Keto Chicken Nuggets

We love to use canned chicken for quick and easy recipes, like these Canned Chicken Patties and Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats.

These keto chicken nuggets yield a delicious lunch, dinner, snack, or appetizer recipe that can be enjoyed on their own or with a dipping sauce.

💛 Why you’ll love this recipe

• Can be made and served in 30 minutes.
• High in protein, nut-free, gluten-free, and low in carbohydrates.
• Really easy to make.
• Are great for meal prepping as they store well in the refrigerator.

➡️ Ingredients

⏲ How to make keto chicken nuggets

This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Prepare Chicken Nugget Mixture: To a mixing bowl, add the canned chicken, shredded mozzarella cheese, ground sunflower seed meal, egg, and spices. Using an electric mixer, mix all of that together until well combined.
2. Prepare Breading: In a separate shallow mixing bowl, whisk together crushed pork rinds and cayenne pepper.
3. Prepare Chicken Nuggets: Using a spoon, scoop out ~2 Tablespoons of the chicken mixture and form it into a nugget shape, then gently dip and coat all sides of the nugget in the crushed pork rinds mixture. Transfer the breaded nugget to your prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process to yield 15 total nuggets. You will have leftover crushed pork rinds; do not discard them.
4. Bake Chicken Nuggets: Transfer the baking sheet of nuggets to the oven and bake for 7 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and, using forks, flip each nugget over. Sprinkle the remaining crushed pork rinds atop the other side of the nuggets, then return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 6 minutes.
5. Serve: Remove the baking sheet of chicken nuggets from the oven. Allow the nuggets time to cool slightly before serving on their own or with your favorite dipping sauce.

👉 Ingredient substitution suggestions

• Canned Chicken: Finely shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover finely shredded chicken breasts or chicken thighs will work.
• Ground Sunflower Seed Meal: Almond flour is your best option. You can sub that in at a 1:1 ratio. I would not suggest using coconut flour.

✨ Variations

• Add 2-3 Tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture for some added texture and flavor.
• Add ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika to the breading mixture.

〰️ How to serve

• With a dipping sauce, like Sugar-Free Ketchup, Vegan Ranch Dressing, Horseradish Sauce, or BBQ sauce.
• Serve alongside keto-friendly french fries, like these Golden Jicama Fries.
• As a side dish to keto mashed potatoes or vegan Caesar salad.

➜ Cooking and recipe tips

• Be sure to drain and pat the canned chicken dry before you get started. This step ensures the ingredients combine well so that the nuggets can be formed.
• Don’t forget to generously coat your parchment paper with cooking spray. I like to use avocado oil cooking spray. This gets the nuggets a little crispier. If you don’t have cooking spray, drizzle oil on your parchment paper and then brush it around to coat the paper.

💬 FAQs

📚 More quick keto recipes

• Zucchini Tots
• Stovetop Broccoli Fritters
• Spicy Salmon Poppers
• Spicy Tuna Rolls