Coconut Chicken Tenders

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These coconut chicken tenders are crispy and salty with a hint of sweetness. Your kids and your family will absolutely love them. They are just different enough to break you out of the monotony of chicken recipes. 

If you are looking for something different to take to your cookout or upcoming parties, then these chicken tenders are exactly what you should try. 

What to Take to a Cook Out

I am excited to announce that Cook Out Week is here!  We are posting delicious cookout-themed recipes including this Coconut Chicken Tenders recipe. If you love grilling, frozen treats, picnics, berries, s’mores, campfire meals, and other summer goodies… you are in the right place! We made our coconut chicken tenders with coconut flour, paleo bread crumbs, and unsweetened coconut flakes.

What do you like to take to a cookout? Here are some of our favorite ideas: 

• These coconut chicken tenders are amazing at a cookout on their own
• Green salad 
• Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Paleo Chicken Tenders

You can replace your kids chicken tenders with these Paleo Chicken Tenders. You can learn all about how to eat paleo here. Yes, these are paleo-compliant. Enjoy your favorite food guilt-free. 

What To Serve with Chicken Tenders

If these Paleo Chicken Tenders are the main dish, here are some yummy sides that go with it perfectly:

• Paleo Chili Recipe
• Buffalo Wing Cauliflower
• Easy Roasted Veggies 
• Cauliflower Au Gratin

Are Chicken Tenders Fried or Baked? 

The chicken tender recipe is made in the oven, but you can easily grill or even fried. The initial recipe is really basic because I want to keep it kid-friendly. My daughter is anti-spices so I make it basic to start.  The recipe I’m sharing with you is quite basic. I have included a list of spices and measurements to help you spicy up these chicken tenders.

Coconut Chicken Tenders Recipe

Here is the recipe. You’ll also find it in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast tenderloins
• 1/3 cup Coconut Flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 Drops Lime Oil or 1/2 Tsp Lime Zest
• 1 Drop Lemongrass Oil or 1/4 tsp Ground Lemongrass
• 1/3 cup Paleo Panko Bread Crumbs
• 1 Drop Oregano Oil or 1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
• 1 tablespoon Barlean’s Butter Flavored Coconut Oil (find out where to buy it here) 

Thai Spice Mix

This is the spice mix that I prefer to use on my chicken tenders. My daughter really only likes them plain. If your kids are like here, then maybe use this spice mix just on the ones for the adults. 

You can also use this spice mix on pork chops too! It’s not too spicy either. If you like things with a bit more kick, then add more red pepper flakes. 

• 1/2 Tbsp Ground Cumin
• 1 Tbsp Black Pepper
• 2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
• 1 Tbsp Salt
• 2 Tbsp Onion Powder
• 1 Tbsp Red Chili Pepper
• 2 Tbsp Ground Ginger

Barlean’s Butter Flavored Coconut Oil

Butter Flavored Coconut Oil is vegan, non-GMO, organic and delicious. It tastes just like butter but has all the benefits of Coconut Oil like MCTs.

To stay Paleo, you could buy some grass-fed butter. But I just love how coconut oil tastes when you fry things in it. 

How to Bake Chicken Tenders

Here’s how I made my chicken tenders. This is completely homemade, from scratch. I found this is the best way to make sure there isn’t anything I don’t like in the chicken. 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Buy chicken strips or cut the chicken into long strips that are about one inch long.
3. Start with three plates. The first plate should have coconut flour, one for the butter flavored coconut oil with all the spices in the recipe and if want to add spice, add 1 tbsp of the Thai spice mixture. Then, the third plate should have unsweetened shredded coconut and paleo panko breadcrumbs.
4. Coat each chicken strip in the coconut flour, then coat with the coconut oil mixture. Finally, coat the chicken strip with the paleo breadcrumb and shredded coconut.
5. When finished coating all the chicken, place it on a greased large baking sheet with space in between.
6. Cook for 20 minutes.
7. Turn the Broiler on high and move the baking sheet up to the top to brown for 8 minutes.
8. Serve with paleo ketchup!

What is in Paleo ketchup? 

Paleo ketchup is basically tomato paste with a few spices. In fact, 40 Aprons has a fantastic Paleo and Whole30 ketchup recipe that tastes perfect with my chicken tenders. 

Are these chicken tenders keto? 

Chicken by itself is keto-friendly meat. However, since these have flour and breadcrumbs they are higher in carbs than you might like. 

If you want to make keto chicken tenders, consider using an air fryer and coating them in parmesan cheese. It crunches up beautifully. 

Print

Coconut Chicken Tenders

Coconut Chicken Tenders made with Barlean's Butter Flavored Coconut Oil - perfect on the Paleo diet with Coconut flour baked with thai spice mix

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Coconut

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 230kcal

Author Aprilgolightly

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast tenderloins
• 1/3 cup Coconut Flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 Drops Lime Oil or 1/2 Tsp Lime Zest
• 1 Drop Lemongrass Oil or 1/4 tsp Ground Lemongrass
• 1/3 cup Paleo Panko Bread Crumbs
• 1 Drop Oregano Oil or 1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
• 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil Barlean's Butter Flavored

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Buy chicken strips or cut the chicken into long strips that are about one inch long.
• Start with three plates. The first plate should have coconut flour, one for the butter flavored coconut oil with al the spices in the recipe and if want to add spice, add 1 tbsp of the thai spice mixture. Then, the third plate should have unsweetened shredded coconut and paleo panko breadcrumbs.
• Coat each chicken strip in the coconut flour, then coat with the coconut oil mixture. Finally, coat the chicken strip with the paleo breadcrumb and shredded coconut.
• When finished coating all the chicken, place it on a greased large baking sheet with space in between.
• Cook for 20 minutes.
• Turn the Broiler on high and move the baking sheet up to the top to brown for 8 minutes.
• Serve with paleo or no sugar ketchup!

Nutrition Facts

Coconut Chicken Tenders

Amount Per Serving

Calories 230 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Cholesterol 79mg26%

Sodium 501mg21%

Potassium 419mg12%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 0g0%

Protein 27g54%

Calcium 53mg5%

Vitamin C 1.3mg2%

Vitamin A 95IU2%

Iron 0.7mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More Paleo Recipes

If you are trying to keep eating Paleo, here are some more amazing recipes you should try next. My blog is full of them, this is one of my favorite ways to eat. 

• Slow Cooker Paleo Chili Recipe – This recipe is full of garden veggies and a vibrant sauce. 
• Paleo Creamed Tuna on Toast – This is a wonderful lunch idea. 
• Paleo Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe – Yes! You can also have dessert! 

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