These crispy chicken nuggets are high protein, low carb and keto-friendly. They are just 3 ingredients and don’t require any breading, flour or frying. The nuggets are easy to prepare and can be customized.
Keto nuggets on a plate with ketchup on the side

These are my favorite homemade nuggets to make for my family. I love that they don’t require breading and don’t require any frying.

Ingredients

  • Chicken (or canned tuna)
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Eggs

Chicken: This recipe starts with cooked chicken. You can use either breast, tenderloin or thigh meat or a combination. Breast meat will be a little more dry so I usually use tenderloin or thigh meat. I have also made a fish version using canned albacore tuna.

Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese gives the chicken nuggets flavor and is the key to the nuggets developing a crispy exterior without the need for breading.

Eggs: Eggs are used to provide moisture and act as a binding agent.

How to Make Crispy Low Carb Nuggets

  • The chicken, cheese and eggs are added to a food processor and pulsed until the mixture starts to clump together and resembles large coarse crumbs.
  • Scoop the mixture and shape and compact into oval nugget shapes.Chicken, cheese and eggs blended in a blender and then shaped into nuggets
  • The nuggets are then baked in the oven or cooked in the air fryer. I prefer the air fryer because it takes less time to cook so the nuggets stay more moist. If you bake them, they will turn out a little more dry because they need a longer cooking time to crisp up.

Texture

These nuggets have a crispy exterior very similar to classic chicken nuggets.
Chicken nuggets with a crispy exterior

Expert Tips

  • This recipe works best in the air fryer but you can also bake them. The nuggets take longer to crisp up in the oven and will turn out a little drier.
  • You can use breast, thigh or tenderloin chicken meat. The nuggets will be more moist with thigh meat and a little more dry with breast meat.
  • Make sure to use shredded parmesan cheese. The nuggets will not crisp up the same with grated parmesan cheese.

A chicken nugget dipped in ketchup

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5 from 1 vote

3 Ingredient Crispy Keto Nuggets

These crispy homemade nuggets are low carb, keto-friendly and high protein. They need just 3 ingredients and are so easy to make. No breading or frying required.
Servings: 22 pieces
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 10 oz (283g) cooked chicken breast, tenderloin or thigh meat, see note
  • 2 cups (190g) shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions
 

  • If baking the nuggets, preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. If cooking these in the air fryer, grease the air fryer basket insert with cooking oil or line with parchment paper.
  • Add chicken, parmesan cheese and eggs to a food processor. Mix on high speed until the cheese pieces are very small, the eggs are fully incorporated and the mixture starts to clump together. It should not be like a paste, but more like large coarse crumbs. This should not take too long (less than 30 seconds). See photo for reference.
  • Use a 1.5 tablespoon scoop to scoop the mixture. Take one portion and squeeze between your palm a few times to help it hold its shape. Then shape into an oval nugget shape. Place onto your prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  • Optional step: Spray the surface of the nuggets with cooking oil spray. This helps the nuggets brown more evenly. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. You may need to flip the nuggets and bake an additional 5 minutes on the other side to get both sides to be golden and crispy. If cooking in the air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Cook for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. You may need to flip the nuggets and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to get both sides to be golden and crispy.

Notes

  • Chicken note: The chicken does need to be cooked before using: either boiling, poaching or steaming it. Chicken tenderloin or thigh meat will make the nuggets more moist and chicken breast will be more dry. 
  • If you want to make the fish version, drain two (5 oz) cans of albacore tuna. Pat dry with paper towels. Then add to the food processor with the eggs and cheese.
  • Make sure to use shredded parmesan cheese and not grated parmesan cheese. 
Serving: 1piece, Calories: 55kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.03g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 154mg, Sugar: 0.02g
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review below!