Description

A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring oven-baked chicken strips coated in crispy unsweetened coconut, served with a bright, tangy mango-lime dip. It’s family-friendly, versatile, and ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, whisked with a pinch of salt
½ cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 large ripe mango, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon finely minced jalapeño (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pat chicken strips dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with whisked eggs and buttermilk, and one with shredded coconut.
Dip each chicken strip in flour, shaking off excess. Then dip in the buttermilk mixture, letting excess drip off. Finally, press firmly into the coconut to coat completely.
Place breaded chicken on the prepared baking sheet and brush lightly with oil.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until chicken is cooked through and coconut is golden brown. (Alternatively, air fry at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway.)
While chicken cooks, blend mango, lime juice, honey, cilantro, jalapeño, salt, and Greek yogurt until smooth.
Serve hot chicken tenders with the cool mango dip on the side.

Notes

Use unsweetened shredded coconut to prevent burning and excessive sweetness. Press the coconut firmly onto the chicken to ensure it sticks. If you don’t have buttermilk, mix milk with lemon juice or vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes. The mango dip can be made up to 2 days ahead. Do not microwave the chicken for reheating as it will become soggy; use an oven or air fryer instead.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving includes c
Calories: 320
Sugar: 18
Sodium: 280
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 8
Carbohydrates: 30
Fiber: 4
Protein: 25

Keywords: coconut chicken, mango dip, chicken tenders, easy dinner, family friendly, oven baked, healthy chicken, quick meals