This keto naked chicken chalupa is a fiesta in your mouth! This crispy chicken dish has a bold flavor that’s a perfect Taco Bell copycat.
What Is A Chalupa
You might have heard about chalupas from Taco Bell, but they actually originated as street food in Mexico. It translates to “little snack” and is a boat-shaped corn shell. They are thicker than a taco shell but usually filled with lots of the same meats and toppings as tacos.
The crispy exterior makes it a lot of fun to eat! I knew that there had to be a way to eat these delicious snacks on the keto diet – and I found a way to recreate the crispy shell without adding too many carbs.
Naked Chicken Chalupa Keto
I called this a naked chicken chalupa because instead of shredding the chicken and putting it in a corn shell, I pounded the chicken thinly and coated the outside of it with egg and pork rind crumbs. The butterflied chicken holds the cheese and avocado, becoming the shell.
This naked chicken chalupa is bursting with so much flavor that you won’t even miss the shell. In fact, the pork rind crumbs are so effective at coating the outside of the chicken that it tastes like the shell is cooked right on the chicken.
Remember to use plain pork rinds. Some varieties have added sugar or spices that might not taste very good with the seasonings you will add to them.
Keto Chalupa
This keto chalupa tastes the best when it is hot and fresh out of the oven. The crispy coating bursts on your tongue and the filling is layer upon layer of deliciousness.
If you want to make this a part of your weekly meal prep, I suggest storing the chicken separately from the toppings. Keep the butterflied and crispy-coated chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three days.
Eventually, the moisture from the chicken will soften the outer coating. Eat it as soon as you can.
This keto naked chicken chalupa has six grams net carbs per serving. If you want to make it have fewer carbs, I suggest using fewer toppings. Leave out the Roma tomatoes – that will save you a few precious carbs.
Keto Chalupa Shell
The keto chalupa shell is basically a chicken breast that is coated with an egg and almond flour and pork rind crumbs. I spiced it up with the best combination of spices, too! If you want it to be spicier, add more chili powder and paprika.
Remember to use almond flour, not almond meal. Almond meal contains bits of almond skins and could make the chicken breading grainier. The almond flour is finer and mixes better with the pork rinds.
Taco Bell Copycat Recipe
I love to make copycat recipes. My keto Taco Bell Mexican pizza is a near-perfect copycat, with a crispy shell and delicious fillings and toppings. This chicken also tastes delicious with some keto Mexican street cauliflower.
It’s spicy and full of fiber, the perfect side dish.
Keto Naked Chicken Chalupa Recipe
Here’s the list of ingredients that you’ll need to make this keto naked chicken chalupa recipe. Exact measurements and instructions are located in the printable recipe card, just a little bit further below.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Net Carbs: 6 net carbs per serving
Ingredients:
Chicken breasts
Egg
Almond flour
Pork rind crumbs
Garlic powder
Chili powder
Cumin
Paprika
Oregano
Salt and pepper
Roma tomato
Shredded lettuce
Mexican blend shredded cheese
Avocado
Sour cream + additional for garnish
Ranch seasoning
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Place the butterflied chicken breast between two pieces of parchment paper on the counter, and pound them until they are thin.
Add the egg to a shallow bowl, and whisk well.
Mix together the pork rind crumbs, almond flour, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano and salt and pepper to taste, and place on a large plate or shallow bowl.
Dip the chicken into the egg, and the coat in the crumb mixture.
Layer the chicken over the side of a tall springform pan on a baking sheet, or create a similar structure out of aluminium foil to drape it over. You want to create the shape of a chalupa with the cooked chicken.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until cooked through. Let cool.
Add the avocado, sour cream and ranch seasoning to a food processor, and blend until smooth.
When the chicken is warm, but able to be handled, spread some of the ranch avocado cream over the inside of each piece.
Layer shredded lettuce and tomato inside each piece of chicken.
Top with shredded cheese and more sour cream if desired before serving.
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Keto Naked Chicken Chalupa
Equipment
- Parchment Paper
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Breasts butterflied open
- 1 large Egg
- 1/3 cup Almond Flour
- 1 1/2 cups Pork Rind Crumbs
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 2 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Oregano
- 1 Roma Tomato diced
- 2 cups Shredded Lettuce
- 1/2 cup Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese
- 1 Avocado
- 1/3 cup Sour Cream
- 1 packet Ranch Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the butterflied chicken breast between two pieces of parchment paper on the counter, and pound them until they are thin.
- Add the egg to a shallow bowl, and whisk well.
- Mix together the pork rind crumbs, almond flour, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano and salt and pepper to taste, and place on a large plate or shallow bowl.
- Dip the chicken into the egg, and the coat in the crumb mixture.
- Layer the chicken over the side of a tall springform pan on a baking sheet, or create a similar structure out of aluminium foil to drape it over. You want to create the shape of a chalupa with the cooked chicken.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until cooked through. Let cool.
- Add the avocado, sour cream and ranch seasoning to a food processor, and blend until smooth.
- When the chicken is warm, but able to be handled, spread some of the ranch avocado cream over the inside of each piece.
- Layer shredded lettuce and tomato inside each piece of chicken.
- Top with shredded cheese and more sour cream if desired before serving.
Notes
Net Carbs: 6 Net Carbs Per Serving The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
Keto Mexican Recipes
If you enjoyed this keto naked chicken chalupa, here are some more Mexican foods that you should make next. They are some of my favorite things to eat whenever I’m craving Mexican food.