Low Carb Keto Cottage Cheese Chicken Nugget Recipe

These simple keto cottage cheese chicken nuggets are made quickly within 15 minutes and taste like the fast food chicken nuggets that even eaters like picks love! Net curves of less than 2g per serving!

Easy Ketrow Carb Chicken Nugget

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’ve made a fair share of the low-carb keto-friendly chicken nugget recipe, with some served with cream cheese, some cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, some baked and air fried.

But these new cottage cheese chicken nuggets? Fruitful, they are the best batch I’ve ever made.

My daughter said: “Mom, these are even better than your cream cheese nuggets. They are marsh, juicy and taste like real nuggets!”

It’s a victory for my book.

These high protein chicken nuggets have 32 grams of protein per 4! All nutritional data can be found in the printable recipe cards at the bottom of this page.

Why Cottage Cheese Makes These Nuggets Extraordinary

So, what’s the secret to these simple keto chicken nuggets that gave me a thumbs up from my noisy daughter who doesn’t go on a keto diet? It’s cottage cheese!

No need for a food processor either!

Juicy and tender: Cottage cheese keeps ground chicken from drying out, which can easily occur in chicken nugget recipes.

Protein Boost: Cottage cheese naturally has higher protein, but less fat than cream cheese, so these nuggets fit perfectly with my Midlife Macro Method™ for a high protein medium fat diet.

Better Texture: Once drained and mixed, cottage cheese gives just the right amount of creaminess to bring everything together without heavy or greasy.

Keto-Friendly Crunch: Instead of breadcrumbs, I used pork lind panco both in the mix and as a crunchy coating. It contains no carbs and gives everyone a golden brown nugget bite that they love.

No almond or coconut flour required!

Variations of recipes

Skip the cottage cheese:
If you’re not interested in cottage cheese, trade it for cream cheese or Greek yogurt. However, please change the texture a little.

Spicy Kick:
Add chili powder or cayenne pepper to the mix for a bold, spicy nugget experience.

Added herbs:
Fresh and dried herbs such as parsley, dill, and chives can add fresh pops of flavor to your mix.

Fast and easy cooking methods

I’ve tested these keto chicken nugget recipes on an air fryer, but honestly I don’t think I’ll make them any other way again.

Air fry at 400°F for 5 minutes, turn it over, then cook for another 5 minutes. The outside is completely golden, soft and damp.

Of course, you can bake it in the oven or pan fry if you like, but the air fryer gave it a zero-confusion fast food nugget vibe. All the complete instructions are as follows on the recipe card:

Meal preparation & freezer friendly

Another reason why this Keto Nuggets recipe is at the top of my list? It’s incredible meal ready.

Freeze unbaked nuggets: Shape, coat and freeze on a baking sheet. Once solid, transfer to a freezer bag. Just add a few minutes and cook directly from the freezer. Freeze after baking: Bake or stir-fry, let cool completely before freezing. Reheat in an air fryer or oven to quickly make your protein-packed meals at any time.

Either way, you can create a double batch and prepare a healthy, child-approved nugget.

Freezing and storing leftovers

frozen:
Allow cooked nuggets to cool completely and store in a single layer on a freezer baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from the freezer using an oven or air fryer.

storage:
Place the remaining nuggets in a fridge airtight container and keep them for up to 3 days. To reheat, use the oven to conveniently hold the crunchy or microwave.

How to reheat

How to use the oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the nuggets on a baking sheet, cover them loosely with foil to prevent them from drying out, and bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until crispy.

Microwave Method
Place the nugget on a microwave safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave to the advanced for 1-2 minutes. This is quick, but may soften the coating a little.

Air Fryer Method
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Heat the nuggets for 5-7 minutes and shake along the way. This will keep the interior warm and crispy while keeping the coating crisp.

Stovetop Method
Warm the frying pan over medium heat with a small amount of oil. Cook the nuggets on one side for 3-4 minutes until crisp and crisp. If you need a little extra warming inside, cover it with a lid.

Midlife Macro Method™ Approved

This means you can enjoy these homemade chicken nuggets on a calorie deficit day with guilt-free or pair them with avocados or creamy dips on maintenance day.

Either way, they fit directly into my Midlife Macro Method™ approach. For a high protein diet, we recommend double the serving!

Favourite dipping sauce

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard is perfect for MMM deficit days.

Homemade ranch dressing is perfect for MMM maintenance days.

Here’s Ali Miller’s turmeric honey mustard recipes for naturally nourished children.

Buffalo sauce

Can I use canned chicken instead?

You can, but they are not moist and juicy enough to use ground chicken.

Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Again, just like canned chicken, already cooked chicken produces dried chicken nuggets, so in my opinion, fresh ground chicken is the best.

Can I use chicken breast instead of the ground?

Yes, if you can’t find ground chicken as long as it’s fresh and uncooked, I think it’s just as moist. Use a food processor to grind the meat.

Can I use this recipe for other meats?

Completely. Cut even turkeys and pork tenderloin into bite-sized pieces and twist the classic nugget.

Is cottage cheese the only way to moisten these nuggets?

It gives great moisture, but you can also try Greek yogurt or mash avocados for a variety of textures.

Can I make this recipe without dairy products?

Cottage cheese is not the main ingredient, but if it’s perfect for your experiment, you can try dairy-free cream cheese.

How do I save the remaining uncooked nuggets?

Place in an airtight container in the fridge and cook within 24 hours for maximum texture and safety.

Air Fryer Chicken Nugget

Whether you’re looking for a keto-friendly recipe to make these for your kids, prepare for yourself, or add to your rotation, these cottage cheese chicken nuggets check out all the boxes: easy, tasty, nutritious and freezer-friendly.

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d beat my cream cheese nugget recipe, but the cottage cheese turned out to be me wrong. This will stay here!