This keto breaded fried fish has a genuinely crispy, golden crust with just 2g net carbs per serving — made with almond flour and parmesan cheese instead of breadcrumbs. The outside shatters, the fish stays tender and flaky inside, and nobody at the table will know it’s low carb. Rated 4.9 stars by 71 readers, it’s one of the most popular seafood recipes on My Keto Kitchen.
The secret is the parmesan. Most keto breaded fish recipes use almond flour alone — which works, but produces a softer crust. Adding finely grated parmesan gives the coating a firm, crackling set the moment it hits hot oil — far closer to traditional panko-breaded fish. The lemon zest and parsley keep the flavour light and fresh, not heavy or greasy.
There are four ways to cook it: deep fried for the crispiest result, shallow pan fried for an easy weeknight option, air fryer for a hands-off healthier version, or oven baked if you prefer. Instructions for all four are below.
At a glance
- ✓Only 2g net carbs per serving
- ✓Ready in 20 minutes
- ✓Rated 4.9 stars by 71 readers
- ✓4 cooking methods — fry, pan, air fryer, oven
Table of contents
Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup of Almond Flour
- 1 ounce of Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon of Dried Parsley
- 1 Lemon, zest only
- ½ teaspoon of Salt
- ¼ teaspoon of Pepper, ground
- 4 x 150g Fillets of White Fish
- Oil, for frying – Read this article for the best choices for your deep fryer
How to Make Keto Breaded Fish in the Deep Fryer
- Heat your deep fryer to 180C/355F.
- Crack the egg into a bowl and whisk well.
- In another bowl, add the almond flour, parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Dip the fish into the egg, then press it into the breading. Repeat with the other pieces of fish. (For a thicker crust, dip the breaded fish into the egg and bread a second time).
- Gently add the fish to the hot oil. Cook for 4-7 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Drain off the excess oil.
- Serve with Keto Coleslaw, lemon wedges, and Keto Tartar Sauce.
How to Make Keto Breaded Fish in the Air Fryer
- Prepare the egg wash and almond flour/parmesan breading exactly as in the main recipe.
- Coat each fillet — dip in egg, then press firmly into the breading on all sides.
- Preheat your air fryer to 200°C/390°F for 3 minutes.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Place fillets in a single layer — do not stack or overlap.
- Spray the top of each fillet lightly with cooking oil spray. This is critical — almond flour needs oil contact to brown properly in an air fryer.
- Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked to 63°C/145°F internally.
- Rest on paper towels for 1 minute. Serve immediately with keto tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Cook in batches if needed — overcrowding causes steaming rather than crisping. Thin fillets under ½ inch will be done closer to 8–9 minutes.
How to Make Keto Breaded Fish in a Frying Pan
- Prepare the egg wash and almond flour/parmesan breading exactly as in the main recipe.
- Coat each fillet — dip in egg, then press firmly into the breading on all sides.
- Pour avocado oil, coconut oil, or lard into a large frying pan to about ½ inch deep. Heat over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until hot.
- Carefully place the breaded fillets into the pan — do not crowd. Cook in batches if needed.
- Cook for 2–3 minutes on the first side without moving, until the bottom is golden brown and the coating has set firm.
- Flip carefully using a wide spatula in one smooth motion. Cook for a further 2–3 minutes until golden on the other side and cooked through (internal temp 63°C/145°F).
- Transfer to a wire rack to drain. Serve immediately with keto tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Do not move the fish while it is cooking — let it sit undisturbed so the crust has time to set before flipping. The fish is ready to flip when it releases naturally from the pan.
How to Make Keto Breaded Fish in the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and lightly brush or spray with oil.
- Prepare the egg wash and almond flour/parmesan breading exactly as in the main recipe.
- Coat each fillet — dip in egg, then press firmly into the breading on all sides.
- Place the coated fillets on the prepared baking tray with space between each piece.
- Spray the tops generously with cooking oil spray — do not skip this. Almond flour will not brown without oil contact in the oven.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then carefully flip each fillet and spray the other side with cooking oil spray.
- Bake for a further 8–10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 63°C/145°F).
- Serve immediately with keto tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
For best results use a wire rack set over the baking tray — this allows heat to circulate underneath the fish and prevents the bottom from going soggy.
Pro Tips
Get the oil temperature right For deep frying, 180°C/355°F is the target. Too cool and the coating absorbs oil and goes soft. Too hot and the outside burns before the fish cooks through. Use a thermometer if you have one — it makes a real difference.
Pat the fish completely dry before coating Excess surface moisture is the most common reason breading slides off. Pat each fillet with paper towels on both sides before dipping in egg. This gives the coating something to grip.
Double dip for extra crunch After the first coat, dip back into the egg, then press firmly into the breading a second time. The crust is noticeably thicker and crunchier — worth doing every time.
Press the breading on firmly — don’t just dredge Rather than tossing the fish through the almond flour mix, place the fillet on a board, pour the breading over it, and press firmly on all sides with your hands. Far less falls off in the oil.
Don’t crowd the pan or fryer Add fillets one or two at a time. Overcrowding drops the temperature sharply, which leads to greasy, soggy coating. Cook in batches and let the oil come back to temperature between them.
Drain on a rack, not paper towels A wire cooling rack lets steam escape from underneath, keeping the entire crust crisp. Paper towels trap steam and soften the bottom of the fish.
Use superfine almond flour, not almond meal Superfine blanched almond flour produces a finer, more uniform crumb that crisps better and stays on the fish. Coarser almond meal tends to fall off and leaves a grainier texture.
Keto Breaded Fried Fish Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Almond Flour
- 1 ounce Parmesan Cheese finely grated
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- 1 Lemon zest only
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper ground
- 4 fillets White Fish 150g/5.3oz pieces
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat your deep fryer to 180C/355F.
- Crack the egg into a bowl and whisk well.1 Egg
- In another bowl, add the almond flour, parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix well.½ cup Almond Flour, 1 ounce Parmesan Cheese, 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley, 1 Lemon, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- Dip the fish into the egg, then press into the breading. Repeat with the other pieces of fish. (For a thicker crust, dip the breaded fish into the egg and breading a second time).4 fillets White Fish
- Gently add the fish to the hot oil. Cook for 4-7 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.Oil
- Drain off the excess oil.
- Serve with Keto Coleslaw, lemon wedges, and Keto Tartar Sauce.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — see the air fryer method above. Preheat to 200°C/390°F, spray the basket and each breaded fillet with cooking oil, and cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway. The result is golden and crispy, though deep frying still produces the crunchiest crust.
Yes. Place the breaded fillets on a lightly oiled parchment-lined baking tray, spray the tops generously with cooking oil spray, and bake at 200°C/400°F for 10 minutes per side. Use a wire rack over the tray for best results. The crust will not be as crispy as fried but is still very good.
This recipe has 4g total carbohydrates and 2g dietary fiber per serving, giving 2g net carbs per fillet. That is based on one 150g/5.3oz fillet of white fish with the almond flour and parmesan coating.
Any firm, white-fleshed fish works well. In the US: cod, tilapia, catfish, or Alaskan pollock are all excellent. In Australia: whiting, flathead, ling, or flake. The key is firm flesh that holds together during frying. Avoid delicate fish like sole or flounder which can fall apart.
Three fixes: (1) pat the fish completely dry with paper towels before coating, (2) press the breading firmly onto all sides by hand rather than just dredging, and (3) let the coated fish rest on a board for 2–3 minutes before it goes in the oil so the coating can set slightly.
Almond flour combined with parmesan (as in this recipe) is one of the best options — the parmesan actively helps the crust crisp and adhere. Crushed pork rinds are another popular keto breading that gets very crispy, but the flavour is quite different. Plain almond flour alone works but produces a noticeably softer crust.
No. Coconut flour absorbs far more moisture and is not interchangeable with almond flour. Substituting 1:1 would produce a very dry, dense coating. If you need a nut-free option, crushed pork rinds or sunflower seed flour are better alternatives.
Yes — there are no breadcrumbs or wheat flour anywhere in this recipe. The almond flour and parmesan coating is naturally gluten-free. Check your parmesan brand label to confirm.
Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in an oven or air fryer at 180°C/355°F for 5–7 minutes to re-crisp the coating. Do not microwave — it makes the crust soft and rubbery. Not suitable for freezing.
The most popular pairing is keto coleslaw and keto tartar sauce for a proper fish-and-chips experience. Cauliflower mash, roasted broccoli, and a simple green salad all work well. You can also wrap the fish in butter lettuce leaves with tartar sauce for low-carb fish tacos.
Reader tips
“I will DEFINITELY make this again! It was crispy and crunchy, just the way my family likes it. It wasn’t greasy at all. Only one member is doing keto, but we all agreed this was a recipe keeper for everyone.”
★★★★★ Cindy Northup
“Solid recipe that turned out great! Used lard for the first time to shallow fry some Tilapia and it turned out amazing. I wish I’d made double the keto coleslaw.”
★★★★★ Scott
“So delicious! I added some garlic and about a third cup of extra parm. Pan fried. Garlic and parmesan go really well with fish — the flavour was incredible.”
★★★★★ Mary Pat FitzGibbons
Want more tasty Keto Seafood recipes? Try our;
Adjust the servings above to make a larger batch of this Keto Breaded Fish recipe.
If you love this breaded deep-fried fish, try our keto battered fried fish recipe or our deep-fried salt and pepper squid recipe.
Great recipe turned out perfect
Thanks, Deb.
Solid recipe that turned out great!
Used lard (for the first time) to shallow fry some Tilapia and it turned out amazing, I wish I would have made double order of the keto coleslaw so we had some left overs.
Hey Scott, thank you for the feedback. So glad you liked it. It’s one of our most popular fish recipes.
Can this be baked or cooked in air fryer?
Hello Shela, we are not sure how it will turn out in an air fryer, we have only just purchased one ourselves but may give this recipe a try in it.
Love the recipe.
Thank you.
Crispy fish.
Hey Jose, thank you for your nice comment.
I will DEFINITELY make this again! I did use my counter deep fryer to cook it. It was crispy and crunchy, just the way my family likes it. It wasn’t greasy at all. Only one member is doing keto, but we all agreed this was a recipe keeper for everyone.
So glad you liked it, Cindy.
So delicious! Next time I may use 1/2 a lemon as my hubby is not a huge fan of lemon. That being said he complimented me 3 times on the dinner. I served with roasted cauliflower, salad for me and 1/2 baked sweet potato for him. Yum. The fish was so crispy and tasty.
I’m so glad that you and your husband enjoyed it, Susie!!
Delicious! I altered recipe a bit. Used some garlic as I like garlic. Added about a 3rd cup of parm cheese. I did pan fry. It was delicious! Thank you
They are some great additions, Mary! Garlic and parmesan go really well with fish.
I just made this. It was very good. I substituted a little lemon pepper instead of lemon zest and fried in the pan. It turned out yummy.
omg! i added the oil to my air-fryer (wondered why i had to do this) – you do NOT specify in your directions. what a disaster!
NOT A RECOMMENDED AIR-FRYER RECIPE.
Hi A,
The recipe clearly states to use a deep fryer.
I would recommend thoroughly reading the directions of a recipe before beginning to avoid issues like this in the future.
Did this really happen………..?
I hope not.
How did you survive into adulthood? Generally astonished and curious about this…
Can this be done with an air fryer?
Hi Carol,
I haven’t tried it in an air fryer, but I don’t see any reason as to why it wouldn’t work. Please let me know how it goes if you try it 🙂
no measure for parmesean cheese ?? –uggh
Hi James,
The measurements are listed above 1oz/30g