Coconut Chicken Strips

These delicious and crunchy Coconut Chicken Strips are tried and tested and so easy to make.  Always a huge hit! Can be made gluten-free, if preferred.

In a previous post, I mentioned that a friend of mine invited me to her house for a Demarle food demonstration. There she showcased the lovely products from Demarle and prepared for us some really delicious meals from appetizers to desserts.

Not only was I impressed with the Demarle products but with the food that she made.

One of the yummy dishes she cooked for us was  Coconut Chicken. It was simple, very easy to do, looked quite elegant, and was truly delicious!

I thought to myself, I have to make it for my family. I learned this recipe from my friend but it was adapted from the recipe – Coconut Chicken from the Demarle Cookbook – Cooking Across America.

Now that I have my own Silpat, I decided to cook Coconut Chicken. Since my husband is on a grain-free (beyond just gluten-free!) diet, I had to think of an alternative to the bread crumbs used in the recipe (the original recipe actually called for “rice cereals” but my friend used panko bread crumbs instead which I thought was great!).

I have found the almond meal (ground almonds) to be a good alternative so I thought I’d give it a try. My hubby loved it! Am so glad that he can enjoy this lovely chicken dish with us.

I think that the panko bread crumbs give the dish more texture and crunch than the ground almonds but in taste, they are both wonderful, so I leave the choice to you. If you wish a gluten-free alternative, do use the almond meal. Enjoy!

If you want an even lower-carb version, try to use a sugar-free honey-mustard dressing.

If you like what you see and would like to receive new recipe updates, we’d love you to subscribe to our posts or join our site. Needless to say, we’d love you to like us on Facebook and Instagram, too where you can get more recipes and updates. Thanks and happy browsing!

FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS and to PRINT, SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS FOR COCONUT CHICKEN STRIPS

• Whole chicken breasts – these need to be flattened first before using.  Place the chicken breasts between wax paper or plastic wrap. The wax paper or plastic wrap should be placed on top of a large cutting board or an even hard surface. Pound the chicken with a meat mallet or rolling pin. Pound lightly in the center, making sure to use enough force to flatten the chicken. Then, move out to the sides of the breast, making sure the entire breast is even.
• Mayonnaise – use a good quality mayonnaise.
• Honey-mustard dressing – use your favorite brand.
• Bread crumbs – for a gluten-free alternative use ground almonds. (I used the Trader Joe’s brand)
• Grated or shredded coconut – unsweetened is preferred.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE COCONUT CHICKEN STRIPS

Flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Slice into strips. Combine mayonnaise and honey mustard dressing in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken breast strips and marinate for 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Mix the coconut and the panko bread crumbs or ground almonds in a bowl. Coat the marinated chicken strips with the coconut mixture.

Remove the excess crumbs from the chicken strips by tapping them lightly on the bowl. Kitchen tongs are handy when doing this.

Place the chicken strips on a shallow baking pan. Grease the pan if it’s not non-stick. You may line it with foil if you prefer. I used my Silpat for this so there was no need for any foil nor greasing.

Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and coconut is light brown and toasty.

Serve with a dipping sauce on the side if you like. I like having it with chutney or a ketchup-mayo sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish with some salad on the side.

For a delicious dipping sauce for these coconut chicken strips, I highly recommend our delicious recipe for YUM-YUM SAUCE!

If you like what you see and would like to receive new recipe updates, we’d love you to subscribe to our posts or join our site. Needless to say, we’d love you to like us on Facebook and Instagram, too where you can get more recipes and updates. Thanks and happy browsing!

Coconut Chicken Strips

Manila Spoon

These delicious and crunchy Coconut Chicken Strips are tried and tested and so easy to make.  Always a huge hit! Can be made gluten-free, if preferred.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Save Saved!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Marinate 8 hours hrs

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 3-4 pieces whole chicken breasts
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup honey-mustard dressing
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs* (see note for gluten-free alternative)
• 2 cups grated or shredded coconut, unsweetened

Instructions

 

• Flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Slice into strips. Combine mayonnaise and honey mustard dressing in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken breast strips and marinate for 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• Mix the coconut and the panko bread crumbs or ground almonds (if doing gluten-free) in a bowl. Coat the marinated chicken strips with the coconut mixture.
• Remove the excess crumbs from the chicken strips by tapping them lightly on the bowl. Kitchen tongs are handy when doing this.
• Grease a shallow baking pan if it’s not non-stick. You may line it with foil if you prefer. I used my Silpat for this so there was no need for any foil nor greasing. Place the chicken strips on the prepared pan.
• Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and coconut is lightly browned and toasty.
• Serve with a dipping sauce on the side if you like. I like having it with chutney or a ketchup-mayo sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish with some salad on the side.

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS

 

For a gluten-free alternative use ground almonds. (I used the Trader Joe’s brand).

Use this delicious yum-yum sauce as a dip for the chicken strips if you like – https://www.manilaspoon.com/2014/01/yum-yum-dipping-sauce.html

 

 

Keyword chicken tenders with panko bread crumbs, coconut chicken strips, coconut chicken tenders, coconut crusted chicken, easy recipe for baked chicken tenders, gluten-free chicken tenders, gluten-free coconut chicken strips, gluten-free coconut chicken tenders recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Last updated on February 3rd, 2024 at 11:36 pm