Keto Fried Chicken
Published February 26, 2023 • Updated February 2, 2026
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This is the crispiest keto fried chicken you've ever had! Each piece is less than 2 grams of carbs and coated in a spice mix that's almost a KFC copycat for incredible flavor in every crispy, crunchy bite!
Creating the perfect crispy low-carb fried chicken recipe has been a labor of love. Most recipes rely on almond flour, like my parmesan crusted chicken, or pork rinds like my chicken strips, or just breadcrumbs. Those methods work great for pan frying, but they don’t hold up when it comes to deep frying.
This recipe uses homemade buttermilk, whey protein powder, baking powder, and vodka to create the crispiest coating you’ve ever had on homemade fried chicken. And don’t get me started on the seasoning mix! If you love KFC chicken, this spice blend is close, and I’ve included directions for the real KFC seasoning copycat.
So, get that deep fryer out of storage and make a batch of the crispiest keto fried chicken you’ve ever had!
How to make crispy fried chicken
- Prepare chicken – For the crispiest fried chicken, use chicken thighs, breasts, legs or wings with the skin on. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Then season all over with salt. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Spice mix – This fried chicken recipe uses a copycat KFC spice blend. Season all sides of the salted chicken with this flavorful blend of spices.
- Prepare buttermilk wash – Make keto buttermilk by combining heavy whipping cream with vinegar. After 30 minutes mix this with egg whites, vodka and baking powder.
- Keto breading – The best breading for fried chicken is protein powder mixed with baking powder. This creates flaky layers of crust on the outside of the juicy chicken.
- Dip & dredge – Dip a piece of seasoned chicken into the buttermilk wash. Then transfer to a plate with the breading mixture. Press the breading into the chicken to evenly coat.
- Immediately fry the coated chicken in a hot oil heated to 350 degrees. Let fry for 12-15 minutes.
Key ingredients & substitution suggestions
To make fried chicken you can use any cut of chicken – chicken thighs, wings, chicken breast or drumsticks. Ideally you want the skin on for the crispiest chicken. It’s up to you if you want boneless or bone-in chicken.
For the Seasoning
This seasoning blend is a KFC secret spice copycat without white pepper or basil. If you want to include these spices, add 2 tablespoons of white pepper and 1 teaspoon of basil to the mix.
- Seasoning mix – kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, black pepper, ground mustard, dried thyme, celery seed, dried oregano
The Buttermilk Wash
Making a homemade buttermilk wash creates a thick paste that helps the breading stick to the fried chicken.
- Heavy whipping cream – Heavy cream is higher in fat and lower in carbs than traditional buttermilk, making it a better choice when you’re watching carbs.
- White vinegar – Vinegar mixed with heavy cream will help to slightly curdle the cream, making a homemade buttermilk.
- Egg whites – Egg whites are preferred over a whole egg wash because the fat in the whole egg can give too much moisture which might cause the crust to not be as crunchy.
- Neutral Spirit – Using a neutral flavored distilled alcohol like vodka helps to create flaky layers of breading.
Breading
- Whey protein powder – Use unflavored whey protein powder. It’s zero carbs (unlike all-purpose flour) and sticks to the chicken throughout the entire frying process for an extra crispy coating.
- Baking powder – The addition of baking powder will help the skin get extra crispy as it helps to quickly dry the skin as it fries.
- Extra seasoning mix
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Keto Fried Chicken Seasoning Ingredients
8 pieces skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks -
2 tablespoons kosher salt
-
3 tablespoons smoked paprika
-
1 tablespoon garlic salt
-
1 tablespoon ground ginger
-
1 tablespoon black pepper
-
1 tablespoon ground mustard
-
2 teaspoons dried thyme
-
1 teaspoon celery seed
-
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Buttermilk Wash Ingredients
-
1 cup heavy whipping cream
-
2 teaspoons white vinegar
-
2 eggs whites
-
2 tablespoons vodka, optional
-
1 teaspoon baking powder
Keto Breading Ingredients
-
2 cups unflavored whey protein powder
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1 teaspoon baking powder
-
1 teaspoon salt
-
avocado oil, for frying
Step by Step Instructions
Step by Step Instructions
Season chicken
Place chicken on a baking sheet lined with a paper towel. Sprinkle salt all over chicken. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
- chicken thighs, legs, wings or breast
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
Make spice blend
Make the spice blend, by combining remaining seasoning ingredients in a small bowl. Reserve half of the seasoning mix for the breading mixture.
- 3 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Season chicken
Pat the chicken dry on both sides with a paper towel. Coat the chicken all over with about half of the seasoning mixture.
Homemade buttermilk
Make homemade buttermilk by adding white vinegar to heavy cream. Stir and let sit for 15-30 minutes.
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
Prepare oil for frying
Add enough avocado oil to a saucepan or large Dutch oven to cover the chicken completely. Heat oil over medium heat until the oil is about 350 degrees. Create a cooling station for the fried chicken by lining a baking sheet with paper towels and place a wire rack over on top.
Buttermilk wash
Make buttermilk wash by combining the buttermilk, egg whites, vodka and baking powder in a shallow bowl.
- keto buttermilk from step 4
- 2 eggs whites
- 2 tablespoons vodka, optional
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Crispy breading
In a large shallow bowl, combine protein powder, baking powder, salt and remaining spice mix for the breading.
- 2 cups unflavored whey protein powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Remaining spice mix
Coat chicken
Work with only enough chicken that will fit in your fry pot at one time. Dip one piece of chicken in the buttermilk wash to completely coat. Then place in breading mixture. Flip the chicken in the breading and press the breading in to create a thick layer to completely coat the chicken.
Nutrition disclaimer
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.
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Get My Macros (Free) →Frequently Asked Questions
How long to cook fried chicken?
Chicken thighs, wings, or legs will take between 12-15 minutes to cook in the deep fryer.
What’s the best kind of oil for frying chicken?
Avocado, canola, peanut, or sunflower oil are all good choices for deep frying chicken as these oils have a high smoke point.
Can you reuse the oil from deep fried chicken?
Oil from deep fried chicken can be reused up to 3-4 times if strained through a mesh strainer with cheesecloth before being stored at room temperature.
The spice blend is spot on. Tastes like actual KFC seasoning.
That blend took me forever to get right. The celery seed and ginger are what really push it into KFC territory.
Skipped the vodka because I didn't have any. Still got a good crunch but I bet it would be even better with it.
The vodka helps the coating crisp up faster because it evaporates quicker than water during frying. But it totally works without it too, so no worries.
Finally a fried chicken coating that actually crisps up. The whey protein trick is legit.
The whey protein is my favorite discovery for frying. It crisps up better than pork rinds or almond flour and the texture actually holds.