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Crispy crackly Easy Keto Fried Chicken Thighs are the most delicious, juicy chicken thighs you’ll ever make!
These keto fried chicken thighs taste rich and breaded – with almost no carbs and no flour, gluten, or grains!
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Buttery Keto Fried Chicken Thighs
There is nothing better than crispy, crunchy, crackly fried chicken – it is just heaven on a plate.
The only problem with frying chicken at home is it can be such a pain – and I am a fan of simple, un-fussy recipes that don’t require a ton of prep.
This chicken is delicious, crunchy, and so easy – with only a few ingredients!
It tastes just like battered fried chicken thanks to some incredibly crispy skin, and full of buttery flavor.
This chicken is so delicious even my kids who normally don’t love chicken thighs gobbled it up in seconds!
Since we’re using chicken thighs, there’s less risk of drying the chicken out… but this method results in perfect, juicy chicken every time.
I mean, look how incredibly delicious it looks inside!
Make sure you buy chicken thighs with skin-on – but if you find some de-boned you can always buy that and skip cutting out the bones.
I always buy bone-in simply because they are so inexpensive!
To Make This Keto Fried Chicken Thighs Recipe You’ll Need:
While this easy fried keto chicken recipe is super simple and requires very few tools, there are a couple of things that will help you make the most delicious, juicy, crunchy, keto fried chicken ever!
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Heavy Pan with a 2″+ lip
Since we’re frying chicken in hot, bubbling butter it is imperative to have a pan with a decent lip on the edges so butter doesn’t splash all over, which is not only dangerous for you and your hands – but can start a kitchen fire.
You can also cook this in a dutch oven if you want extra tall pan walls to prevent oil or butter splashing.
Long Handled Tongs
Flipping chicken in bubbling hot butter can result in burns – so I try to use long handled tongs for this recipe so my hands are a ways from the hot bubbling butter in case some splashes.
Splatter Guard
While this isn’t necessary at all, a splatter guard is a major timesaver (and safety precaution) anytime you’re cooking with lots of hot oil or butter.
I personally love frying with them!
Keto Fried Chicken Dinner Serving Ideas
Since chicken thighs are usually a lot less expensive than chicken breasts, it’s also an economical choice that is great for families.
This recipe is an awesome base for other delicious keto foods – try some of my favorite ideas below!
Chicken Strip Salad
Cut Crackle Fried Chicken into strips and lay over a salad bursting with fresh vegetables and cheese for a keto fried chicken taco salad!
Fried Chicken “burritos”
Layer chopped chicken strips, vegetables, cheese, and cauliflower rice over cloud bread for a tasty keto chicken wrap!
Keto Fried Chicken Thighs Seasoning Ideas
There are tons of ideas for how to flavor these chicken thighs – you can use a lot of low carb seasoning mixes to create delicious keto fried chicken for any meal!
Old Bay Keto Fried Chicken Thighs
Old bay seasoning is the perfect way to pull out delicious
Lemon Pepper Keto Fried Chicken thighs
Lemon pepper seasonings are so delicious with fried chicken- season yours with a lemon pepper seasoning blend for a delicious twist on this classic!
Fried Taco Chicken Thighs
Seasoning chicken thighs with taco seasonings is a delicious way to make a south of the border fried favorite!
Blackened Keto Fried Chicken
Fried chicken with blackening spices is another level delicious – sprinkle generously over chicken before you cook!
Curry Keto Fried Chicken Thighs
Add red curry powder, salt, pepper, and a dash of onion powder for a delicious curry take on fried chicken thighs!
Just be sure to season the MEAT side and not the fat side – or the seasonings can burn .
Easy Keto Fried Chicken Thighs Recipe
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Easy Keto Fried Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken, medium-large bone-in chicken thighs, skin on
- 2 tbsp butter, ghee/clarified
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Lay chicken thighs out on a cutting board, and using sharp kitchen scissors, cut out bone from thigh.
- Remove bones (save them for chicken stock if you make your own!)
- Pound chicken flat and make sure they are very dry, pat with paper towel if needed.
- Generously salt and pepper meat side of chicken (don’t salt fat side, as it can easily burn).
- Heat a cast iron (or heavy) pan on high heat, so it is scorching hot (but not smoking).
- Reduce heat to medium-high.
- Add ghee/butter to pan, and let melt.
- Add chicken to pan, starting with the fat side down.
- Let fat crisp and chicken brown, about 7 minutes.
- Flip chicken and cook until 165 degrees internal temp – about 6 minutes.
- Let rest 2-5 minutes and pat off any excess butter softly with a paper towel.
- If desired, cut chicken into strips.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve tried using baking powder to make wings, and it works well! I have also tried this with thighs; those who haven’t heard of baking powder’s ability to provide a satisfying crunch without loading up on carbs are in for a treat.
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Oh ya baking powder is the way to go!
Well baking powders #1 ingredient is corn starch, so rightfully so! I’d use it sparingly for keto.
Made this tonight for dinner & was huge hit! Tastes like fried chicken! I love the crispy skin & it’s so juicy!!
So easy! One of my husband and I’s favorite recipes! Defiantly a keeper
Can this be made with skinless chicken?
It can – but for this recipe we’re using the skin to get a crispy crackle-y crunch since it isn’t breaded. It will still be crazy delicious, but without the skin, there won’t be any crunch. 😉
Made this with bone in chicken thighs and did not remove the bone. It was still amazing and my family loved it. Will definately make again and maybe next time, remove the bone.
Question- I’m currently clarifying my butter right now, but I just realized that I only have drumsticks, will this work the same with drumsticks?
Hey Maria!
It will, you’ll just need to watch the temperature of the drumsticks to cook them all the way through. If they crisp up and havent reached 165 degrees internally with a meat thermometer, bake them the rest of the way at 350 degrees (I prefer to do it on a cooling rack so they don’t sit in grease and get soggy) and it will be delicious!
This was excellent! I made it exactly as written and it came out perfectly. I love boneless skin on chicken thighs. They are a perfect keto dish.