We love this Whole30 Copycat Chicken Fries version of a Burger King classic. Chicken fries are chicken nuggets, but in a long skinny easy to hold and dip “fry” shape! They are so fun and a fantastic dinner or appetizer.
Why We Love These Whole30 Copycat Chicken Fries
First, they are Whole30, Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, with an egg-free option! They are a great fit for so many different dietary needs. Second, they are kid-friendly and perfect for getting protein into kids of any age ; ).
Plus, they include a hack to avoid having to roll and hand bread every “fry”. I just can’t with tedious repetitive kitchen tasks like hand breading when trying to make large batches for my family.
For these, we freeze the ground chicken then cut it with a knife into strips or “fries.” Having them slightly frozen also allows you to toss them with the breading or egg altogether instead of one at a time. This time-saving hack gives you more time to go do one of the other hundred things on your to-do list!
Tips and Tricks
- There are three ways to cook these Whole30 Copycat Chicken Fries. You can cook them in the oven, on the stove, or in the air fryer. I recommend the oven if you are double or triple-batching like us. But, cooking them in shallow oil on the stove helps them get the crispiest.
- Plus, these freeze great – so double batch and let your kids pull them out as needed. After cooking, freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months. We love reheating them in the air fryer.
- We prefer the flavor of using ground chicken for these. However, ground turkey works well too, if that is more accessible to you. A family win all around!
Make it a Meal
Here is what we love pairing these Whole30 Copycat Chicken Fries with to make it a complete family-favorite meal! All of these options are also Whole30 compatible.
- Dipping sauces:
- Date Mustard – a Whole30 “Honey” Mustard
- Raising Canes Sauce – A pepper fry sauce that has quickly become one of our family’s “must-have” sauces!
- Ranch – A Whole30 remake of the classic. Thick and creamy!
- Sides
Ingredients
- Ground chicken – I find this most affordable at Walmart, but it’s available at most grocery stores. See the note in the “Tips and Tricks” if you want to use ground turkey instead. Can’t find ground chicken near you or it’s expensive? Make it at home! Read this blog post to learn how EASY that can be!
- Salt – Just regular old table salt here!
- Granulated garlic or garlic powder – I get mine in bulk at Sam’s Club or Winco. I prefer the texture of granulated over powder but both work!
- Granulated onion or onion powder – Same as above.
- Potato, tapioca, or arrowroot powder/starch/flour – Any of these will work in this recipe, as all of these flours are pretty interchangeable in a breading. (This is not true for baking or thickening sauces.) Pick whichever one is accessible to you! I can find tapioca starch in the bulk bins at Winco. You can also find Tapioca Flour easily on Amazon here. Amazon also has Potato Starch and Arrowroot Powder. I recommend getting whatever one you will use up in other recipes.
- Paprika – I get mine in bulk at Sam’s Club or Winco.
- Garlic Salt – If you are on a Whole30, just make sure your garlic salt doesn’t have any form of sugar like dextrose. The garlic salt grinder from Trader Joe’s is a great Whole30 option.
- Pepper – Traditional black ground pepper.
Whole30 Copycat Chicken Fries
A Burger King Copycat that is Whole30, Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, with egg-free options! Oven, air fryer, or stove.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 large eggs see notes for egg-free
- 1 cup arrowroot or potato starch can also use tapioca flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- Cooking oil spray for oven or air fryer; use 1/2 c coconut or avocado oil to cook on the stove
Instructions
- Combine ground chicken, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium bowl. Use a spatula, meat masher, or just your hands to mix it well.
- Line a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the chicken mixture evenly onto the bottom of the pan. Freeze for 1 hour or until solid to the touch.
- Just before removing chicken from the freezer, in a large reusable bag or bowl, whisk the 2 eggs together. In another large reusable bag or bowl, combine the flour, paprika, garlic salt, and pepper.
- Remove chicken mixture from freezer after 1 hour and cut with a sharp knife in half down the middle and then into skinny "fry" shaped strips. Put back in freezer for at least 1+ hour, until they are frozen solid and can be breaded and cooked without losing shape.
- If cooking in the oven, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper and a cooling rack if you have one.
- Toss the chicken fries with the dry breading mixture. Shake off excess and then toss with the egg mixture. Drain the excess (I do this in a colander over the sink) and then toss one more time with the breading.
- OVEN: Spray the baking rack, if using, generously with cooking oil. Lay chicken fries onto the baking rack. Spray chicken fries generously with cooking oil. Bake for 15 minutes. If you aren't using a baking rack, flip halfway through cooking time.
- STOVE: Heat a shallow amount of high heat cooking oil (I prefer coconut oil) over medium high heat in a large skillet pan. Once hot, add the fries in a single layer. This may require multiple batches. Cook until golden on each side, about 4 minutes per side. Repeat with all chicken fries.
- AIR FRYER: Spread out in a single layer in your air fryer basket. This may require multiple batches. Spray generously with cooking oil. Air fry for 4 minutes per side, spray again with oil after flipping. Repeat as needed with remaining chicken fries.
- Chicken fries store well in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
EGG-FREE OPTION: Use 1/2 cup of full-fat canned coconut milk instead of the eggs for breading.
See the blog post above for answers to ingredient questions, our favorite sauces to dip these in, and how to make it a meal with delicious Whole30 sides!
Can't you find ground chicken near you, or it's expensive? Make it at home! Read this blog post to learn how EASY that can be!
Nutrition information does not include any cooking oil, as these can be made with a variety of cooking methods.
Nutrition
Calories: 307kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 23gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 191mgSodium: 1849mgPotassium: 693mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 1002IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
These are amazing. A little tricky to get them to freeze right and stay together the first batch. I’m sure it will work better on my second batch. However, They were so good and I will definitely make again. My husband and I both loved them! Easy to reheat in the air fryer.
So glad you and your husband enjoyed them—and yes, that first batch can be a bit of a learning curve with freezing, but sounds like you nailed it by the end! Love that they reheat well in the air fryer too. Thanks so much for sharing and for leaving a review!
Easy recipe and delicious. I can never make them fast enough. Multiple batches are needed.
That’s the best kind of problem—when one batch just isn’t enough! So glad they’re such a hit. Thanks a bunch for taking the time to leave a review!
Do you cook these from frozen?
Yes, they are breaded while frozen and then cooked directly after. Hope they are a hit!
Heading to visit my little granddaughter and think these would make great finger food. 😁
Totally! I hope they were a hit with your granddaughter!
Love these! My teenagers request them.
By teenage request?! I love it! Thrilled they enjoy them and want them again. Thanks for the review!
WAYYYYY better than BK’s chicken fries and soooo much better for you! Budget friendly, filling and easy to make extra and freeze to have as a go-to on a busy night!
BETTER THAN BK?! Did you hear that y’all? I love it! Glad this one was a winner and a great one to have in the freezer for busy nights. Thank you!
Oh my gosh! These were delicious! My whole family lived them, even my incredibly difficult problem eater!!!! I couldn’t believe he ate, went to scouts fur the evening then came home and asked for more! Thank goodness there were leftovers! Thanks for another brilliant recipe 🩷
Aw, that makes my mama heart happy! I know how hard it is to have picky eaters, especially getting protein in them. YAAAY that this was a win for your family but especially for him. So thrilled to hear that, thank you!
Kids approved of the recipe, I made them with ground turkey and they were delicious 😋. Thank you for such a good recipe ☺️
WAHOO! I love a good kid win. So happy to hear that, thank you for the review! : )