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    Home » Recipes

    Keto Chicken Wings Recipe (EASY + NO FRYER NEEDED)

    Jun 30, 2017 · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Keto Chicken Wings are easy and perfectly crispy without a fryer! Ready in just about 30 minutes!

    keto chicken wings in tray with buffalo blue cheese sauce and celery

    These Keto Chicken Wings are super easy to make and require no deep frying!

    The blue cheese in this recipe is what really makes it drool-worthy, and it’s also a super nutritious component of the meal. Blue cheese is a good source of protein, potassium, and calcium, but it’s the moldy blue veins that run through it that really pack a healthy punch.

    Not only do these wings have blue cheese sprinkled on top but there's also blue cheese *IN* the sauce. These are definitely a blue cheese lovers' dream come true.

    Side note: have you tried our Keto Buffalo Chicken Soup?

    Back in our college days, there was a local restaurant that ran a special on Monday nights for 25 cent wings. They were in heavy competition with the Mexican restaurant that offered 25 cent tacos and usually, we ended up at one or the other. Regardless, we could feast like royalty for $10, and if we wanted to throw in a pitcher of PBR, $15.

    It has been years since we ate like that. The last time we stopped in, we ordered a dozen wings (each) and a side of waffle fries to split. By 10 o’clock that night we thought we were going to die, heartburn, nausea, indigestion, upset stomach, where’s the Pepto? Nothing like that to worry about with these Keto Chicken Wings, just make sure you’ve got plenty of napkins.

    chicken wings in cast iron skillet
    buffalo sauce with blue cheese

    Let's get to some Q&A for these wings:

    Are chicken wings keto?

    Yes, chicken wings are perfect for the keto diet! They have a great fat to protein ratio, especially when you add in a bit more fat like the butter that's in the sauce or the extra bit of oil used to pan fry the wings.

    Ingredients in keto chicken wings

    For this recipe we're using:

    • 2 lbs chicken wings - this comes to about 16 wings
    • ¼ cup lard or coconut oil, or avocado oil, for frying
    • Salt and pepper

    SAUCE:

    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ½ cup Frank’s Red Hot
    • 1 ounce blue cheese

    We don't find that a baking powder salt mixture is necessary as the oil + the dry chicken creates the perfect crunch.

    How to make Crispy chicken wings

    1. Preheat the oven to 450° F.
    2. Pat the wings dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper
    3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat and add in the lard (you can also use coconut oil, avocado oil, schmaltz, or algae oil)
    4. Arrange the wings in a single layer cooking about 3 minutes per side or until the skin starts to crisp
    5. Transfer the skillet to the oven and continue to cook for 10-15 minutes flipping once or twice for even cooking
    6. Make the sauce by melting the butter, hot sauce, and cheese together until smooth - you can do this on the stovetop or in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl
    7. Transfer the wings to a large bowl and toss with the sauce - garnish with extra blue cheese to serve

    Reducing the spice

    You can use a milder buffalo sauce, we use Franks RedHot that we find to be not spicy at all. If you're really sensitive to spice opt for a non-buffalo style sauce like a keto BBQ sauce, lemon garlic pepper, or even a dry wing tossed with your favorite spice blend - tandoori chicken wings anyone?

    Can I use an air fryer for these low carb chicken wings?

    You can! To cook these keto chicken wings in an air fryer follow these steps:

    1. set the air fryer to 360° F and cook for 12 minutes
    2. flip and cook another 12 minutes
    3. flip again and increase the heat to 390° F and cook until the skin is super crispy about another 7 minutes

    Can I use a baking sheet instead of a skillet?

    You can but we wouldn't recommend it, we find that the wings dry out before the skin gets crispy when baking wings on a sheet pan.

    Flats or Drumsticks?

    The true question for the wing connoisseur! We personally love flats but some folks like drumsticks. This is totally up to you.

    Let us know what team you're on in the comments! #teamflats or #teasmdrumstick

    If you like one or the other just ask the nice folks at the butcher counter to only give you the kind you like. The cooking process is the same so no worries there.

    Do I have to put blue cheese in the buffalo wing sauce?

    Nope, totally optional! Feel free to leave it out and you're left with a delicious and sugar free classic style buffalo sauce.

    Are crispy chicken wings healthy?

    We think so! Not only are they a good source of protein and fat when cooked at home with cleaner ingredients. Serve these wings up with some celery sticks or a large side salad #balance

    Can you store and reheat chicken wings?

    Yes! Store the wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat simply place under the oven broiler set to 500° F. Broil for 3-4 minutes per side until reheated and crispy.

    Tools we used for this low carb keto recipe

    • Cast Iron Skillet [budget option, heirloom splurge option]
    • Tongs

    What is the nutritional information for these wings?

    As always, you can find the full nutritional breakdown including the carb count (total carbs and net carbs) at the bottom of the recipe card. You can find the serving size/yield at the top of the recipe card. You should always double-check your specific ingredients as different brand's ingredients may have different values.

    To get a specific serving size you'll want to weigh the final dish then divide by the number of servings. We can't provide this information as your cooking style will vary from ours as well as the brand ingredients you choose to use.

    Remember, there is not a keto food list you have to stick to at all times. Keto isn't a food group, it's a nutritional state. Just keep your carbs to 5%-10% of your daily calories and you're set!

    Are wings still too messy?

    We hear ya, sometimes you just want the buffalo flavor without all the hassle of wings. We have just the recipes  ↓

    • Buffalo Chicken Tenders
    • Keto Buffalo Chicken Soup
    • Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
    • Keto Buffalo Chicken Casserole
    • Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Avocados
    • Keto Buffalo Chicken Fat Bombs
    • Buffalo Chicken Sliders
    keto chicken wings in tray with buffalo blue cheese sauce and celery
    keto chicken wings in tray with buffalo blue cheese sauce and celery

    Keto Chicken Wings

    These Keto Chicken Wings are perfectly crispy without the need for a fryer! Served up with a low-carb buffalo blue cheese sauce!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate Pin Recipe
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: 30-minute, gameday, keto, low carb
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 348kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs chicken wings about 16
    • ¼ cup lard or coconut oil, avocado oil, or algae oil
    • Salt and pepper
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ½ cup Frank’s Red Hot
    • 1- ounce blue cheese + more for topping

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425° F
    • Pat the wings dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper
    • Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat and add in the lard (you can also use coconut oil, avocado oil, schmaltz, or algae oil)
    • Arrange the wings in a single layer cooking about 3 minutes per side or until the skin starts to crisp
    • Transfer the skillet to the oven and continue to cook for 10-15 minutes flipping once or twice for even cooking
    • Make the sauce by melting the butter, hot sauce, and cheese together until smooth – you can do this on the stovetop or in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl
    • Transfer the wings to a large bowl and toss with the sauce – garnish with extra blue cheese to serve

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Chicken Wings
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 348 Calories from Fat 243
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 27g42%
    Saturated Fat 10g63%
    Cholesterol 115mg38%
    Sodium 1109mg48%
    Potassium 209mg6%
    Carbohydrates 1g0%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 24g48%
    Vitamin A 522IU10%
    Vitamin C 2mg2%
    Calcium 57mg6%
    Iron 1mg6%
    *

    Nutritional values are estimates only and do not include carbs from sugar alcohols.

    # Hashtag with us!Don't forget to mention @castiron_keto or tag #castironketo on Instagram with your creations! We love seeing what you're making.
    « White Chocolate Keto Skillet Blondie
    Charred Cabbage Salad »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz says

      January 07, 2018 at 2:14 pm

      Love this recipe ! I have been cooking with my cast iron skillet since 1986... my ? Is what can I use to substitute the lard ( I totally despise it) otherwise this recipe gets a 10!!

      Reply
      • Alex Lester says

        January 07, 2018 at 2:42 pm

        Hi Liz! So glad you like the recipe, you can sub in avocado oil or coconut oil in place of the lard.

        Reply
    2. Laura says

      February 03, 2018 at 2:48 pm

      Does the skillet go in the oven with the lard still in it? Looking at making these tonight!

      Reply
    3. Janet says

      March 30, 2018 at 11:00 pm

      The idea of mixing the cheese with the sauce is brilliant. Making these tonite!

      Reply
    4. Nick says

      September 11, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      This might be stupid. What is the point of the lard? I see below you say subbing for avocado or coconut oil can work. So the point of the lard is largely to grease the pan?

      Reply
      • Alex Lester says

        September 13, 2018 at 3:20 pm

        Correct, it's just to get the skin super crispy.

        Reply
    5. Matt says

      October 03, 2018 at 1:35 am

      Are the wings frozen or thawed ?

      Reply
    6. Tamarr says

      October 14, 2018 at 2:02 am

      Made these wings tonight for the family. They were fantastic! I used avocado oil instead of lard, a cube of butter and instead of crumbled blue cheese I added a TBSP of blue cheese dressing to the sauce mix and and extra for dipping on the side. I also cooked the wings in the oven for 25 minutes before tossing them in the sauce. Thank you for posting this recipe. It will be my go-to for hot wings.

      Reply
      • Alex Lester says

        October 16, 2018 at 1:32 pm

        Hi Tamarr, thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoyed the wings!

        Reply
    7. Linda says

      November 20, 2019 at 12:22 am

      Could the hot sauce be substituted? With anything that is not spicy?

      Reply
      • Alex Lester says

        December 04, 2019 at 1:52 pm

        I mean, you can choose any sauce you'd like or buy a mild buffalo sauce. They're also great just plain.

        Reply
    8. Lisa says

      September 15, 2020 at 11:00 am

      What a great idea! They look delicious!

      Reply

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