Coconut Crusted Chicken Tenders – super crispy homemade chicken tenders that are coated in shredded coconut! Perfect for a quick dinner for the whole family!
Chicken is something that I always have in my freezer. It is super versatile and my family always eats it. So whenever it is on sale, I stock up! Then I can make things like Tuscan Chicken Pasta any night of the week. Sometimes I will even dice up the chicken before I freeze it, so it thaws quickly and is ready for recipes.
One thing my family loves it when I make is homemade chicken tenders. There is just something about crispy chicken that everyone loves. And if I can make them a little healthier by baking them, then I count that as a win. Cheddar Bacon Chicken Tenders are definitely one of our favorites, but these coconut chicken tenders are a sweet and tasty alternative.
This easy chicken tenders recipe is something you can throw together any night of the week. It takes just a handful of ingredients to make. You want to make sure to set up a breading station to get the chicken extra crispy. Dipping the chicken in flour and then the egg mixture before dipping in the coconut make sure the chicken stays night and juicy while the outside gets crispy.
Coconut chicken tenders are a little sweet from the coconut, so they are great for dipping in sweet and sour sauce or a sweet chili sauce. Just try them with your favorite dipping sauce to see what you like best!
These homemade chicken tenders are sauteed in a large skillet with just a little bit of oil. This helps get them crispy and get the coconut toasted. You want to be careful not to over cook them. I like to buy chicken tenderloin pieces from the grocery store, so all the pieces are the same size. This ensures they all done at the same time. If you are cutting your own, that is totally fine! Just make sure to cut them all the same thickness.
Coconut chicken tenders are a quick and easy dinner recipe for any night of the week. The chicken is dipped in buttermilk and then shredded coconut. I used coconut oil to saute them in, to up the coconut flavor a little. The buttermilk keeps the chicken super moist and juicy. The coconut gives it a crispy and delicious crust.
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Coconut Chicken Tenders
Transform weeknight dinners with these easy Coconut-Crusted Chicken Tenders. A tropical escape on a plate made quick and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pound chicken tenders
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 whole large egg
- 1 1/2 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
- 3 Tablespoons oil for frying
Instructions
- Set up a breading station with 3 shallow bowls. Place flour, salt, and cayenne pepper in 1 bowl. In another bowl beat together buttermilk and egg. In a third bowl, place the shredded coconut.
- Dip chicken into flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into egg mixture, and then into the coconut; pressing to evenly coat. Place on a baking sheet.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to the pan, swirl to coat. Add chicken, and cook about 4-5 minutes per side, until fully cooked through.
- Serve with a favorite dipping sauce
Notes
Frying oil - use whatever neutral oil you like. Vegetable Oil, Canola Oil or Avocado all work well. Or bring out the coconut flavor and use coconut oil.
Bake - Add them to a preheated 375°F oven for about 20-25 minutes, turning them halfway through for an equally delicious, healthier option.
Air Fryer - Add them to your Air Fryer cook at 400º for about 10 minutes, flipping half way through.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 593Saturated Fat 22gCholesterol 138mgSodium 913mgCarbohydrates 43gFiber 2gSugar 17gProtein 37g
Need more Dinner inspiration? Browse through my Recipe Index for lots more quick and easy Dinner recipes. And be sure to follow along on Pinterest, where I am always pinning great recipes!
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Lily Lau
Friday 6th of March 2015
I had no idea you could mix coconut and chicken! Now you made me too curious about this recipe :)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
Thursday 5th of March 2015
These sound amazing! I can't believe you are going to NZ for 6 weeks. Dream come true! Wouldn't it be nice if food bloggers got paid time off instead of having to work double time months in advance. :) Have so much fun! Can't wait to see pictures!