With its wonderfully stringy texture and mild, creamy taste, mozzarella has got to be one of the best cheeses!

These low-carb mozzarella sticks coated in crispy almond flour and pork rind panko are indistinguishable from the indulgent party food we all know and love.

Fried to perfection, Keto Mozzarella Sticks are bound to be a hit with your dinner party guests or on the buffet. Pair them with a tasty low-carb marinara sauce for an extra dimension of flavor.

Being keto-friendly and naturally gluten free means these mozzarella sticks are the ideal option to suit a variety of dietary needs at your next party or dinner.

Are Mozzarella Sticks Keto?

Absolutely! In fact, mozzarella sticks are one of the easiest dishes out there to make keto. Simply switch regular flour and breadcrumbs with keto-friendly substitutes like almond flour and pork rind panko.

Swapping for low-carb versions of these ingredients won’t make any difference to the final result, so you can continue to enjoy everyone’s favorite party snack in all its crispy and creamy glory!

Ingredients for Keto Mozzarella Sticks

To make these low-carb mozzarella sticks without bread crumbs, you’ll need the following ingredients: 

• Mozzarella sticks
• Eggs
• Almond flour
• Pork rind panko
• Spices: garlic salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, parsley
• Low-carb marinara
• Oil for frying

Is Marinara Sauce Keto Friendly? 

Generally not, as most brands add too much sugar to the sauce to fit within a low-carb diet. However, nowadays there are some great keto options available. For example, Rao’s do a lovely marinara sauce containing minimal sugar and net carbs.

How to Make Keto Mozzarella Sticks

Never made mozzarella sticks before? Don’t worry, it’s easy! Here’s an overview of  how to make mozzarella sticks without bread crumbs:

1. First, you’ll need to prepare three bowls. One with a mixture of almond flour, garlic powder and garlic salt. one with the beaten eggs. And one with the pork rind panko, parsley and Italian seasoning.
2. Slice the cheese sticks in half.
3. Roll the cheese sticks in the almond flour mixture, then the egg, and finally the pork rind panko. 
4. Place each breaded cheesestick on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Freeze at least 2 hours.
5. When ready to cook, add enough oil to cover 2 inches of a small pot to medium heat.
6. Cook 2-3 keto cheese sticks at a time, using tongs to rotate. Cook 3-4 minutes until the outside has browned.

Can Mozzarella Sticks Be Made in an Air Fryer?

Yes! To make keto air fryer mozzarella sticks, do the following: 

1. Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F.
2. Add the frozen cheese sticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray.
3. Cook 5 minutes.

Dipping Sauces for Mozzarella Sticks 

Not a fan of marinara? No problem! These keto cheese sticks are equally as delicious on their own or with another dipping sauce of your choice — sweet chili is a popular accompaniment for mozzarella sticks.

Or, you could serve up your mozzarella sticks with a gorgeous homemade dip. For an extra kick, give this Jalapeño Ranch Dip a try.

What Goes With Mozzarella Sticks? 

Keto mozzarella sticks make the perfect appetizer, but are also great served with a fresh salad. Here are some suggestions of what to serve with mozzarella sticks: 

• Keto Pizza Zucchini Boats
• Keto Pizza Stuffed Peppers
• Roast Chicken
• One-Pan Mushroom Chicken
• Keto Italian Meatballs

Tips for the Best Low-Carb Mozzarella Sticks 

• When dipping the cheese sticks into the coatings, use your fingers to press the mixture tightly to the cheese. Make sure each cheese stick is covered completely.
• You can also dip each cheese stick in the egg and back into the pork rind panko mixture if you need to cover them better.
• You must freeze the mozzarella sticks prior to frying them. This ensures that the keto breading stays put and doesn’t slide off and burn. 

More Easy Keto Appetizers: 

Whether you’re planning a party, a meal with friends or family or even fancy some inspiration for your own lunches, here are a few of my favorite keto-friendly appetizers!

• These Keto Pepperoni Pizza Bites are another perfect finger food for your next party! 
• Why not try out some Air Fryer Buffalo Wings? Ultra-crispy with no breading, these wings make the ideal low carb game day snack.
• No buffet is complete without dips, and at under 4 net carbs per portion, this creamy Tzatziki is the perfect companion for fresh veggies, meats or chips.
• Crispy Green Bean Fries can be enjoyed as a side dish, appetizer, or snack. Serve with low-carb ranch for a real treat! 
• No one can resist these Keto Breadsticks! They’re made with zucchini, and I have a secret to preventing them from becoming soggy. 

Yield: 24 Mozzarella Sticks

Easy Keto Mozzarella Sticks

Print

These Easy Keto Mozzarella Sticks are covered in an ultra crispy crust and fried to perfection! 

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 24 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 mozzarella sticks, sliced in half
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups pork rind panko*
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Instructions

Prepare 3 Bowls:

1. Bowl 1: Add the almond flour, garlic powder and garlic salt, stir well.
2. Bowl 2: Add the eggs, beat well.
3. Bowl 3: Add the pork rind panko, parsley and Italian seasoning, stir well.
4. Slice the cheese sticks in half.
5. To prepare the cheese sticks roll in the almond flour mixture, then the egg, and finally the pork rind panko. Use your fingers to press the mixture tightly to the cheese. Make sure each cheese stick is covered completely. You can dip it in the egg and back into the pork rind panko mixture if you need to cover them better.
6. Place each breaded cheesestick on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Freeze at least 2 hours.
7. When ready to cook add enough oil to cover 2 inches of a small pot to medium heat. Cook 2-3 cheesesticks at a time, using tongs to rotate. Cook 3-4 minutes until the outside has browned. (air fryer instructions are below)

Notes

The cheesesticks are going into the oil frozen, which will reduce the overall temp of the oil. Make sure you give the oil a minute or two to come back up to temp betweeen batches.

Air Fryer Instructions:

Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F. Add the frozen cheesesticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Cook 5 minutes.

Pork Panko: These are ground pork rinds that make a perfect sub for panko breadcrumbs. Simply put a 2.5 ounce bag of pork rinds in a food processor and pulse until it resembles panko breadcrumbs. This will result in about 2 cups of pork rind panko. Store in an air tight container.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Anthony's Blanched Gluten Free Almond Flour, 4 lb, Gluten Free & Non GMO, Keto Friendly
• 
  Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer, 5.5-Quart, Grey

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

2 Cheese Sticks
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 162Total Fat: 9.5gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 334mgCarbohydrates: 2.1gNet Carbohydrates: 1.8gFiber: 0.3gProtein: 12.4g

The post Easy Keto Mozzarella Sticks appeared first on The Best Keto Recipes.

Relive your childhood with these delightful Keto Chicken Tenders! They are easily freezable and will last a few days in the refrigerator, making them a great option for a busy day’s meal prep.

As well as being the perfect everyday lunch, these versatile low carb Chicken Tenders are a great option for a buffet or party. Oven baked and perfectly seasoned for that authentic ‘fried chicken’ flavor, they make ideal finger food and are suitable for a wide range of dietary needs.

There’s definitely a reason why Chicken Tenders are so popular with adults and children alike, and being on a keto diet needn’t mean you can’t enjoy that gorgeous flavor we all know and love!

Ingredients in Keto Chicken Tenders

• Chicken Breast, cut into thin strips
• Egg
• Mayonnaise
• Almond Flour
• Pork Panko: ground pork rinds that make a perfect sub for panko breadcrumbs
• Parmesan: the grated or powdered variety, not shredded
• Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika

How to make Keto Chicken Tenders

Making chicken tenders is a pretty simple process. You simply need to slice your chicken into thin strips. Dip the chicken breast into an egg and mayo mixture, then dredge in a keto friendly coating of almond flour, parmesan cheese, spices and pork rind panko. Make sure your tenders are coated fully for the best flavor. 

Then simply decide how to cook them! These low carb chicken tenders can be made in the oven, or an air fryer. You will find all of the specific cooking information in the recipe card below, but each method has its advantages. When cooking in an oven you can cook a large batch at once, which makes things easy, but does take longer. 

Alternatively, if you cook in an air fryer the cooking time is a lot faster and they have that great crunchy air fryer texture. The drawback is that you do have to cook them in batches as the air fryer is smaller. 

How Long to Bake Chicken Tenders

If you choose to use the oven method the chicken tenders need to cook at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. One thing to note is that the cooking time will depend on how thick you cut your chicken.

I prefer to make smaller, thinner tenders so they are perfectly crunchy. If you make thicker tenders you will need to increase the cooking time a few minutes. 

How to Reheat Low Carb Chicken Tenders

Keto Chicken Tenders will be good in the refrigerator for a couple of days, making them perfect for a quick and tasty lunch! To reheat your Chicken Tenders, start by preheating your oven to 450-500 degrees. Wrap your chicken in foil and place onto a baking tray, leaving it out of the refrigerator until the Chicken Tenders reach room temperature.

Once your oven is preheated and the Chicken Tenders are no longer cool, place them into the preheated oven for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on how many pieces you have and how large they are. Check at regular intervals and remove from the oven when each piece is heated right the way through.

Can I Freeze Chicken Tenders?

If you plan on keeping your Chicken Tenders for longer than a few days, they’re perfectly suitable for freezing. Wait until the tenders are cooled before placing them into freezer bags.

Don’t fully close the bags; an airtight environment can lead to condensation that will make your lovely crispy Chicken Tenders go soggy. 

Tips for Making Healthy Baked Chicken Tenders

These almond flour Chicken Tenders are low in carbs, diabetic friendly and naturally gluten-free, making them a great option to suit a variety of dietary needs at gatherings or dinner parties! Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure they come out perfect every time:

• Do not overcrowd your pan. Make sure you use a large enough pan that the tenders do not touch. This ensures the tenders will get perfectly crispy.
• Bread the tenders evenly. Don’t be afraid to use your hands to bread the chicken. Sometimes using utensils it can be difficult to create a solid breading. Make sure the chicken is evenly covered all over. 

More Keto Chicken Recipes

Chicken is incredibly protein-rich, making it a great, satisfying addition to any keto diet, and the creative options really are endless! Try out some of these keto chicken recipes to keep your diet fresh and exciting.

• Keto Pesto Chicken Ravioli (under 2 net carbs per serving)
• Grilled Jalapeno Lime Chicken (great to add to a lettuce wrap) 
• Low Carb Kung Pao Chicken (gluten free) 
• Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken (under 2 net carbs per serving) 
• Easy Keto Buffalo Chicken Taquitos (3 ingredients)
• Keto Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wrap (3.3 net carbs per serving) 

Yield: 12 tenders, 6 servings

Oven Baked Keto Chicken Tenders

Print

These Crispy Oven Baked Keto Chicken Tenders are just what you've been craving! These delicious low carb, gluten free chicken tenders are about 1 net carb for two tenders! 

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 12 strips
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons butter

For the Keto Breading

• 1 cup pork rind panko (see notes)
• 1/3 cup almond flour
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F
2. Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray, or line with aluminum foil.
3. In one shallow bowl combine the egg and mayonnaise, beat with a fork until it is completely combined. Set aside.
4. In another shallow bowl combine the Keto Breading ingredients.
5. Dip each sliced chicken tender into the egg mixture, then dredge in the breading. Make sure the tenders are completely coated.
6. Once each tender is coated well, lay on the cooking sheet and brush with the melted butter.
7. Bake 15 minutes, turn the tenders carefully using tongs and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
   

Air fryer instructions:

Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F. Place the chicken tenders (without the melted butter) and lightly spray with cooking oil. Cook for 5 minutes, flip and cook for 2-3 more minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Notes

Pork Panko: These are ground pork rinds that make a perfect sub for panko breadcrumbs. Simply put a 2.5 ounce bag of pork rinds in a food processor and pulse until it resembles panko breadcrumbs. This will result in about 2 cups of pork rind panko. Store in an air tight container.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Anthony's Blanched Gluten Free Almond Flour, 4 lb, Gluten Free & Non GMO, Keto Friendly

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

2 Chicken Tenders
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 303Total Fat: 14.6gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 325mgCarbohydrates: 1.3gNet Carbohydrates: 1.1gFiber: 0.2gProtein: 35g

The post Oven Baked Keto Chicken Tenders appeared first on The Best Keto Recipes.