Get ready for these Coconut Chicken Tenders to knock your socks off! We love incorporating coconut into our savory recipes, and these tenders are no exception. The coconut shreds create the perfect flavor balance, making these tenders absolutely unforgettable.
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Are these coconut chicken tenders good for you?
Most of the time, chicken tenders are considered fast food or unhealthy. The beauty of our coconut chicken tender recipe is that the tenders are not greasy, making this a dish that’s a great source of protein that won’t weigh you down!
Unlike most chicken tenders that are deep fried, we use an
What kind of chicken to use for coconut chicken tenders
The best kind of chicken to use for this recipe is the tenderloin of the chicken, otherwise known as the chicken tender! The chicken tenderloin is a narrow strip of meat on a chicken next to the chicken breast. It is naturally an oblong shape and makes for the perfect handheld snack!
Just because this recipe works best with chicken tenders doesn’t mean you can’t use another cut of chicken! You can absolutely use chicken breast for this recipe, or chicken thighs too. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want the pieces to be around the same size so they can cook evenly. If you have evenly cut pieces then feel free to use whatever part of the chicken is your favorite!
How to make coconut chicken tenders
- Gather three plates and set up a breading station for the chicken.
- Note: Ideally, you will want a plate that has high sides! A pasta bowl would work out well, too.
- Scoop flour onto one of the plates. Then pour in salt, pepper, and paprika. Use a fork to distribute the spices throughout the flour. Next, whisk the eggs onto the second plate. And for the last plate, mix panko bread crumbs and coconut shreds for the final layer of the breading.
- Now you are ready to bread your chicken tenders!
- First, dredge the chicken tender in the flour and spice mixture. Gently place the chicken tender down on each side to coat it with the flour.
- Then dip each side of the chicken tender into the whisked egg.
- And lastly, roll the chicken tender in the panko bread crumb and coconut mix until it is thoroughly coated.
- Lay the breaded chicken tenders in the basket of an
air fryer . Spray cooking oil over the top of the chicken tenders and cook in theair fryer ! - Remove the chicken tenders from the
air fryer and allow them to cool for a couple minutes. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce and a drizzle of hot sauce for a kick!
How to store coconut chicken tenders
These scrumptious chicken tenders are unlikely to leave you any leftovers. Just in case you have some extra tenders, they are simple to store and reheat! Store any leftover coconut chicken tenders in an airtight container in the fridge.
Because of the crunchy crust, leftovers will taste the best the next day. These coconut chicken tenders will last for up to three days, though!
To reheat them, you can pop them in the
Other satisfying snackable recipes
If you love the ease of this coconut chicken tender recipe, then you’re going to fall head over heels for the recipes below! They are just as simple to make, and all are handheld. These are the perfect snack or lunchbox components for your kiddos!
- Our Air Fryer Falafel is one of the greatest finger foods we have at Food Dolls. It is surprisingly nutritious, yet it doubles as a comfort food!
- If our coconut chicken tenders are nostalgic for you, then you have to try our Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets. This healthy take on chicken nuggets is going to be a new favorite in your household!
- We love dessert, so of course we have a handheld dessert treat to make this list! Our Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichanga recipe is to die for. It’s creamy, crunchy, and sweet!
Coconut Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 3/4 cup Japanese bread crumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Gather three plates and set up a breading station for the chicken.
- Scoop flour onto one of the plates. Then pour in salt, pepper and paprika. Use a fork to distribute the spices throughout the flour.
- Next, whisk the eggs onto the second plate. And for the last plate, mix panko bread crumbs and coconut shreds for the final layer of the breading.
- Dredge the chicken tender in the flour and spice mixture. Gently place the chicken tender down on each side to coat it with the flour.
- Then dip each side of the chicken tender into the whisked egg. And lastly, roll the chicken tender in the panko japanese bread crumb and coconut mix until it is thoroughly coated.
- Lay the breaded chicken tenders in the basket of an air fryer at 380 degrees F. Spray cooking oil over the top of the chicken tenders and cook in the air fryer for 18-20 minutes.
- Remove the chicken tenders from the air fryer and allow them to cool for a couple minutes. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce and a drizzle of hot sauce for a kick!
Video
Equipment
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
