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 are almond 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
This air fryer low carb city chicken is how my family now eats this family favorite. Â It's actually bread pork on skewers breaded in almond flour and spices. Â 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: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 312Unsaturated Fat: 0g
lynda westling
it’s been a long time since i made this can’t remember if you have to soak the skewers
Denise
Hi Lynda, I did not. They are only in there for about 12 minutes and I’ve never had a problem. I hope you like them!
Denise
Nick
We purchased city chicken (breaded and skewered pork and veal) from our meat market. Followed your air fryer directions… 390 degrees for 12 minutes and flip once… and they can out absolutely perfect.
Quite frankly, I couldn’t make them for less than we purchased them for.
Denise
Hi Nick, I’m glad it worked out for you either way!
CHERYL
I just got an air fryer for Christmas IU am a diabetic and haven’t eaten a lot of foods I grew up ,with and I saw City chicken at the butchers and wanted to find if I could cook it in the air fryer so it would be healthy for me and when I asked how to cook it your recipe popped up fantastic thank you I loved it so easy and fast
Denise
Hi Cheryl, that is just great. Glad you liked it! I am starting to use my air fryer more these days and it’s amazing.
Rena
I haven’t tried the recipe yet but wanted to clarify : does the recipe have pork rinds in it?
One of the e-mails said something about not having parmesan in the list and you fixed that. I don’t see “pork rinds” listed in the recipe but you said that “the Parmesan cheese is mixed with the pork rinds and spices as part of the breading.” If you do use the pork rinds, can you add them to the recipe?
Thank you
Denise
Hi Rena, I’m sorry I use pork rinds alot to make keto breading. But you are correct in that there are NO pork rinds in this recipe. The breading is just almond flour, parmesan cheese and spices. Hope that helps and that you like it!
Vicki
I am new to air frying and always looking for recipes for the food that i have. Just picked up cubed pork and also have chicken fingers that I am going to cube as the City Chicken my mom fixed when I was a kid was pork and chicken – loved it then – hope to love it as much now!!
Denise
Hi Vicki, I hope you like it and it turns out well for you!
Mary
Cannot wait to make it in my new air fryer. I too am from Pittsburgh, Pa. I make city chicken for my family, but not as often as when I was younger. It is time consuming with browning it first then baking. City chicken is mainly an ethnic dish, from the Slavic country’s.
Sandrine
Why does the ingredients call for Parmesan cheese but it doesn’t show it in the recipe instructions?
Denise
Hi Sandrine, I’m sorry the Parmesan cheese is mixed with the almond flour and spices as part of the breading. I’ve fixed the recipe. I hope you like it!
Debbie
Your recipe for City Chicken is amazing!! I got an air fryer not too long ago, and just started using it, and I have loved everything I have made so far. Your recipe is so tasty, easy and quick to cook! Love it!
Denise
So glad you like it Debbie! The air fryer is a life saver.
Heather
This looks super tasty and I love your list of ingredients. This has so much flavor packed into it and it looks so crunchy and perfect. Great recipe and love how low in carbs is it too 🙂
Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
I cannot believe this chicken ONLY takes 10 minutes! I totally need to get an air-fryer for the kitchen. It sounds like such a wise investment, especially with chicken that sounds this delicious!
Amanda
I love my air fryer, but I haven’t tried ribs in it yet. What a great idea! That crispy coating looks perfect.
ana @ muy delish
What an easy to make recipe! I’m starting to use my air fryer more often now and I’m going to make it this week. I love protein packed easy dinners. Thank you!
Saima
I don’t eat pork but the same recipe can be adapted to chicken I guess? The rest of the ingredients are genius. I can almost imagine the taste of the chicken on my tongue after reading your recipe!
Denise
Most certainly you can use chicken!
Jenni LeBaron
I had never heard of City Chicken before, so I’m happy to learn something new about the history of this dish. I also love that it fits a low-carb diet because thats how we normally like to eat. This sounds delicious!
Neha
Looks so juicy and super delicious! Sounds like an easy recipe and I am loving all the ingredients used especially almond flour. Totally going to try it.
Kelly Anthony
I am going to try to find this chicken at our grocery store! It looks delicious. Do you happen to have a link for air fryers?
Denise
Here you go: Air Fryer XL by Cozyna (5.8QT) https://amzn.to/2RTCmYY
Rebecca Blackwell
I just got an air fryer and I think this is going to be the very first thing I make in it. It looks sooooo good! Thank you for sharing!
Julie
I’ve never heard of city chicken before!! My mother lived in Ptitsburgh for 20 years so I asked her if it was a regional thing, but she’s also never heard of it. (I live in Philly – so it’s not over here on the other side of the state.) I guess you really do learn something new everyday!
Denise
Yes I have similar post and I have so many comments from people in the tri-state area that grew up with it. I was just at Giant Eagle the other day if you know that grocer, and they had it displayed in their cases with the cut up chunks of meat and wooden skewers.
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen
I’ve never heard of city chicken before, but it sounds really delicious! I love that it’s done in the air fryer too AND it’s low carb!! Look forward to trying this!
Debbie
I love this !! I have never heard of city chicken but so glad I have now.I really like how you made this recipe into a low carb version. This is one my to do list very soon.