Crispy Gluten-Free Baked Chicken recipe is breaded in almond flour and parmesan for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy! Turn almond flour chicken into many gluten-free chicken recipes, such as chicken nuggets, tenders, or breaded chicken breasts using simple kitchen pantry ingredients.

Baked gluten-free breaded chicken
This gluten-free chicken recipe is the perfect versatile dish when the craving strikes for parmesan chicken, chicken nuggets, tenders, or even healthier version of fried chicken. The almond flour breading is gluten-free, low carb, and grain-free to fit in a variety of diets, yet still tastes deliciously indulgent.
With only a few ingredients needed, 15 minutes of prep, and 20 minutes of cook time – this oven baked gluten-free breaded chicken is great to make when you want to serve something delicious, but don’t want to have to spend hours in the kitchen.
For the ultimate meal, be sure to serve with this easy recipe for gluten-free gravy, to drive juicy bites in!
Ingredients needed
Serve the chicken breasts as is with lemon wedges and a side of veggies, or use for gluten-free chicken parmesan, picatta, serve on fettuccine alfredo, lemon chicken pasta, or sliced on salads.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – butterfly and pound into cutlets, cut into tenders, or nuggets
- Olive oil
- Almond flour or almond meal – If you have gluten-free bread crumbs on hand, these may also be substituted. But, if you love recipes using almond flour, check out this complete, free resource!
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Dried tarragon
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Paprika – Or try smoked paprika, which also adds a great flavor!
How To Make this Gluten-Free Chicken Recipe
I generally shy away from breading chicken and meat because I hate how time consuming and messy the process is. However, this technique is as simple as shake and bake chicken, which is also the technique used for oven breaded pork chops.
The shake and bake breading also has the added bonus of being gluten-free and low carb, just like pesto mozzarella chicken!
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Grease a pan with olive oil and set aside.
- Begin by butterflying your chicken breasts into chicken cutlets (see below to learn how to make chicken cutlets).
- Mix together the almond flour, grated parmesan, tarragon, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper with a fork.
- After you are finished mixing, drizzle the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil over the chicken breast cutlets, nuggets, or tenders and toss until they are all evenly coated.
- Then, you will place one chicken cutlet at a time into the almond flour mixture. Press down slightly and use the fork to flip the cutlet over and coat the other side. Once both sides are evenly coated, transfer the chicken onto the greased baking sheet. Repeat with each cutlet until all of them are coated with the mixture and ready to be baked.
- Bake for 10 minutes and then flip the cutlets and continue to bake for 5-10 minutes more, or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF. Serve the crispy almond flour breaded chicken immediately with lemon wedges and your favorite sides.
How To Make Chicken Cutlets from breasts
Almond Flour Chicken uses chicken cutlets rather than breasts to reduce cooking time. Chicken cutlets are boneless, skinless breasts that have been cut to make two thinner halves.
Some gluten-free chicken recipes, such as Spinach Artichoke Chicken, leave the deep slit without cutting through to make a stuffed chicken pocket. Recipes such as this on or Low Carb Sun Dried Tomato Chicken uses butterflied chicken cut through to make thinner cutlets.
You may purchase thin-cut chicken cutlets or buy breasts and make your own.
- First make a deep slit in the middle of the breast, lengthwise.
- Cut all the way across until you almost reach other side, so it will open like a book.
- If you need thinner cutlets, like for this recipe, cut down the middle of the crease. You end up with two, thinner thickness halves.
- To make sure the chicken breasts cook evenly they should be even thickness throughout. At this point use a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken into even thickness. If you don’t have a meat tenderizer mallet, gently pounding with a rolling pin will also work.
Need a great resource for easy, fail-proof gluten-free recipes? Check out 65+ family-friendly, kid-approved gluten-free recipes for kids!
Can I Use Something Besides Chicken Cutlets?
Yes, you may use chicken thighs (both bone-in and boneless), drumsticks, or chicken breasts. Depending on what type of meat you use, the cooking time may vary. Use a meat thermometer to be sure the meat has cooked to 165ºF.
- Chicken breasts – Bake 30 minutes at 350ºF, flipping halfway through. A thicker breast will take more time to cook than a thinner breast, so be sure to check the internal temperature.
- Bone-in chicken thighs – Bake 40-45 minutes at 400ºF. Check the internal temperature at the thickest part of the thigh.
- Boneless chicken thighs – Bake 40-45 minutes at 375ºF. Check the internal temperature at the thickest part of the thigh.
- Chicken drumsticks – Bake 20-25 minutes at 425ºF. Turn the drumstick over halfway through of baking. A meat thermometer should read 165ºF when inserted near the bone.
Is breaded Gluten-Free Chicken Healthy?
This gluten-free chicken recipe is not only mouth watering good, but mimics the taste of fried chicken without the calories. Baking the chicken is a healthier alternative than deep frying it in oil.
Thanks to the use of almond flour or meal, this recipe is also low carb and keto-friendly. With only 2 grams of carbohydrates and 232 calories per serving, you can eat this crispy baked chicken and not feel guilty afterward.
If you prefer a different oil rather than olive oil, try using avocado oil, Ghee, sunflower oil, or for a more tropical flavor – give coconut oil a try.
Making Nuggets or Tenders
Transform this recipe into a kid and family-friendly dinner! Almond flour chicken is easily adaptable to make homemade gluten-free chicken nuggets or tenders! Because this recipe is so simple, it’s also the perfect meal to have the kids make with you.
Serve with ranch, BBQ ranch, or honey mustard for dipping.
How to make chicken nuggets:
Cut each breast into nugget-size pieces before placing them in the almond flour parmesan breading. Boneless thighs may also be used, but will take a few minutes longer to bake.
Coat the nuggets with olive oil and breading, then place on greased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 425ºF. Flip each nugget over and bake 5 minutes longer, or until cooked through.
How to make chicken tenders:
Cut the pounded chicken cutlets into smaller strips, making tenders. Alternatively, use chicken breast tenderloins.
Coat chicken with olive oil, then dip in breading. Transfer breaded chicken tenders to greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 400ºF. Flip each tender over and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until cooked through.
Almond Flour Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesan
Use this breaded chicken recipe as base for almond flour, low carb, and gluten free chicken parmesan. Instead of adding the seasonings listed, follow the seasoning ingredients in this gluten-free chicken parm recipe.
For even more low carb parmesan chicken, skip the breading as in this chicken parmesan recipe without breadcrumbs.
Can I Use Something Besides Almond Flour to Bread the Chicken?
If you don’t have blanched almond flour handy, you can most definitely use something else to bread the chicken. Consider any one of the following options:
- Bread crumbs (Panko, Italian or plain to name a few. If you desire to keep the recipe gluten free, be sure you are using a gluten-free bread crumbs.)
- Almond meal or see gluten-free pork chops recipe for more alternatives
- Coconut flour
- Crushed potato chips
- Crushed cereal, like corn or rice Chex or Cornflakes (Please note, most cornflake brands are not gluten free, so read label carefully.)
- Gluten-free pretzels (Instead of crushing, consider processing them in a food processor until they are a fine consistency.)
- Gluten-free crackers
Can I Make this in an Air Fryer?
Using an air fryer to bake the chicken is also an option to save on time.
- Preheat air fryer to 390ºF. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. To avoid overcrowding the chicken and keeping the breading crispy, you may have to work in batches.
- Place breaded chicken in prepared basket and cook for 5 minutes. Flip chicken over and bake for an additional 4-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
- Remove and keep warm while the remaining chicken is cooked.
Side dishes to serve with it
Almond Flour Chicken is not only low carb, but also perfect for a keto diet. To keep the entire meal low carb, serve with one of these delicious low carb side dishes.
Click here to see the step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!
More Gluten-Free Chicken Recipes
- Sun Dried Tomato Chicken (Creamy LOW CARB Chicken) – Sun Dried Tomato Chicken is a quick, one pan chicken skillet recipe with bold rich flavors like sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and artichokes in a parmesan cream sauce.
- Easy Homemade Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings – Easy Homemade Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings are a thick, creamy bowl of comfort made in the pressure cooker or crockpot. This from scratch recipe is easily adaptable to make the best gluten free chicken and dumplings as well!
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili – Slow Cooker Buffalo (or Instant Pot!) Chicken Chili has the perfect amount of spice, a smooth creamy base, lots of tender chicken, and takes only 10 minutes to prepare. Be ready to win chili contests and hand out the recipe because this is the best chili you’ll ever make!
- Buffalo Chicken Salad – Turn those beloved buffalo wings into a quick and easy Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe. Dive into a large bowl of buffalo chicken, chopped lettuce, celery, bacon, peppers, and blue cheese crumbles drizzled with ranch dressing.
- Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken – Make this easy dish at home with one pan, no frying, and a sticky, tangy gluten free sweet sour sauce coating golden, crispy chicken.
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Crispy Gluten-Free Baked Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ – 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied into thin cutlets (see recipe notes)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ⅓ cup almond flour or almond meal
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried tarragon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- pinch pepper
- lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. On a baking sheet spread ½ tablespoon olive oil to grease pan. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl mix together, almond flour, grated parmesan, tarragon, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix together breading with a fork.
- Drizzle remaining 1 ½ tablespoons olive over chicken breast cutlets and toss to evenly coat chicken with oil. Place a chicken cutlet, one at a time, in the breading mixture. Press down slightly and use the fork to flip over and coat other side. Transfer breaded chicken to greased baking sheet and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Bake for 10 minutes, flip chicken, and then continue cooking for 5-10 minutes more, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
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Equipment Needed
Recipe Notes
How to Make Chicken Cutlets
- First make a deep slit in the middle of the breast, lengthwise.
- Cut all the way across until you almost reach other side, so it will open like a book.
- Cut down the middle of the crease. You end up with two, thinner thickness halves.
- To make sure the chicken breasts cook evenly they should be even thickness throughout. At this point use a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken into even thickness. If you don’t have a meat tenderizer mallet, gently pounding with a rolling pin will also work.
Making Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets or Tenders
Chicken nuggets: Cut each breast into nugget-size pieces before placing them in the almond flour parmesan breading. Boneless thighs may also be used, but will take a few minutes longer to bake. Coat the nuggets with olive oil and breading, then place on greased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 425ºF. Flip each nugget over and bake 5 minutes longer, or until cooked through. Chicken tenders: Cut the pounded chicken cutlets into smaller strips, making tenders. Alternatively, use chicken breast tenderloins. Coat chicken with olive oil, then dip in breading. Transfer breaded chicken tenders to greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 400ºF. Flip each tender over and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until cooked through.Chicken Parmesan
Use this breaded chicken recipe as base for almond flour, low carb, and gluten free chicken parmesan. Instead of adding the seasonings listed, follow the seasoning ingredients in this gluten free parmesan chicken recipe. For even more low carb parmesan chicken, skip the breading as in this chicken parmesan recipe without breadcrumbs.Air Fryer Baking Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 390ºF. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. To avoid overcrowding the chicken and keeping the breading crispy, you may have to work in batches.
- Place breaded chicken in prepared basket and cook for 5 minutes. Flip chicken over and bake for an additional 4-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
- Remove and keep warm while the remaining chicken is cooked.
Nutrition
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Laurie says
Hi! Thank you for the information! My store did not have cup 4 cup, so I used Pillsbury Best gluten free all purpose flour blend. It worked out great and it tasted delicious! Next time I think I will try your gluten free breadcrumb idea just to compare! The chicken was delicious! Laurie
Melissa Erdelac says
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it, Laurie!
Best,
Melissa
Laurie says
Hi! Thank you for your response!
My question was specifically for which flour to use instead of the almond flour, where my son is allergic to nuts.
Thank you!
Laurie
Melissa Erdelac says
Hi Laurie,
I use Cup4Cup, which doesn’t have nuts. You can take a look at my gluten-free flour guide, which has the ingredients and allergens listed for the top 4 flours.
Best,
Melissa
Laurie says
Hi! I want to make this for my son who needs to try a gluten free diet for stomach reasons – it sounds delicious. He is allergic to nuts, so can I use regular gluten free flour instead of the almond flour? Thank you! Laurie
Melissa Erdelac says
Hi Laurie,
I’d be happy to help! I would follow the breading and cooking instructions on this gluten-free chicken parmesan recipe. You don’t have to add the extra seasonings to the breading, if you are looking for more lightly seasoned chicken. Hope this helps!
Best,
Melissa
Jennifer says
Good but not crispy
Sheila Schroeder says
Some of the recipes have cornstarch as an ingredient. Since we are allergic to this product, what can we substitute, or should we just omit cornstarch?
Melissa Erdelac says
Hi Sheila,
The little bit of cornstarch acts as a binding agent for the breading. If you can’t have it, I would just eliminate it from the recipe as it won’t affect the taste at all.
Best,
Melissa
Anonymous says
Great recipe! Easy, my husband and I loved it, will make again!
Melissa Erdelac says
So happy to hear!
Best,
Melissa
Jennifer Andrew says
This recipe is probably the most tasty oven fried chicken that I’ve ever made and I love that it’s gluten free! I followed the recipe almost exactly. The only things that I changed were: I used Nutritional Yeast instead of Parmesan Cheese making this dairy free. I also used boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast only because I prefer dark meat. Just those 2 personal preferences that I changed, but otherwise this recipe is perfect as is! Moist, healthy, crispy chicken… What more could you ask for!?!? I’ll definitely make this recipe again 🙂
Melissa says
This makes me so happy! Thank you, Jennifer! I love that you shared your adaptations. Sounds wonderful!
Best,
Melissa
Mary says
your recipe sounds neat, but I can’t read it for the pop ups and the distracting f p yum envelope scrolling along as I page down making it very hard for me to concentrate. I usually exit sites like these soon as possible. If you want more people to hang around, delete the pops and the ad and the facebook crap.
Melissa says
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing. I know these things can be distracting, but I do want to give you a little background for why they are there. Running this website is my full-time job. I put about 30 hours into each recipe, from researching, recipe development, testing, shooting images, content creation, and promotion. While the recipe is free for you, I get compensated through ads and enticing people to become regular visitors. If you find these things annoying (and totally get it), that’s where bookstore cookbooks come in. I think you be hard-pressed to find any “free” resource on the internet that doesn’t have these distractions, though. I’d be happy to send you a print version of the recipe or you can hit the “jump to recipe” at the very top, click print, and have a print copy with no pop-ups!
Best,
Melissa
Whitney says
This was delicious! Seriously, pleasantly surprised. I’ve tried other baked chicken recipes breaded and fried in a skillet, and while mine didn’t crisp up nicely like your pictures, the chicken was moist, tender and juicy and not dry! I also loved the almond flour as an alternative GF breading. I’ve never tried it before and now I’m in love with it. Super easy recipe too! I didn’t have tarragon, so that was the only thing I left out but it was still delicious. Thank you for this recipe idea!
Melissa says
Hi Whitney,
This seriously makes me so happy! I’m so glad you found this recipe such as success. We make it all the time, adapting it with different toppings and spices, so it’s definitely fine to leave out the tarragon and play with the seasonings. Thank you so much for taking the time to write!
Best,
Melissa
Lisa says
Instacart brought me 4lbs of chicken because the store was out of 1lb. So this post came at just the right time, I needed to start making lots of chicken. The chicken is delicious and can be added to salads and is a great meal on its own. Thanks for posting!!
Melissa says
You’re so welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it and continue to for 4 more pounds!
Best,
Melissa