Crispy Coconut Chicken Tenders 

This recipe from Crème de la Crumb delivers sweet and spicy flavor wrapped around juicy chicken tenders. The chicken is first dusted in seasoned flour, dipped in egg wash, then coated with a combination of sweetened coconut flakes and panko breadcrumbs. You can fry them in a shallow skillet for a golden, crispy finish, or bake them at 425 °F (220 °C) for a lighter version. Ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish, these tenderloins pair beautifully with sweet chili sauce or sweet-and-sour dip. Crowd-pleasing and ideal for weeknight meals or appetizers. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken tenderloins (or breast strips)
  
  

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
  
  

• ½ tsp chili powder
  
  

• ½ tsp salt
  
  

• ¼ tsp black pepper
  
  

• 2 eggs
  
  

• 2 Tbsp water or milk
  
  

• ⅔ cup sweetened coconut flakes
  
  

• ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
  
  

• Oil for frying (about 1 inch depth)
  
  

• Sea salt flakes (for garnish, optional)
  
  

• Sweet chili sauce for serving
  
  

Directions

1. Prepare four shallow bowls: (1) flour mixed with chili powder, salt, pepper; (2) eggs whisked with water or milk; (3) coconut flakes; (4) panko breadcrumbs.
   
   

2. Coat each chicken piece in flour, then egg wash, then coconut, and finally panko, pressing as needed to adhere coating.
   
   

3. For frying: heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until simmering. Fry tenders in batches for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels.
   
   

4. For baking: arrange coated tenders on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 425 °F (220 °C) for about 15 minutes until cooked and crisp.
   
   

5. Garnish with sea salt flakes if desired. Serve warm with sweet chili sauce.
   
   

Nutrients 

(Per serving, recipe yields ~4 servings)

• Calories: 352 kcal
  
  

• Carbohydrates: 23 g (Sugars: 2 g; Fiber: ~3 g)
  
  

• Protein: 31 g
  
  

• Total Fat: 15 g (Saturated: 10 g; Trans: ~1 g)
  
  

• Cholesterol: 154 mg
  
  

• Sodium: 537 mg
  
  

• Potassium: 570 mg
  
  

• Vitamin A: 228 IU
  
  

• Vitamin C: ~2 mg
  
  

• Calcium: 44 mg
  
  

• Iron: ~3 mg