Coconut Chicken Tenders

Perfectly crispy and crunchy, these Coconut Chicken Tenders are the dinner that everyone loves! Served with an easy spicy mayo, this easy dinner idea is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and heat.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 640kcal

Author Deborah Harroun

Ingredients

Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon sriracha

Chicken:

Oil for frying
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 cup sweetened coconut chopped
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 - 3 lb chicken tenders
Kosher salt for sprinkling

Instructions

In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha. Refrigerate until needed.
1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon sriracha
Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet.
Oil
Place the flour in a shallow dish.
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
In another dish, add the eggs and beat lightly.
2 eggs
In a third dish, combine the breadcrumbs, coconut, smoked paprika, and salt.
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs, 1 cup sweetened coconut, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt
Once the oil has reached 350ºF, take a chicken tender and dip in in the flour, coating evenly and shaking off any excess.
2 1/2 - 3 lb chicken tenders
Next, dip the chicken into the egg, again letting any excess drip off. Transfer the chicken to the breadcrumb mixture and coat on all sides with the mixture.
Place the chicken in the hot oil, the repeat with enough of the chicken to fill the pan. (You want to make sure and give them space, though.) Cook until the bottoms are golden brown, about 5 minutes, then flip the chicken and cook on the second side until the chicken is browned and cooked through to 165ºF, about another 4-5 minutes.
Remove the chicken to cooling rack and immediately sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt.
Kosher salt
Repeat with the remaining chicken until it has all been cooked.
Serve the chicken with the dipping sauce.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide. Nutrition information is figured estimating 1/4 cup of vegetable oil absorbed. The nutrition is overestimated, since the amount of breading discarded is not figured.

Nutrition