Keto Bread Crumbs

What is pork panko

Pork panko is made from crushed up pork rinds (aka pork skin), making it perfect for keto or low-carb diets and for those following a carnivore-style diet as it is zero carbs!

If you avoid eating pork for religious, health, or personal reasons, use some of the keto breadcrumb options listed below that are pork-free!

Other breadcrumb substitutes

While this recipe uses pork panko, there are several other keto breadcrumb options to choose from. Try any of the following:

Almond flour

Most nuts can be ground down into a meal or flour and can be used as a high-protein, high-fat, and low-carb breadcrumb mixture. Almond flour (or almond meal) is a popular keto breadcrumb choice, but the texture can get dry and crusty when fried or baked. A 2-tablespoon serving of almond flour has 1 gram of net carbs. Other nuts like pecans and hazelnuts can be used as well.

Coconut flour

Use this flour for binding or breading. It has a light, crumb texture and is slightly sweet but still complements savory food and dishes. It’s a little higher in carbs than other keto breadcrumb options, as every 2-tablespoon serving has 3 grams of net carbs.

Grated parmesan cheese

Grated cheese creates a thin crispy coating around food when fried or air fried. The breading won’t be thick or even completely cover the food, but you’ll get a nice crunchy texture. Each 2-tablespoon serving has 1.5 grams of net carbs.

Ground Lupini beans

Perfect for a light “flour-like” coating on fried foods that comes in at zero grams of net carbs per 2-tablespoon serving.

Psyllium husk

This soluble fiber works well as a breading, but you’ll likely want to mix it with another option on the list to help enhance the flavor. Psyllium husk can also turn purple when heated which can make your dish look unappetizing; however, won’t affect the flavor. A 2-tablespoon serving has 2 grams of net carbs.

Golden flaxseed meal

Use ground flaxseed meal as a binder for recipes that would traditionally use regular breadcrumbs, like meatballs or meatloaf. Every 2-tablespoon serving has 1 gram of net carbs.

Make bread crumbs from keto bread

Instead of using things like pork rinds, nuts, or beans, you can also use keto bread to make your own breadcrumbs. Use homemade Keto Bread or favorite store-bough brands like Sola, Base Culture, or Hero.

1. Grind the bread down in a food processor.
2. Spray a baking sheet and spread the breadcrumbs out in a single layer.
3. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes, shaking the pan slightly half-way through.
4. Let cool and use as you would regular breadcrumbs.

What can you make with keto panko

Having a batch of keto panko on hand ready to use in your favorite recipes is a huge time saver! This panko breadcrumb recipe can be used as a binder in recipes like meatloaf, carnivore waffles, and sausage balls to help give them substance and retain moisture without having to rely on carb-heavy flours.

It can also be used for a thick and crispy coating for foods like mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, air fryer pickles, and tomato chicken burrata.

Storage information

Once made, store the pork rind breadcrumbs in an airtight container for 3 months at room temperature or up to 6 months in the freezer.