This low carb air fryer city chicken is how my family now eats this family favorite dish. It’s actually pork on skewers breaded in almond flour and spices. I made it in the Air Fryer and in the oven and one servings has 2.7g net carbs.This tasty recipe is also gluten free and uses no breadcrumbs nor any pork rinds!
You might also like Mom’s traditional city chicken recipe.
I grew up with city chicken and it’s a very popular post on this blog. However today I wanted to make a healthier alternative so I made this low carb air fryer city chicken. Air Frying is a great way to make this dish without using much added oil.
It was such a success that I will probably make it like this from now on. My family didn’t even notice a difference. If you don’t have an air fryer, don’t fret I will show you how to make this low carb version in the oven too.
I love this recipe because first of all it’s very tasty but it’s also gluten free. I don’t use a bread crumb coating nor do I use pork rinds which are popular in low carb cooking. And air frying makes it quick and easy.
What is city chicken?
First of all if you never heard of city chicken, it is essentially cubes of pork and veal on a wooden stick that is breaded, browned and baked. It’s sometimes referred to as mock chicken because it’s supposed to resemble a fried chicken leg. Some people add a gravy as well but my mom never made it that way.
My father in law was a butcher and he told me that back in the day fresh chicken was much more expensive than pork and veal so they used these meats to mimic fried chicken. It’s a popular dish where I live and really quite tasty.
Low carb breading for this pork recipe or whatever meat you want to bread.
This low carb breading or coating for this dish is super simple and doesn’t use bread crumbs which is what makes it low carb. It’s good on pork chops, chicken breasts, etc. The simple ingredients arealmond flour, parmesan cheese. garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning and paprika.
I use this breading recipe a lot for low carb cooking and a good change of pace from pork rinds.
How to make low carb air fryer city chicken.
Where I live in Pittsburgh you can often find city chicken already packaged with the wooden pork skewers in the meat department of the grocery store. But today I just bought some country boneless pork rbis from Aldi and made my own skewers.
I just use pork and not veal. I am not a veal fan and never cook or eat it. But you can if you want.
Step 1: Cut the boneless pork ribs into cubes and place the pork cubes on wooden skewer. Make sure your pork skewers fit into the air fryer basket.
Step 2: Mix the breading ingredients together and add to a large shallow bowl. Add a beaten egg in another bowl.
Step 3: Dip the skewered pork first in the egg wash and then the breading and set aside.
Step 4: To make this in the air fryer, first spray the air fryer basket or trays with nonstick cooking oil. Also spray the city chicken skewers. Set the temperature to 390°F and cook for 12 minutes.
Check to make sure the pork is cooked through. Temperatures may vary from one air fryer to another. The internal temperature of pork should be 165°F when using a meat thermometer.
Step 5: When done, take the city chicken skewers out and place on a plate and let rest for a few minutes then serve.
Store leftovers in an airtight container. Please scroll down to view printable recipe card.
To make low carb city chicken in the oven.
To make this dish in the oven, you first must brown them in an oven safe skillet. Preheat oven to 375°F. Next heat up a large oven safe skillet (like a cast iron skillet) to medium high heat.
Add a little oil and then turn the heat down to medium. Fry the skewered meat on all sides until golden brown then place the skillet in the oven. If you don’t have a oven safe skillet place them in a baking dish and bake for about 10 minutes until cooked through.
This version has the added oil but it’s also very delicious and still low carb.
More low carb air fryer pork recipes to try.
Here are a few more keto air fryer pork recipes you might want to try.
- keto breaded pork chops or rubbed thick pork chops
- fried pork chop strips and dipping sauces
- pork kebabs
- baby back ribs
- homemade Italian sausage
- kielbasa bites
This is a simple but tasty low carb dinner recipe based on an old family recipe. My family loves this low carb air fryer city chicken and I’m sure your family will too. Especially if you are on a low carb diet, no one will even know the difference.
If you don’t care about carbs, please check out my older post for classic city chicken and read the recipe instructions and some of the comments. Lots of people grew up on this dish and have lots of tips and memories to share.
The nutritional information for 1 kebab made in the air fryer is: 312 cals / 19.7g fat / 4.8g carbs / 2.1g fiber / 29.6g protein = 2.7g net carbs
Low Carb City Chicken in the AIrfryer or Oven
Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
This air fryer low carb city chicken is how my family now eats this family favorite. It's actually bread pork on skewers breaded in almond flour and spices. I make it in the Airfryer and in the oven and each servings has 2.7g net carbs.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds country pork loin ribs, boneless, cut into kebab pieces
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup almond flour
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasonings
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Cut the pork into cubes and place on wooden skewers. Make sure the skewers will fit into your air fryer if using one.
- To make the low carb breading, mix the almond flour, parmesan cheese and spices and place in a large shallow bowl.
- In another shallow bowl, beat your eggs.
- Dip the kebab into the egg and then the breading and make sure to coat all sides.
- If making in the air fryer, spray both the basket and kebabs with cooking spray and cook for 12 minutes at 390°F. Make sure the pork is cooked through before eating. Cooking time may very with different air fryers. The internal temperature of pork should be 165°F when using a meat thermometer.
- If making in the oven, add some oil to an oven proof skillet. Brown the kebabs on all sides until golden brown. Then bake in a 375°F oven for about 10 minutes. Make sure the pork is cooked through before eating. Cooking time may very from oven to oven. If you don't have a oven safe skillet place them in a baking dish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 312Unsaturated Fat: 0g
