This Crispy Coconut Chicken is breaded and fried in a pan until golden brown and crispy. The sweet coconut adds texture and flavor and makes this dish a family favorite!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
When we are bored of plain chicken dinners, I look for simple ways to add pizzazz. Sweetened coconut to the rescue! I mixed it with panko breadcrumbs to make this ultra-crispy, sweet and delicious chicken. My family loves it! Sweetened coconut is not only for baking cookies. Coconut fans will enjoy it as a breading too. This dish is a fun way to jazz up plain chicken. I hope you enjoy it!
Ingredients:
- chicken: I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, roughly the same size;
- flour: needed for breading the chicken; you can use cornstarch to make it gluten-free;
- egg: helps the breading stick to the chicken; you can use butter or heavy cream instead;
- shredded coconut: I used sweetened but unsweetened works great too;
- breadcrumbs: add crunch and texture to breading.
How to make Crispy Coconut Chicken?
- Start by slicing chicken breasts into strips.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Make a breading station by placing ingredients in shallow dishes.
- Dip each chicken piece in flour, then egg and then breadcrumbs with coconut.
- Heat up vegetable oil in a skillet.
- Fry chicken in batches until golden brown.
What to Serve with Coconut Chicken?
If you are making this Coconut Chicken as a main dish, you can serve it with rice or fries. A dipping sauce (see my recipe below) or a salad dressing will turn it into a delicious snack!
Dipping Sauce for Coconut Chicken:
If I want to serve this chicken as an appetizer, I serve it with my sweet chili orange sauce from my Coconut Shrimp recipe. You will need only two ingredients. Combine 1/3 cup of each sweet chili sauce and orange marmalade. Heat up and mix well. You can add mayo to make it creamy.
Can I bake coconut chicken instead of frying it in a pan?
Absolutely! To bake the chicken in the oven, bread each chicken strip and place it on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spray lightly with cooking oil. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes OR until golden brown. Flip the chicken halfway through baking.
Recipe FAQs:
To air fry the chicken, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Prep the chicken as above for oven baking. Place in the air fryer and bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it is baked through.
Yes, chicken tenders are perfect for this recipe. Just remember to remove the tendon and keep the tenders roughly the same size so they bake evenly.
Any leftover should be stored in the fridge, for up to 4 days. To reheat the chicken, place it in 350 degrees F oven and heat for 5 to 7 minutes OR until heated through.
Either type of coconut works in this recipe. If you like it sweeter, use sweetened coconut!
More dinner recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Crispy Coconut Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¾ sweetened shredded coconut
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs Panko or plain
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts into ½ inch strips.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Make a breading station: place flour in one shallow dish, coconut and breadcrumbs in another, and mix egg and milk in the third dish.
- Dip each chicken piece in flour, then egg and then breadcrumbs with coconut.
- Heat up vegetable oil in a skillet.
- Fry chicken in batches until golden brown.
- Serve.
Notes
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
- Serve this chicken with rice or fries.
Natasha says
This is another great way to cook chicken. I followed this recipe and we all loved it! It turned out so delicious and crispy. Thanks for sharing!
Jen says
This was the perfect way for us to change up our normal chicken dinner routine. Thanks for adding air fryer instructions. Worked like a charm!
Eden says
This crispy coconut chicken turned out wonderful. Easy to make and full of flavor. Will be making it again!