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    Home » Appliance » Air Fryer Recipes

    30 Minute Crispy Keto Air Fryer Chicken Breast

    Published: Jan 29, 2023 by Wendy Polisi Modified: Jan 29, 2023 · 1425 words. · About 8 minutes to read this article. This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

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    Close up photo of two pieces of chicken with the text keto Air Fryer Chicken Breast abovel.

    Shh...don't tell the family. They will never know that this Keto Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe isn't traditionally fried! Crispy and extra moist , this boneless chicken is gluten-free, grain-free, and low carb. Best of all, this easy recipe takes just 30 minutes start to finish.

    Photo of prepared air fryer chicken breast on a white plate sprinkled with parsley.

    If you love easy meals that the family will ask for again and again, you will love this air fried chicken breast.

    It is super-crispy, tender, and so delicious.

    Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to make. (Not including the optional brine time.)

    Give this easy recipe a try, and you will be glad that you did.

    Tips & Tricks

    • Almond flour isn't quite as sticky as regular flour, so you can use your hands to gently press any coating that falls off.
    • Use an instant read thermometer to make sure the chicken is done. You can read more about safe temperatures for chicken here.
    • The quality of the Parmesan Cheese will impact the flavor of this recipe tremendously.  I recommend buying a block of aged Parmesan if you can.
    • Almond flour can stick to surfaces more than traditional flours.  Do not skip spraying the air fryer well with oil!  If some of the coating sticks when you flip it, you can use the spatula to get the stuck bits up and gently press back into the chicken.  If you spray well the sticking should be minimal.

    Ingredients

    • Chicken Breast -  You can use chicken cutlets or even thighs. Just make sure that you adjust the cooking time if you are using smaller pieces. The best way to determine if chicken is done is with an instant-read thermometer.
    • Dill Pickle Juice - I use Bubbies, which is full of probiotics and found in the refrigerator section. Brining the chicken is completely optional, but it does make for extra juicy chicken.
    • Almond Flour - Make sure you are using finely ground almond flour. Almond meal does not work well here.
    • Parmesan - Use finely ground fresh cheese, not the kind that you get in a can.
    • Salt - I am pretty obsessed with smoked salt and love the flavor it lends here; use what you have.
    • Pepper  - Fresh ground is best.
    • Eggs -  I use large eggs; whatever you have on hand works!

    Make Ahead

    The chicken can be coated ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator for up to one day. You may also coat and freeze the chicken breast.

    To do this, place the coated chicken breast on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer bag.

    When ready to cook, thaw on a plate in the refrigerator.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Air Fried Chicken Healthy?

    Yes! Even if you are following a Keto (high fat) diet, this is a healthier option.

    Although there are certainly healthy fats in which you could fry chicken, the challenge comes in maintaining the correct temperature and avoiding having the oil reaching its smoke point.

    (You can learn more about what happens when oils reach their smoke point HERE.).

    Air Frying is a great way to avoid having to be concerned with smoke points because the temperature is controlled. (And you aren't using nearly as much oil!)

    Do I Have to Use Oil When Air Frying?

    You don't HAVE to put oil in an Air Fryer, but it is the best way to keep what you are cooking from sticking.

    I recommend lightly brushing or spraying oil on the bottom of the Air Fryer pan.

    How to Make Keto Air Fryer Chicken

    Photo of almond flour, Parmesan and seasonings in a shallow dish.


    First, make the breading by tossing together the almond flour, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings.

    Photo of chicken soaking in an egg wash.

    Next, pound the chicken to a uniform thickness.

    After that, whisk the eggs and then dip the chicken in the eggs.

    Photo of a boneless chicken breast being dredged in low carb keto breading.

    Dredge in the breading mixture.

    Photo of breaded chicken that is ready to cook.
    Photo of air fryer fried chicken breast in an Air Fryer.

    Spray your with oil Air Fryer and cook the chicken in your air fryer basket!  In less than 30 minutes, you've got crispy deliciousness that the family is going to love.


    Close up photo of keto-friendly air fryer chicken breast on parchment paper.

    Variations

    • Soak chicken in buttermilk instead of pickle juice if you are not strictly keto.
    • For a spicy kick, add two teaspoons (more or less to taste) of your favorite hot sauce to the egg mixture.
    • Not watching carbs and don’t have almond flour? Any flour will work.
    • Feel free to add additional seasonings to the breading. Garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika are all good options.
    • After the air fried chicken is done cooking, toss it in your favorite BBQ sauce.

    Tools Recommended to Make This Recipe:

    As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying sales.

    • Air Fryer - You can get them at multiple price points - Low or High.  (I LOVE, LOVE the last one.  It is the easiest way to Air Fry for a family.)
    • Bowl
    • Shallow Breading Trays
    • Spatula

    You May Also Like

    • Buffalo Chicken Sliders (Gluten Free, Vegan Option) - You will squeal with excitement the first time you make these sliders. Pure comfort food that never gets oil.
    • Gluten Free Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs - Think you need breadcrumbs for good meatballs? Think again! I promise, you won't miss the bread in these gluten free meatballs.
    • Zucchini Fritters Recipe - I never get tired of these Zucchini Fritters! The only problem with this recipe? They go so quick that the family eats them up just as quickly as I can make them.
    • Healthy Chicken Nuggets - If your kids love chicken nuggets as much as mine do, you are going to want to keep this recipe in your back pocket. These are nuggets you can feel good about serving. And they are kid-approved!
    • Don't feel like breading chicken? Try this Air Fryer Chicken with No Breading.
    • Air Fryer Chicken Legs are simple, delicious, and always a hit.
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Photo of prepared air fryer chicken breast on a white plate sprinkled with parsley.
    Print Recipe
    4.89 from 9 votes

    30 Minutes Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

    Shhh….don’t tell the family. They won’t believe that this Air Fryer Chicken Breast isn’t fried. Or that it is gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb and keto-friendly.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time14 mins
    Brining Time2 hrs
    Total Time29 mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Gluten Free, Healthy, Keto, Low Carb
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Keyword: crispy
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 351kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces boneless chicken breast
    • ¾ cups dill pickle juice optional - I use Bubbies
    • ¾ cup super-fine almond flour
    • ¾ cup parmesan cheese see note
    • ½ teaspoon smoked sea salt or sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 2 eggs beaten
    • Avocado oil spray
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Wash chicken and place in a zip-top bag.
    • Using a meat mallet, pound to a uniform thickness, about ½ inch.
    • Place chicken in a bowl and pour pickle juice on top of it. Allow to brine in the refrigerator for up to two hours. (You may skip this step if desired.)
    • Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees.
    • In a shallow dish, combine almond flour, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
    • In a separate shallow dish, beat eggs.
    • Drain chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Coat with eggs and then dregs in the almond flour mixture. Use your fingers to gently press the coating into the chicken. Spray both sides of the chicken with oil
    • Spray the Air Fryer with oil, and add chicken. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes.
    • Carefully flip with a spatula. Re-spray and cook an additional 6 to 7 minutes, until golden and crispy and the internal temperature is at least 160° F. Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    Don't have an Air Fryer?  Make Oven Fried Chicken

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    2. Place chicken on a parchment lined baking sheet.
    3. Cook for 20 minutes.  Carefully flip with a spatula.
    4. Cook an additional 20 minutes.
    • Make Ahead:  The chicken can be coated ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator for up to one day. You may also coat and freeze the chicken breast. To do this, place the coated chicken breast on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer bag. When ready to cook, thaw on a plate in the refrigerator.
    • The quality of the Parmesan Cheese will impact the flavor of this recipe tremendously.  I recommend buying a block of aged Parmesan if you can.
    • Almond flour can stick to surfaces more than traditional flours.  Do not skip spraying the air fryer well with oil!  If some of the coating sticks when you flip it, you can use the spatula to get the stuck bits up and gently press back into the chicken.  If you spray well the sticking should be minimal.

    Variations

    • Soak chicken in buttermilk instead of pickle juice.
    • For a spicy kick, add two teaspoons (more or less to taste) of your favorite hot sauce to the egg mixture.
    • Not watching carbs and don’t have almond flour? Any flour will work.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 182mg | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 446mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 283mg | Iron: 1.6mg

    Helpful Air Frying Resources:

    • How to Use an Air Fryer on Epicurious
    • How to Use an Air Fryer on Princess Pinky Girl

    Filed Under:

    Air Fryer RecipesChicken RecipesGluten Free RecipesKeto and Low Carb Recipes

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • 30-Minute Air Fryer Chicken Legs
    • Juicy & Tender Air Fryer Turkey Breast 
    • Easy Homemade Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
    • Air Fryer Stuffing

    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Rating




    1. Kristi Ann

      May 01, 2018 at 12:17 am

      This looks amazing! I have been wanting to get an air fryer! They totally look worth it!

      Reply
    2. Kate Andrews

      May 01, 2018 at 1:19 am

      Never thought of cooking chicken this way. What a great idea!

      Reply
    3. Adriana

      May 01, 2018 at 3:31 am

      Ive heard so many amazing things about the airfryer. I have to check it out and just get one!

      Reply
    4. pinkoddy

      May 01, 2018 at 3:43 pm

      Thank you for this recipe it looks delicious. I have to admit I am terrible at mostly cooking just chips in our air fryer so need to try new recipes.

      Reply
    5. Kristy Bullard

      May 02, 2018 at 2:12 am

      I’m a southern girl too and I love fried chicken! We recently just got an air fryer so I will have to try this recipe. It looks delicious!

      Reply
    6. Ada

      May 02, 2018 at 2:36 am

      Oh this looks so delicious! Need to try making.

      Reply
    7. hey sharonoox

      May 02, 2018 at 2:55 pm

      We love a good chicken breast. I really like this recipe. I'm always looking for an easy and fast recipe so this one is up my alley. Air fryer is awesome!

      Reply
    8. Meghan Karaan

      May 02, 2018 at 4:00 pm

      Cooking with an air fryer is always so amazing! This chicken turned out so amazing. I am going to have to give it a try.

      Reply
    9. Ruth-Ann Ridley

      May 02, 2018 at 4:01 pm

      I do not have an air fryer but I definitely need to invest in one. We are trying to eat more healthy and that would definitely be the way to go.

      Reply
    10. Becca Wilson

      May 02, 2018 at 4:02 pm

      Holy moly! That looks so delicious. I am definitely giving this chicken a try with my kiddos.

      Reply
    11. Blair Villanueva

      May 03, 2018 at 7:20 am

      5 stars
      Your recipe looks delicious! They say air fryer cooking is much healthier than cooking the other way. I should try this at home soon 😀

      Reply
    12. Nicole

      May 08, 2018 at 5:02 pm

      This looks so good! I got an airfryer for christmas a couple years ago and I love it! I always use it for chicken, tater tots (for my son), and even used it for steak! I'll have to give this recipe a try, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    13. Anita

      September 16, 2018 at 12:16 am

      Just got an air fryer, and wanted to try out a recipe, this was super easy and super yummy!! Definitely a redo!!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        September 18, 2018 at 1:07 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it Anita! Aren't Air Fryers just the best?!

        Reply
    14. Marie

      October 09, 2018 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      We made these a couple of weeks ago in the air fryer and had baked potato wedges on the side! Delicious! It's awesome that these were gluten-free and low carb; they were perfect for both me and my dad! I loved this recipe so much that I'm making them with a friend this weekend!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        October 09, 2018 at 7:21 pm

        I am so glad that you enjoyed it! (And thanks for taking the time to let me know.) It is funny that you would leave a comment right now. I was sitting at my computer brainstorming a list of Air Fryer Recipes I wanted to create for the website. I am addicted to my air fryer.

        Reply
    15. Will Covington

      October 18, 2018 at 1:52 am

      5 stars
      Wow....I can’t believe how good these are. I didn’t brine them and I only had olive oil on hand. Thank you for the recipe and I will be making these often!!!

      Reply
    16. Michelle

      February 25, 2019 at 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so good. My son is allergic to nuts. Can I use coconut flour in place of almond flour?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        February 28, 2019 at 9:15 pm

        I haven't tried it but I see no reason why it wouldn't work! Coconut flour absorbs more liquid, but I don't think that would be an issue here.

        Reply
    17. Robin

      March 09, 2019 at 11:15 pm

      I just made this my husband and I. Delious!!! Now I went with buttermilk verses Pickle juice. It will be a new family favorite.

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        April 11, 2019 at 1:30 pm

        So glad that you enjoyed it! Buttermilk is a great sub - that is how my mom always made her fried chicken.

        Reply
    18. Elizabeth Sinko

      March 20, 2019 at 11:35 pm

      4 stars
      Very tasty coating, however the chicken was a bit dry. I'm wondering if I cooked it too long? My fryer doesn't have a "pre heat" setting and when I stopped it mid way to flip the chicken it starts over again. Maybe this messes up the temp in turn making the chicken dry? Help!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        April 11, 2019 at 1:29 pm

        Yes - you must have cooked it too long for your cooker. Like slow cookers, every air fryer is a little different. If you try it again, I'd cut the cooking time by a few minutes and see if that helps.

        Reply
    19. Miranda

      March 27, 2019 at 4:54 pm

      Oh my, this sounds SO good!!! I just got an air fryer and I feel like I have so many things to try!!!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        April 01, 2019 at 7:15 pm

        Thanks - if you try it let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    20. Tricia

      April 01, 2019 at 5:06 am

      Was thinking of trying this in the next day or two. I only have all purpose flour on hand, can you use that with this recipe. We can’t use almond flour due to allergies.

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        April 01, 2019 at 7:15 pm

        Yes - that will work great!

        Reply
    21. Anna

      April 01, 2019 at 7:12 pm

      Do u spray them with cooking spray oil?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        April 01, 2019 at 7:14 pm

        I do!

        Reply
    22. Stacey

      April 11, 2019 at 1:23 pm

      5 stars
      I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS RECIPE! The only exception is that I used my AirFryer Oven instead. And I didn't have to flip the chicken. I've really enjoyed every recipe from you that we've tried.

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        April 11, 2019 at 1:27 pm

        Yay! So glad that you loved it Stacey. This is a favorite of mine too. I don't repeat a lot of recipes once I'm done testing them because I am always working on something new, but I make an exception for this one. I am happy that everything has worked out that you've tried. (And thanks for taking the time to let me know!)

        Reply
    23. Linda Brohman

      July 22, 2019 at 11:30 pm

      Can you use mozzarella cheese if you don't have parmesan??

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        July 24, 2019 at 11:55 am

        You could certainly try it, but I haven't I I do not believe it would work as well. Parmesan is so dry that it acts more like a breadcrumb, whereas mozzarella is going to melt.

        Reply
    24. Shelly

      August 26, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      Can you use other cuts of chicken with this recipe such as drumsticks, thighs, etc ...

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        August 27, 2019 at 9:42 am

        Absolutely! Just adjust the cooking time. I recommend using an instant read thermometer to make sure it is done.

        Reply
    25. Gretchen

      January 14, 2020 at 7:19 pm

      How would the air fryer directions for this recipe translate to a Ninja Foodi compact pressure cooker/air crisp?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        January 14, 2020 at 7:36 pm

        I would like imagine it would be similar, but you might need to adjust your cooking time. That is not a machine to I have worked with but I hear great things.

        Reply
    26. Ramon de Fuego

      August 10, 2021 at 5:57 pm

      Why almond flour? Because you hate yourself, or because it's fun to go find buy some ingredient a normal person wouldn't have in their home?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        August 10, 2021 at 6:02 pm

        This is a keto recipe, so regular flour is out.

        I have the gene for celiac, am gluten-intolerant, and feel better when I stay away from gluten. Almond flour is a healthy alternative to wheat flour, and plenty of "normal people" I know have it in their home. It is also low in carbs, which is important to many people. (Such as diabetics.)

        If you are looking for a more traditional recipe, my chicken cutlets recipe is probably more your speed. This is what I make for my kids.

        Reply
    27. Shannon

      January 26, 2022 at 1:35 am

      5 stars
      Omg! This recipe is officially a staple in our home now! So simple and tasty, thank you

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        January 26, 2022 at 5:56 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed it! We love it too.

        Reply

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