Bacon Ranch Chicken Poppers (Paleo, Whole 30, AIP)
These bacon ranch chicken poppers are a savory and flavorful option for the perfect snack or an easy meal! They’re gluten-free, dairy-free paleo, whole30, and AIP.
Bacon Ranch Chicken Poppers
I’ve seen so many folks share how much they love the sweet potato chicken popper, that I wanted to make a variation that’s even more flavorful, savory and delicious… and that’s how these bacon ranch chicken poppers were born! These are made with shredded bacon and an AIP ranch seasoning that’s dairy-free, and are insanely easy to make.
So now, you’ve got veggies, healthy fat, protein, and that amazing ranch flavor all in one little nugget, all while staying paleo, Whole30 and AIP! The ultimate healthy chicken nugget!
The Ingredients for Bacon Ranch Chicken Poppers
- Ground Chicken: You can buy chicken pre-ground, or simply grind up chicken breast yourself in a food processor. You can also sub ground turkey if you prefer.
- Shredded Carrots: You can shred them in a food processor or buy them pre-shredded.
- Bacon
- Coconut Oil
- Coconut Flour: This binds the poppers together.
- Dried Parsley
- Dried Chives
- Garlic Powder
- Dried Dill
- Onion Powder
- Sea Salt
How to make Bacon Ranch Chicken Poppers
- Prepare Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment Add the shredded carrots to a food processor along with the bacon and blend on high. You want both the carrots and the bacon to be very finely shredded. Remove the carrots and bacon from the food processor and add to a mixing bowl.
- Make Poppers: Stir in the raw ground chicken (or turkey), seasoning, coconut oil, and flour and thoroughly combine. Roll the mixture into small poppers and slightly flatten them (you’ll have 25-30 poppers).
- Bake & Serve: Bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Place them under the broiler for 5 minutes to a crisp before serving if desired. Serve warm with compliant ranch dressing and enjoy!
How do you eat these bacon ranch chicken poppers?
Like I said with the sweet potato chicken poppers, these bacon ranch poppers don’t just have to be game day food! Here’s just a few of the many ways can use them as…
- They’re basically healthy chicken nuggets for kiddos & picky eaters
- They’re great to stash in the freezer for emergency dinners
- Perfect to bring along for a work lunch
- Amazing for a creative breakfast
- Great to serve alongside some compliant ranch and sliced veggies for a party or movie night snack
Can you use turkey instead?
Yes! Ground turkey is a great option to use in these poppers.
Can you leave out the bacon?
You can, no problem.
Can you use pre-shredded carrot?
I find it best to still pulse pre-shredded carrots in the food processor to make them even finer.
Can you use other flours or oils?
You can use avocado oil or olive oil. You can use cassava flour or almond flour, if tolerated.
You’ll also love…
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps
- Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
Bacon Ranch Chicken Poppers (Paleo, Whole 30, AIP)
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These bacon ranch chicken poppers are a savory and flavorful option for the perfect snack or an easy meal! They’re gluten-free, dairy-free paleo, whole30, and AIP.
Ingredients
- 1 lb raw ground chicken (or turkey)
- 2 cups raw shredded carrots
- 3 slices raw bacon (sugar-free for whole30)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 2 tbsp dried parsley
- 2 tsp dried chives
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment
- Add the shredded carrots to a food processor along with the bacon and blend on high. You want both the carrots and the bacon to be very finely shredded. Remove the carrots and bacon from the food processor and add to a mixing bowl
- Stir in the raw ground chicken (or turkey), seasoning, coconut oil, and flour and thoroughly combine
- Roll the mixture into small poppers and slightly flatten them (you’ll have 25-30 poppers)
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Place them under the broiler for 5 minutes to a crisp before serving if desired,
- Serve warm with compliant ranch dressing and enjoy!
Notes
All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Baked
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 326
- Fat: 18.6g
- Carbohydrates: 8.8g
- Fiber: 3.1g
- Protein: 29.6g
This post originally appeared on Unbound Wellness in 2017 and was updated and republished in 2021.
Recipe by Michelle, Unbound Wellness. Photos by Eat Love Eats
AIP
Low Carb
Paleo
Whole30
hello, does the bacon have to be the sugar free type for aip protocol? Thank you!
Hi, Jill! It’s preferred, yes, but not the end of the world. Enjoy!!
It has to be sugar free to be Whole 30 compliant
Do you think these would freeze well? And if so would you freeze them as raw patties or pre-cooked? They look delicious!
I would freeze them cooked 🙂 Lots of people do that and have success with it!
Our family loves these so much! One of my favorite things to meal prep because they freeze and travel well and can be enjoyed for any meal. My husband doesn’t like coconut, so I made them with cassava flour and avocado oil this time and those substitutions worked really well.
Thank you so much, Kat!! 🙂
Hi. I had an unpleasant experience mixing raw bacon into burgers, so I’m wondering if these would still be good if I cooked the bacon first and then crumbled it into the ground chicken. Would I then need to add some of the bacon fat back in?
I haven’t tried it that way, so really can’t guarantee it would work. However, if you do, I think you’re inclination to add into some more of the bacon fat sounds like a good strategy. Good luck!
Do you think almond flour would work well? In the same amount?
I haven’t tried that, but you can try! The coconut flour is really to help absorb moisture, so it may be a little different, but I assume it would still work okay.
I love this and will make it tonight. I am wondering if leaving out the bacon will affect the end result. Any idea? 🙂
I haven’t tried it without bacon, but I would try adding in some extra coconut oil (1 tbsp or so) to compensate. Hope you enjoy!!
Has anyone tried this with Frank’s Hot Sauce mixed in?
Yes and they were awesome! Kept everything the same. I did not measure out my chicken because I grind it myself. I used 2 breasts (this may have been more than a pound).
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Can you make these without the carrots?
I haven’t tried that, but I assume it should work okay.
Can you recommend a food processor?
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I bought ground turkey to make these, and then got home and realized I don’t have dried chives. Will it still taste ok without that?
Thanks for sharing this!!
It’ll be slightly less “ranch” tasting, but still good 🙂 Enjoy!
How many to be considered a serving. Just 1 at Palm size and 1″ thick. I’m new and haven’t started yet.
I would say 5-6 of them are a serving.. it depends for sure! I always tell people to trust what their body tells them. Serving sizes are very general and arbitrary at times
Just made these for my husband and boys age 14, 20, and 25 and they all loved them. This is a very forgiving recipe. I had to use what I had on hand and it still turned out fantastic. I didn’t have dried parsley or chives so I used 4 Tbsp fresh parsley and 4 tsp finely chopped green onions. I also did not have coconut flour or oil and yet it was still amazing. I baked for only 20 mins because it was already over 165 then I broiled them for 3 mins on each side to crisp them up. I can’t wait to try all the other poppers. Our family thanks you, Miss Michelle.
YAY! Thank you SO MUCH Candy! So happy the whole family liked them!
super curious if you used a different flour? My son has a coconut allergy but I still really want to try these!
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i have seen you post these on instagram a few times and we finally made them last night! Holy cow, they are amazing. My 10 month old loved them. He’s a picky wannabe carnivore so this is a great way to get veggies in him. My husband and I loved them too. We doubled the recipe and I’m so glad because they’re great.
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My husband is on the AIP diet currently, so I’ve been trying really hard to find some recipes that he’ll actually eat. He LOVED this one! Thank you sooo much for making my life easier! 🙂
★★★★★
Yay!! Thank you so, so much Ashley!!
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Could you freeze them uncooked to use later?
I would cook them first.
How would you reheat them after you’ve frozen them cooked?
I would defrost in the fridge and pop them under the broiler for a few minutes
I can’t find the recipe to the dipping sauce. The link isn’t working
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Excited to try these! Do you melt the coconut oil before mixing in?
I don’t 🙂 Enjoy!!
I was lazy tonight and didn’t feel like getting out the food processor – so I chopped the bacon and grated 2 medium carrots on the fine side of my grater (which ended up being 1 cup packed) and proceeded with the recipe as written. They were fantastic!! A big hit with the whole family!
★★★★★
All 4 of my kids (even my super picky cereal and pasta eating only child) loved these! Will definitely be making these again. Great idea for football Sunday grub. Thanks!
★★★★★
YAY! So happy to hear that! Thanks, Leslie!
Do you think ground venison would work?
I haven’t tried that but let me know if you do!
I love this twist on your original Sweet Potato Popper recipe! 🙂
★★★★★
I have a question about the optional nutritional yeast. Do you use it and what is the difference with or without it? Thanks
It adds some umami flavor. I think it’s still good without it 🙂
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These are delicious!! They have a ton a flavor and are perfect for meal prep. Thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Kristen! So glad you like them 🙂
we love these poppers! Sooooo good!
★★★★★
Thanks for posting! I would love make these although I am also restricted from coconut. Do you have any recommendations for substitutes for coconut oil and coconut flour?
Thank you!
You can use other flours like cassava or almond, and other fats of your choice also work 🙂
These are super yummy and the perfect appetizer or dinner. I made them for a movie night, and everyone enjoyed. A ranch dipping sauce is a much in my opinion!
★★★★★
So glad you liked it! Thank you!!
Hi! If I only have chicken breasts on hand and no meat grinder, could I process the breasts in the food processor? Or would it not be the right consistency do you think?
You can for sure do that! 🙂
Thank you!!
This is one of my go to AIP recipes for make ahead lunches. If you haven’t made them- do it!!! They are so good!
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Bethany!!
These were simple and delicious. Made a double batch so we could them as an appetizer that I could enjoy when guests came over and then I had them for breakfast during the week. I was so sad when they were gone.
★★★★★
Can I still use sweet potatoes instead off carrots ? Also what about the can chicken can you use that?
Thanks
Yes, sweet potato works!! Canned chicken wouldn’t work as it needs to be raw to bind… like meatballs!
How long can these be kept in the fridge for?
I do 3-4 days
How do you make the dip that goes with it?
I would recommend a ranch dip, which you can make with my recipe or if you tolerate it, use Primal Kitchen’s ranch.
We made this and loved it! We made one batch with bacon and one without, and both were very good. For our poppers, we used ground turkey and added one extra ingredient – quite a bunch of chopped up green onions. Everyone liked them! Thank you for this great recipe!
★★★★★
Oh my gosh,these are amazing and just great for an alternative. The flavor is wonderful, I used fresh parsley because I didn’t have dried parsley and it was amazing!
★★★★★
I’ve been on the search for a chicken nugget substitute since all the frozen kinds were filled with so many unnecessary ingredients. These were the perfect replacement. My kids LOVED these and have been begging me to make them again. I had them pitch in with the mixing and rolling – so much fun to assemble it together. Thanks for a great recipe.
★★★★★
I’m so happy to hear that your whole family loves them!!
so gooooddd! I did a 1/3 cup ground up pork rinds instead of the coconut flour and it was so delish. mine also only needed to cook 25 mins (I have a tiny oven.) will definitely be making again!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed!
Delicious! My whole family loves these – even the picky eater.
★★★★★
So glad to hear that!
These were good. Next time I’d cut back on the onion powder and garlic powder a bit. I guess that’s what makes the ranch flavor though. I’m going to try all of the others. It seems to be a good base to mess with. I just decided to wing it and double the recipe, one pound of ground chicken and one pound of ground organ meat (from a Turkey). I also forgot the coconut oil. They still worked out fine. Good way to incorporate organ meat if that’s on your to-do list. They freeze really well too.
★★★★★
thank you!!
I made this into a loaf instead. Substituting turkey bacon for pork bacon and layering it in a loaf pan. I added mushrooms and chopped spinach. Using my hands, squishing the mixture together and adding it on top of the turkey bacon. I baked at 350 for 40 minutes and it came out super moist and tender!
★★★★★
yum, so glad you enjoyed!!
I really enjoyed the recipe, next time I might add a few more spices and possibly sub avocado oil for the coconut oil. My husband is not a fan of coconut. I loved them. Michelle thank you for all the time and effort you have put into this sight. It is a game changer for those of us with autoimmune diseases. I’ve tried many more of your recipes and will continue to. Thank you again.
Warm regards
Vickie Randgaard
Thank you so much!!
Where is the link to the ranch recipe?
For an AIP ranch recipe, I like to use this: https://unboundwellness.com/bacon-ranch-sweet-potato-salad/
Hi these looking great, I’m new to AIP dirt and starving for something that I can snack on, question – do you share the ranch dip recipe? I can’t find it anywhere
For an AIP ranch, I recommend the ranch in this recipe: https://unboundwellness.com/bacon-ranch-sweet-potato-salad/
These are a staple in my SCD kids diet. I use them as chicken nuggets, meatballs, salad toppers, etc. always have them in my freezer ready to go. Thanks for a great recipe!
★★★★★
So glad you and your family are loving them!!