Easy Keto Chicken Nuggets are low-carb, gluten-free, oven-baked, or air-fried crisp chicken nuggets made with canned chicken breasts.
They are perfect for dipping in your favorite sauces.
This chicken mc-nugget alternative is simple to make and uses only a few common budget-friendly ingredients.
You can bake these in the oven or use an air fryer if you have one.
Finding delicious and satisfying keto alternatives to your favorite comfort foods is a game-changer.
These keto-friendly chicken nuggets are not only low-carb but also gluten-free.
This recipe pairs well with all my keto sauce recipes: Easy Keto BBQ Sauce, Keto Ranch Dressing, and Keto Honey Mustard Sauce.
Serving Suggestions and Dipping Sauces for Keto Chicken Nuggets
- Classic Dipping Sauces: Serve your chicken nuggets with classic dipping sauces such as Creamy Buffalo Wing Sauce, Keto BBQ Sauce, Sugar-Free Ketchup, Keto Honey Mustard Sauce, or Keto Ranch Sauce. These sauces are low in carbs and provide a familiar taste everyone will love.
- Spicy Creamy Jalapeno Dip: Combine mayonnaise, diced jalapenos, a splash of lime juice, and a pinch of salt to create a zesty and spicy dip that pairs perfectly with the crispy chicken nuggets.
Get creative and experiment with different flavors to find your favorite combination. Remember, the goal is to enjoy these nuggets while staying on track with your keto diet.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- 1 (10oz) can of chicken breast (drained)
- One large Egg
- ⅓ cup Shredded Cheddar, Jack, or Mozzarella Cheese
- Two tablespoons of Grated Parmesan Cheese
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ⅛ -¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
See the printable recipe card for nutritional data, air fryer directions, and more information.
Jump to RecipeInstructions
Preheat oven to 425°F (220℃) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Open and drain the canned chicken. Place chicken in a fine mesh strainer and push out the liquid with your hands to remove as much excess moisture as possible.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix together all the ingredients until combined.
Use your hands or a tablespoon to mold the chicken mixture together into nugget shapes on the prepared baking sheet (I made 14 nuggets).
Use the back of a spoon to flatten the nuggets lightly.
Using your fingers, round out the edges.
Bake for 20-22 minutes, flipping them over with a spatula turner halfway through the cooking time.
Remove and serve.
Air Fryer directions are on the printable recipe card.
Jump to RecipeHint: Baking the nuggets at a high temperature, around 425°F/220°C when oven baking or 400℉/200℃ for air frying, ensures that they cook quickly and develop that coveted crispiness without the need for deep frying. I have also included air fryer instructions.
Storage
Store any leftover cooked chicken nuggets in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Chicken nuggets can be frozen in an airtight container or freezer bag and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
For best results, reheat them in a preheated oven until warm and crisp. reheating in a microwave will result in a loss of crispiness.
📖 Printable Recipe Card
Easy Keto Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 10oz can of chicken breast (drained)
- 1 large Egg
- ⅓ cup Shredded Cheddar Jack, or Mozzarella Cheese
- 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ⅛ -¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
Oven Directions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220℃) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Open and drain the canned chicken. Place chicken in a fine mesh strainer and push out the liquid with your hands to remove as much excess moisture as possible.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together all the ingredients until combined.
- Use your hands or a tablespoon to mold the chicken mixture together into nugget shapes on the prepared baking sheet (I made 14 nuggets). Use the back of a spoon to flatten the nuggets lightly.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, flipping them over with a spatula turner halfway through the cooking time.
Air Fryer Directions
- Spritz the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Follow steps 2-4 from above and add the nuggets to the air fryer basket instead of the baking sheet.
- Air fry at 400°F(200℃) for 10-14 minutes until golden brown. Check them at 10 minutes, and if they are not browned and crisp enough, put them back in for 2-4 minutes or more (you may need to do these in batches depending on the size of your air fryer basket).
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Notes
Nutrition
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
T says
If you’re strict keto, calculate your macros first. These are low carb, high protein, I’m not sure where you’re getting the fat, other than the cheese. My macros for this meal were 1.6g carbs(2%), 12.5g fat(40%), and 40g protein(57%) 1 serving being 6 nuggets. Keto is more like 5% carbs, 70% fat, and about 25% protein. Any excess protein will be converted to carbs. Also, I doubled the recipe and it made 24 nuggets, and they are pretty small. Anyway, I had to make an avocado dipping sauce and it got my macros back on track. Thanks!!! Overall taste is good, kiddo said “taste like chicken”
Dyan Aletha Lucas says
Curious, can I use canned salmon? TIA~
Stacey says
Hi Dyan, I am thinking you could canned salmon or tuna.
Anna Smith says
This was SO easy, crispy and delicious! So happy to make homemade nuggets for the kiddos instead of popping the frozen kind in the microwave like I normally do. Thanks for sharing!
kushi says
These chicken nuggets look amazingly delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Liz says
Made these when our neighbors came over and they were a hit! Even the kids liked them!
Charah says
Easy and I love that it's Keto. thanks for this recipe
suja md says
Delicious and tremendous recipe