Chicken Fritters (Crispy And Tender)

Name: Chicken Fritters - Easy, Tasty, Keto
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 turnips (220g, 3 cups shredded); 2 cups shredded chicken (220g / 2 cooked chicken breasts); 2 eggs (large ); 2 tsp olive oil ( + more to fry); 2 tbsp nutritional yeast ( or 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan); 1 tbsp tomato puree; 2 tsp dried Italian herbs; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/3 tsp black pepper; 1/3 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp onion powder; 2 tbsp coconut flour ((15g), or use 4 tbsp almond flour (25g))

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My easy chicken fritters are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. A tasty high protein dinner that's ready in just 20 minutes. Secretly healthy, too!

This tender chicken fritter recipe is so yummy. It is packed with flavor, contains hidden veggies and is naturally low in carbs.

Many of the recipes on my website are healthified versions of my mother's cooking, this one included. She made cheesy chicken fritters with grated potatoes, like chicken potato rostis.

I swapped out the potatoes for grated turnips. These are naturally low carb and a superb alternative. I also tweaked a few other ingredients - more about this below!

In total, I made the recipe 4 times until the fritters were perfect, in terms of flavor and sturdiness. They are a wonderfully satisfying dinner that my whole family enjoyed.

Also try my keto broccoli fritters and these cauliflower hash browns.

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What's To Love About This Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Variations
Serving Size and Serving Suggestion
Recipe FAQs
Storage
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Recipe

What's To Love About This Recipe

Crispy, tender and keto. This recipe for chicken fritters is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside without the need for masses of cheese, potatoes or cornstarch. Instead, I am using low carb alternatives such as turnips and coconut flour (which is also naturally gluten free).

Easy and quick. My tender chicken fritters are on the table in just 20 minutes. Add a crunchy green salad or a side of broccoli or green beans and you have a healthy dinner you'll want to eat on repeat.

Great for meal prep. You can prep the fritter mixture in advance or make a double batch and freeze any leftovers.

Versatile. Keto chicken fritters taste good both hot and cold. This means they work for picnics or lunch boxes. Or, make 12 small fritters and serve them as an appetizer or snack.

Ingredients

Let's talk ingredients. You'll find exact quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, but I wanted to give you a bit of extra info right here:

Chicken - I shredded 2 chicken breasts with a fork. You could also use shredded rotisserie chicken.
Turnips - Turnips are a great low carb alternative to potatoes. They are very neutral in taste.
Egg - You need 2 large eggs to bind the ingredients and make sturdy fritters.
Coconut Flour - This also really helps to make the fritters more sturdy. Don't omit it!
Seasonings: This is the fun part - making the chicken breast fritters taste delicious. Tomato paste and olive oil add Italian flair. Nutritional yeast adds cheesy flavour while keeping the recipe dairy-free. Swap it with parmesan if you prefer. As for the spices, we want Italian herbs, garlic and onion powder as well as pepper and salt.

Instructions

It is simple to make keto chicken fritters. Here are the basic steps.

Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed method with ingredient amounts, timings and nutrition information.

Shredded turnip in a food processor bowl.

STEP 1

Peel the turnips with a potato peeler. Then, grate them in a food processor or with a box grater. You should end up with 3 cups of shredded turnip.

STEP 2

Put the grated turnip into a bowl. Cover and microwave (or steam) for 5 minutes. Let it cool, then put it into a muslin cloth or kitchen towel. Squeeze out as much water as possible.

Beaten egg in a bowl and a balloon whisk.

STEP 3

Whisk the eggs with a fork.

Shredded cooked chicken and spices in a bowl.

STEP 4

Mix the turnip in a large mixing bowl with all other ingredients.

Chicken fritter mixture before frying on parchment paper.

STEP 5

Shape the mixture into 6 patties.

STEP 6

In a large frying pan, cook 3 fritters at a time over medium heat. Fry them until they are golden and cooked through on both sides, flipping them half way through. Repeat for the remaining fritters.

Katrin's Top Tips

#1 Squeeze! You must, must, squeeze out as much liquid from the turnips as possible. This makes the fritters tender, fluffy and robust.

#2 Let the mixture rest. After combining the fritter mixture, let it rest for 5 minutes. This gives the coconut flour time to absorb any moisture.

Variations

There are many ways you can tweak the recipe. Here are a few ideas:

No turnips - Sub in grated zucchini or cauliflower rice instead of the turnips. These also need squeezing after cooking as both vegetables contain plenty of water.
Almond flour - Use almond flour instead of the coconut flour. I recommend using 4 tablespoons or 25 grams of almond flour.
Tweak the flavour - Use parmesan instead of the nutritional yeast for a more cheesy flavor. Or, add fresh parsley or chives directly into the fritter mixture.

Chicken fritters topped with yogurt and chives on parchment paper.

Serving Size and Serving Suggestion

I serve the fritters with chopped chives and a dollop of Greek yogurt.

They also taste great with mayonnaise, this easy guacamole, keto hummus or the tahini lemon sauce from my cauliflower falafel.

3 fritters plus a side salad or a portion of green veggies such as broccoli or green beans are a satisfying lunch or dinner. Use 2 fritters per serve for a smaller meal.

Option to make 12 small fritters and serve as an appetizer.

Recipe FAQs

How to make ground chicken fritters?

For ground chicken fritters, use raw chicken mince instead of the shredded chicken. You will only need one egg, but all other ingredients stay the same. Frying the chicken patties takes twice as long, because the chicken has to cook all the way through.

Can I add more cheese?

Yes. For cheesy chicken fritters, add mozzarella or grated cheddar into the chicken mixture.

Does the recipe work with canned chicken?

Yes, you can use canned or tinned chicken instread of the shredded chicken breast. I do recommend fresh chicken over canned though. The taste is much better.

Can I make chicken fritters with raw chicken?

Yes. You'll need the meat from 2 chicken breasts. Chop them into very small pieces. This is the most important thing! Proceed with the recipe as described. Just like with the ground chicken, frying will take twice as long because the chicken needs to cook all the way through.

Storage

Store leftover fritters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave or warm them through in a frying pan with a little more oil.

Chicken fritters also freeze well! Make sure to freeze them in a single layer without touching, so they don't stick together. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.