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Keto fried chicken on a bun with pickles

Popeyes Keto Fried Chicken Sandwich

Keto fried chicken like you've never seen it before with Louisiana style spices on a keto bun! Popeye's chicken broke the internet and the drive thru's but wasn't keto friendly. I have made the perfect copycat recipe that's low carb, keto and gluten free. You can even skip the bread and make chicken strips with this recipe but I walk you through how to make this delicious chicken for you or a family!
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Prep Time 5 hours
Cook Time 30 minutes
0 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 3 people
Calories 510 kcal

Equipment

  • frying pan
  • mixing bowl
  • grated pan for oven or rack

Ingredients
 

Chicken Brine

  • 2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup hot sauce

Chicken Coating

  • 1/3 cup whey protein isolate
  • 2.5 ounces pork rinds

Spice Mixture(Split in half after making)

  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon fine black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoon paprika

Egg Wash

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 cup hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon mustard

For cooking

  • Coconut oil, lard or beef tallow

Instructions
 

Chicken Brine

  • Mix together buttermilk and hot sauce. Place chicken in brine for 4-8 hours. Then remove and wipe any excess buttermilk off

Chicken coating

  • You can use pork panko or grind your own crumbs as I did
  • Add to a food process and evenly blend together. Then take half of spice mixture and blend into the crumbs. Save remaing half for chicken

Egg Wash

  • Combine all ingredients and whisk well to incorporate the mustard within

Recipe, putting it all together

  • Brine chicken for 4-8 hours
  • While brining chicken create the coating for the chicken. In the seasoning use half then set half to the side.
  • Right before removing chicken from brine make your egg wash.
  • Remove chicken from brine wiping off excess buttermilk. You don't have to but it helps with sticking. Season both sides of the chicken with the seasoning you sat to the side.
  • Place chicken in dry coating and cover evenly. Then dip into egg wash and back in the dry coating for the final cover as in video.
  • Place in freezer until chicken is frozen. You do this to help the coating stick but you can skip it. Sadly, most of your chicken coating will come off in the pan if you don't freeze it.
  • Before removing chicken from freezer preheat oven to 400°F
  • Remove chicken from freezer and in oil on a medium to high heat flash fry each side for about 1.5-2 minutes. Don't over fry because it will burn.
  • Immedietly put chicken breast in the oven on a grated rack until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160-165°F which should take 20-30 minutes
  • Remove from oven rest then serve

Notes

Helpful Recipe Tips

  • When trying to make this Popeyes keto fried chicken sandwich don't fear if you think it will be spicy. There is plenty of spice and flavor but it's not hot unless you are super sensitive to spicy foods.
  • You can leave buttermilk instead of draining your chicken clean. But what I found out trying it both ways was my chicken crust stuck better when I drained the brine off completely.
  • This Popeyes keto fried chicken can be eaten as a sandwich or skip the bread and make keto chicken tenders out of them both are great. Just follow the recipe step by step with the tenders as well.
  • Is the recipe difficult? I wouldn't say so but it may be a bit more challenging for a beginner cook when it comes to coating the chicken because it will get sticky
  • Elevate the chicken in the oven. If you put the chicken directly on a pan the bottom half will soak and the entire coating will get loose from the steam. This will cause the coating to fall off very easily.
  • You don't have to freeze the chicken but it's highly recommended. If you choose not to freeze fully most of your coating will come off while frying.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Popeyes Keto Fried Chicken Sandwich
Amount Per Serving
Calories 510
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword keto fried chicken
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