These carnivore fried chicken strips are crispy, low-carb, gluten-free, and packed with protein. If you have been missing traditional fried chicken while eating carnivore, ketovore, or keto, this recipe gives you all that crunchy comfort without the flour, breadcrumbs, or carbs.
The secret is using crushed pork crumbs and parmesan cheese as the breading. They fry up beautifully and give these chicken strips the kind of golden, crispy coating that makes them feel like classic chicken tenders.
Even better, this recipe can be made three ways. You can fry them in a skillet for the crispiest results, bake them in the oven, or make them in the air fryer for an easier option.
Inspired by our popular Keto Fried Chicken Tenders this recipe is even lower in carbs and carnivore friendly. Be sure to check out our entire collection of carnivore recipes for more delicious options.
Why You'll Love These Carnivore Fried Chicken Strips
These chicken strips are simple, satisfying, and perfect when you want a family-friendly carnivore meal. Even the kiddos will love this recipe!
They are:
- Low-carb and gluten-free
- High in protein
- Made without flour or breadcrumbs
- Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside
- Easy to fry, bake, or air fry
- Great for carnivore, ketovore, and keto diets
This is the kind of recipe that proves you do not have to give up comfort food just because you are avoiding carbs.
Carnivore Chicken Tenders With Pork Rind Breading
Traditional fried chicken relies on wheat flour, breadcrumbs, or cornstarch to create a crispy coating. Of course, those ingredients are not carnivore or keto-friendly.
For this recipe, crushed pork crumbs replace the flour coating. They give the chicken strips a savory crunch while keeping the carbs incredibly low.
I also add finely grated Parmesan cheese to the coating. It helps the breading stick better and adds even more flavor. If you are following a stricter carnivore diet, you can keep the seasoning very simple and skip the optional garlic powder, onion powder, hot sauce, and black pepper.
You can make it as simple or as flavorful as your carnivore or ketovore approach allows.
Ingredients Needed
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The full recipe card will include the exact measurements, but below are the ingredients you will need to make carnivore chicken tenders:
Chicken
- Chicken tenderloins
- Heavy whipping cream
- Tabasco hot sauce, optional
- Ground black pepper, optional
- Sea salt
Carnivore Breading
- Crushed pork crumbs
- Finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Garlic powder, optional
- Onion powder, optional
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper, optional
Egg Wash
- Eggs
- Water
For Frying
Best Chicken To Use
Chicken tenderloins work beautifully for this recipe because they cook quickly and stay juicy. I like to lightly flatten them with a meat mallet so they cook evenly and have more surface area for that crispy pork crumb coating.
You can leave the tenderloins whole, slice them in half for smaller strips, or cut them into 1 ½-inch pieces if you want carnivore chicken nuggets.
Just keep in mind that smaller pieces will cook faster, so watch them closely while frying.
Why Marinate The Chicken In Heavy Cream?
The heavy cream marinade helps keep the chicken tender and juicy. It also gives the chicken a little extra richness, which works especially well with the pork crumb coating.
You can marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but you can let it sit as long as overnight in the refrigerator.
This small step makes a big difference.
How To Make Carnivore Fried Chicken Strips
Start by rinsing and patting dry the chicken tenderloins. Place the chicken between two pieces of cling wrap and gently flatten with a meat mallet.
Slice each tenderloin in half for chicken strips or into smaller pieces for chicken nuggets.
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In a large bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream, salt, pepper, and Tabasco if using. Add the chicken to the bowl and toss to coat. Cover and allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Once the chicken has marinated, prepare the coating. In one shallow bowl, combine the crushed pork crumbs, finely grated Parmesan cheese, sea salt, and any optional seasonings you are using.
In a second bowl, whisk together the eggs and water to make the egg wash.
Dip each chicken strip into the egg wash, then coat it well in the pork crumb mixture. For an extra crispy coating, dip the chicken a second time into the egg wash and then back into the pork crumb mixture. Shake off any excess coating before frying.
Heat the tallow in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken strips in batches until both sides are lightly golden brown and the chicken is fully cooked. Avoid overcrowding the pan so the chicken can crisp properly.
Depending on how much coating comes off during frying, you may need to change the oil between batches if it becomes too murky.
The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Tips For The Best Carnivore Chicken Strips
For the crispiest results, make sure the tallow oil is hot before adding the chicken. If the oil is not hot enough, the coating can absorb too much oil and become heavy instead of crisp.
Do not skip flattening the chicken. This helps the strips cook evenly and quickly.
Double coating the chicken gives the best crunch. It takes a little extra time, but it is worth it.
Fry in batches and leave space between each piece. Crowding the pan can cause the chicken to steam instead of fry.
If you are strict carnivore, leave out the garlic powder, onion powder, hot sauce, and black pepper. The pork crumbs, Parmesan, eggs, cream, and salt are enough to make these delicious.
Can I Bake Carnivore Chicken Tenders?
Yes, these carnivore chicken tenders can be baked if you prefer not to fry them.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the coated chicken tenders on a parchment-lined baking pan, making sure the pieces are not touching.
Drizzle the tops with 2 to 3 tablespoons of melted butter or tallow. This helps the coating brown and crisp in the oven.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches 165 degrees.
Can I Make These In The Air Fryer?
Yes, you can make these carnivore chicken strips in the air fryer.
Set the air fryer to 375 degrees and cook the chicken tenders for about 15 minutes, flipping if needed. I also recommend adding a couple of tablespoons of melted butter or tallow to the bottom of the air fryer basket to help prevent sticking and add flavor.
Be sure not to overcrowd the basket. Air needs to circulate around the chicken so the coating can crisp up.
What To Serve With Carnivore Fried Chicken Strips
If you are eating strict carnivore, these chicken strips can be served with a simple butter dipping sauce.
If you are following a ketovore or keto diet, they pair well with:
- A simple green salad
- Cauliflower mash
- Keto creamy coleslaw
- Sugar-free bbq sauce
They also make a great meal prep option since they reheat well in an air fryer or oven.
How To Store And Reheat
Store leftover chicken strips in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
For the best texture, reheat them in the air fryer or oven until hot and crispy. I do not recommend microwaving them because the coating can soften.
To freeze, allow the chicken strips to cool completely, then place them in a freezer-safe container. Reheat from frozen in the oven or air fryer until fully warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, pork crumbs are simply crushed pork rinds, making them a great flour-free breading option for carnivore and keto recipes. Always check the label to make sure there are no added sugars or unwanted ingredients. Alternatively you can make your own.
Yes. If you do not tolerate dairy or want a stricter carnivore version, you can leave out the Parmesan cheese and use only crushed pork crumbs for the coating. The texture may be slightly different, but the chicken will still be delicious. If you go this route, I suggest you bake them instead of frying because the coating may not adhere as well.
Yes, you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts. Slice them into strips and lightly flatten them so they cook evenly.
The coating can fall off if the chicken is too wet, the oil is not hot enough, or the pan is overcrowded. Pat the chicken dry before marinating, shake off excess coating, and fry in batches for the best results. Alternatively, you can try baking instead as the coating is less likely to fall off when baked.
Tag Us
I truly hope you give these carnivore fried chicken tenders a try and share them with others. If you make one, be sure to tag us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest so we can see your creations.
Seeing you enjoy these recipes is such an encouragement and keeps me inspired to keep creating and improving.
Carnivore Fried Chicken Strips
These carnivore fried chicken strips are crispy, juicy, and completely flour-free. Made with chicken tenderloins, a heavy cream marinade, and a savory pork crumb Parmesan coating, they are perfect for anyone following a carnivore, ketovore, keto, low-carb, or gluten-free lifestyle. Fry them for the crispiest finish, or make them in the oven or air fryer for an easy family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of chicken tenderloins, lightly flattened and sliced in half
- Tallow for frying.
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
- ¼ teaspoon of tabasco hot sauce (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
Carnivore Breading
- 1 ¾ cups Crushed Pork Crumbs
- ½ cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese, the kind that comes in a container
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)
- ½ teaspoon of onion powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper (optional)
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten, for egg wash
- 1 tablespoon of water
Instructions
Carnivore Chicken Strips Instructions
- Rinse and pad dry your chicken tenderloins. Using a meat mallet place your chicken between two pieces of cling wrap and gently flatten. Then slice each in half for tenders or in 1 ½ inch pieces for chicken tenders. Set aside.
- In a large bowl mix the heavy cream, salt, and pepper. This will be the marinade for the chicken strips.
- Add the chicken to the bowl and allow to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to overnight.
- After the chicken has marinated make your carnivore coating.
- Set two medium-sized bowls for the coating. In one bowl add all the dry ingredients: the pork panko, finely ground parmesan cheese and seasoning, and combine well. In the second bowl whisk the two eggs and tablespoon water for the egg wash.
- Dip your chicken strips one at a time into the egg wash, followed by the pork coating.
- I double coat my chicken tenderloins by dipping them a second time in the egg wash and coating. Shake off any excess before frying.
- Heat the oil in a skillet to medium-high heat and cook both sides of the chicken until lightly brown and fully cooked. You will want to fry your chicken in two or three batches. The oil may need to be changed if the oil gets too murky from the coating.
Notes
Baking Instructions For Carnivore Chicken Tenders
If you prefer to bake the carnivore chicken tenders do so in a preheated 375-degree oven and lay the chicken on a parchment-lined baking pan, and drizzle the top of the chicken with 2 -3 tablespoons of melted butter.
Be sure the chicken tenders are not touching so that they can crisp up evenly. The chicken will bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces.
Air-Fryer Instructions For Carnivore Chicken Tenders
You can also cook these low-carb chicken tenders in an air fryer. To do so, set the temperature to 375 degrees and cook the chicken tenders for about 15 minutes. I also recommend you add a couple of tablespoons of melted butter to the bottom of the air fryer so that they do not stick.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
4 chicken tendersAmount Per Serving: Calories: 475Total Fat: 28.3gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 735mgCarbohydrates: 1.5gNet Carbohydrates: 1.5gFiber: 0gProtein: 39.3g
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