Buttery Macadamia Nut Chicken Thighs are tender, meaty, rich in flavor, and great for a keto lifestyle.
This easy chicken dinner will soon become a favorite with its light crunch, and delicious buttery flavor (even if you could care less about eating keto)!

I've been on a Keto lifestyle, and macadamia nut kick lately. I can't seem to get enough of those little keto-approved nuts, but that doesn't bode too well for my pocketbook.
Sadly, smooth and buttery tasting macadamia nuts may be one of the most expensive nuts in the marketplace. That said, in my mind, they're also the most flavorful! Sorry, pocketbook! 😉
Eating keto? Then check out this easy keto appetizer recipe of Bacon Wrapped Broccoli Stalks;
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions and complete ingredient measurements for making Keto Approved Macadamia Nut Chicken Thighs is available near the end of this post.
Jump to RecipeThe ingredient list;
**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- eggs
- almond milk (or milk)
- macadamia nuts
- coconut flour, or all-purpose flour
- butter
- salt and pepper
Kitchen tool and equipment needed;
- Food Processor
- Shallow Dishes for Breading
- 13 x 9 Baking Dish
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Fork
- Tongs
- Cooking Spray
- Meat Thermometer
Low-carb ingredient options;
I purposefully planned for this easy chicken dinner to be a low-carb/gluten-free option, so I used coconut flour instead of all-purpose flour in the macadamia nut coating.
However, if you prefer to use all-purpose flour instead of coconut flour, I back your decision 100% and I don't suppose it will affect the flavor significantly.
However, be aware that but using all-purpose flour, this will no longer be a gluten-free recipe option.
A dish for special occasions.
While this dish of Macadamia Nut Chicken Thighs may not be something you make and serve on a weekly basis because macadamia nuts can be costly.
That said, I hope you'll add this dish to your recipe repertoire for special occasions.
What are some other nut options to use for this recipe?
- Cashews
- Pine Nuts
- Pecans
- Filberts
- Hazelnuts
- Brazil Nuts
- Almonds
- Peanuts
**Please remember when using a different nut the nutritional information written for this recipe will be different than what is shown in the recipe card.
The easy step-by-step instructions for making this easy chicken dinner;
- In a shallow pan, mix together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Pulse the macadamia nuts, flour, salt, and pepper in a food processor until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the boneless, skinless chicken thighs to the egg mixture and flip to coat both sides.
- Add the nut-crumb mixture into a shallow dish and place the egg coated chicken in the macadamia nut mixture and press onto both sides of the chicken.
- Place the crumb-coated chicken thighs in a large baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Drizzle the nut coated chicken thighs with butter and bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and the juices run clear.
White or dark meat? What's your preference?
The thighs and legs are always my favorite part of any type of poultry. To me, the dark meat is far more flavorful and tender than the white meat.
That said, this recipe method will work for chicken breast as well.
Please adjust the cooking time if using chicken breast and always make sure the internal temperature of chicken (white or dark meat) reaches 165-degrees Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer before serving.
For more easy chicken dinner recipes (not necessarily keto), please click on these titles for;
- Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs (pictured below)
"Crunchy Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs are moist and flavorful. Pack them in your summertime picnic basket and everyone will be happy!"
- Teriyaki Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs (pictured below)
"Teriyaki Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Chicken Thighs are sweet and savory with a hint of smoke. You’ll be hooked after your very first bite!"
- Skillet Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon (pictured below)
"This recipe for Skillet Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts & Bacon was inspired by chef Michael Symon."
Want more easy keto recipes?
- Bacon-Wrapped Broccoli Stalk Appetizers (pictured below and in the featured video)
"The idea for these Bacon Wrapped Broccoli Stalk Appetizers came to me one night as I was preparing broccoli for dinner. I’m not normally a broccoli stalk eater, but disposing of them is awfully wasteful. That’s when my lightbulb moment hit, and the results are utterly delicious!"
- Frozen Strawberry and Lime Whipped Keto Pops (pictured below)
"With only six ingredients these Creamy Dreamy Strawberry Whipped Keto Pops are the perfect frozen treat for sticking to your keto diet plan, and for indulging in something deliciously sweet, but without all of those pesky carbs!"
- Easy Low-Carb Macadamia Nut Chicken Thighs (pictured below) This is the place!!
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Below is the printable recipe card along with the nutritional information for today's Keto-Friendly Macadamia Nut Chicken Thighs.
Printable Recipe Card
Buttery Macadamia Nut Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 12 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup almond milk, unsweetened
- 2 cups macadamia nuts
- 1 cup coconut flour, or all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Add the macadamia nuts and flour to a food processor and process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Place the nut mixture in a shallow pan and season with 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Set aside.
- In a second shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Add the chicken thighs, 2 or 3 at a time, to the egg mixture, flipping to coat both sides.
- Add the egg-coated thighs to the macadamia nut mixture and press the crumbs onto each side of the chicken.
- Place the chicken in a baking dish that has been sprayed with baking spray.
- Sprinkle any remaining nuts evenly over the chicken in the pan.
- Drizzle the macadamia coated chicken with melted butter and bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken juices run clear when pierced, or when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you've enjoyed this easy dinner recipe for Macadamia Nut Chicken Thighs as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
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Fitoru says
What a wonderful recipe looks delicious, will definitely try this at home. I think my kids will love it. Great blog, nice list of recipes.
Renée says
Thanks so much! Glad you think so 🙂
Erica Schwarz says
Macadamia nuts are divine, but I was afraid to use them as a coating thinking they would burn. This chicken comes out perfect and my family loves it!
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love the fact you used coconut flour for that extra sweetness. Believe it or not I had my first taste of macadamia crusted chicken in Hawaii and that bit of sweetness I bet was this. I can’t wait to try this fabulous dish so glad I stumbled across this recipe! Thanks
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love the fact you used coconut flour for that extra sweetness. Believe it or not I had my first taste of macadamia crusted chicken in Hawaii and that bit of sweetness I bet was this. I can't wait to try this fabulous dish so glad I stumbled across this recipe! Thanks