Description
Coconut Chicken is crispy, golden, and full of tropical flavor, served with a creamy, sweet-spicy bang bang sauce. Perfect for dinner, parties, or appetizers, this easy recipe is satisfying and versatile.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken tenders or breasts (cut into strips)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or avocado oil)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cut into strips if using chicken breasts.
- Set up a dredging station: flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in the second, and a mix of panko and shredded coconut in the third.
- Dip each chicken piece into flour, then egg, then coat in the coconut-panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken pieces in batches for 3–4 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
- For a healthier version, bake at 425°F for 20–25 minutes or air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and lime juice to make the bang bang sauce. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve crispy chicken drizzled with or dipped in bang bang sauce. Garnish with herbs if desired.
Notes
- Use sweetened shredded coconut for best caramelization and flavor.
- Air frying or baking is a great alternative to frying and keeps the chicken crispy.
- Make the sauce ahead and refrigerate for up to a week.
- To reheat leftovers, use an oven or air fryer to maintain crispiness.
- Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs for a gluten-free version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying or Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: Coconut Chicken, crispy chicken recipe, bang bang sauce, chicken tenders, easy dinner idea, tropical chicken
