size piece whereas KFC Grilled Chicken is the healthiest option to consider when you are following a low-carb diet.

Will fried foods stop ketosis? ›

So can you eat fried food? The short answer is No. The reasoning behind this is that most if not all of the fried food options are mixed with breading and other additives, which are more than enough to get you into the ceiling of your daily carb requirements.

Will a piece of fried chicken kick me out of ketosis? ›

Fried chicken can be part of a healthy keto diet as long as you prepare it right, substituting high-carb ingredients with healthy fat and low-carb alternatives. These primarily include breading and cooking oil. As much as possible, avoid consuming take-out fried chicken unless you remove the breading before eating it.

Is fried chicken bad for keto? ›

Unfortunately, fried chicken uses flour or cornmeal (and sometimes cornstarch) to create its familiar beloved crunchy crust. That means it's not keto-friendly. Traditional fried chicken can be made keto-friendly if you remove the breading before eating.

Is 3 eggs a day too much on keto? ›

It's totally fine and safe to eat up to 6 eggs a day while on the keto diet. You can consume even more eggs per day occasionally, as long as you make sure that you eat your greens, healthy fats and proteins from other sources.

Is rotisserie chicken keto-friendly? ›

Yes, rotisserie chicken is keto-friendly. It's a carb-free option and a great source of protein (20-25 grams of protein per portion size). But you need to be careful about the part of the whole chicken you eat since some options have a high-fat content (mostly from saturated fats).

Can you overeat on meat in keto? ›

Meat and poultry

Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.

Is Subway keto? ›

With between 55 and 57 grams of carbs apiece, none are a good fit for a keto diet as-is. But since this is Subway, it's easy to tailor your meal to your preferences. Just order your wrap without the bread. Eggs, cheese, and meat are all keto-friendly.

Can you eat fried chicken wings on keto? ›

Often, people wonder, are wings keto? If you are worried that consuming chicken wings may affect your keto diet, the good news is that chicken wings are actually keto-friendly. This delicacy contains a low amount of carbs and a reasonable protein content ideal for your keto diet.

Is sour cream keto? ›

Regular, full fat sour cream is made from cream and contains far more fat than carbs. Therefore, it's considered keto-friendly. However, low fat or nonfat sour cream is not. Full fat sour cream can provide some variety in a keto diet when used as a dip base or incorporated into recipes to boost the fat content.

What foods ruin ketosis? ›

Grains and Starches

One of the initial food categories to steer clear of on the keto diet is grains and starchy foods. Examples include wheat, rice, corn, and oats, which are rich in carbohydrates. These goods can have a notable impact on blood sugar levels and impede the body's ability to enter ketosis.

What cancels out carbs in keto? ›

Keto Net Carb Diet. On the ketogenic diet, the "net carb" is the amount of carbs in a food minus the fiber and sugar alcohol. Fiber and sugar alcohol are subtracted because the body does not fully absorb them. The keto net carb diet limits daily carbohydrate consumption to 20-50 grams to induce ketosis.

Is too much chicken bad on keto? ›

Half a roasted chicken can be a substantial keto lunch option, providing a good source of protein and healthy fats. Ensure you complement it with low-carb vegetables or a keto-friendly side dish to balance your meal. Remember, individual dietary needs vary, so listen to your body's hunger and satiety signals.

Can I eat whole chicken on keto? ›

Can I eat a whole chicken on keto? If it's within your protein budget, yes. However, a keto diet doesn't mean you can eat an unlimited amount of protein. Remember that protein can transform into glucose in the body, meaning a large protein intake can affect your ketosis levels if you are not careful.

What can you eat an unlimited amount of on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

Can I eat unlimited chicken? ›

While chicken can be a versatile and convenient protein to cook, if your diet doesn't have a diverse protein profile, you lose out on some key nutrients—including essential fats, such as omega-3s. "Eating chicken every day as your sole protein source could result in some nutrient gaps," says Burgess.

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