• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Jillian's Healthful Eats
  • Home
  • Meet Jillian
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Contact Me
  • Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Meet Jillian
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Work with Me
  • ×

    Home / Dinners / Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips (made with whole grain cereal)

    Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips (made with whole grain cereal)

    Published: Jan 12, 2022 Modified: Mar 6, 2023 by Jillian This post may contain affiliate link. This blog generates income via ads

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips made with whole grain cereal are sweet and crunchy and very simple to make! They are oven baked and made without eggs. A vegan egg was used instead!

    close up of coconut crusted on a white plate with a dipping sauce
    Check out that crispiness!

    Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips are healthy, easy and quick to make.  The shredded coconut gives a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture.  If you're craving fried chicken, but don't need the extra calories, reach for these instead. 

    I made double the recipe and stored them in my freezer in a resealable bag.  Then, when I was feeling too tired to cook, I just took one out and popped it in the oven or toaster oven for a quick dinner. If you think these are amazing you need to try my Pretzel Encrusted Chicken!

    These are also an added bonus because my kids loved them.  Taylor will be 5 in April and she is totally living in the picker-eater stage.  It has been a struggle to find things she likes.  I always try to get her to at least take a bite of whatever it is I made to at least expose her to different foods.  Sometimes she tries the foods, but I'm not gonna lie, I do have to bargain with her. I also have a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old so you can imagine my house dynamic 😉

    Table of contents

    • Ingredients to make this meal
    • How to make a vegan egg
    • How to eat these strips
    • How to make these strips
    • Fun ways to coat chicken
    • Tips and FAQ's

    Ingredients to make this meal

    ingredients for coconut crusted chicken strips
    Ingredients to make this easy homemade recipe!

    You will need the following ingredients -

    • 2 egg whites - if you happen to not have eggs or prefer not to use eggs, then you can use vegan eggs, which is what I did. I explain below how to make a vegan egg. You need ground flaxseed in order to make vegan eggs.
    • 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut. I have always been a fan of Bob's Red Mill unsweetened shredded coconut. 
    • 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast - cut into strips. 
    • 3 cups of whole-grain cereal - crushed to crumbs in a resealable bag or use your blender and blend until crumbs are formed. Make sure your cereal is whole grain flakes. They stick better and taste better!

    Fun Fact - in the past I've used Raisin Bran Cereal because it uses whole-grain flakes and the raisins baked are out of this world.  If you aren't a fan of raisins, then just use plain whole-grain cereal.

    How to make a vegan egg

    You need to start with some ground flaxseed meal (love a good organic brand). Bob's Red Mill actually has directions on their bag on how to do this. For every egg you use 1 tbsp of flaxseed and 3 tbsp of water and have it sit for 5 minutes before using. So, for this recipe I used 2 tbsp of flaxseed meal and 6 tbsp of water. Mixed them together in a small dish and waited 5 minutes before using.

    How to eat these strips

    Well, you can eat these coconut crusted chicken strips plain or change things up.  Have your strips with a salad! Yes, we all know that spinach is a super healthy food for you to be eating in general. I literally eat it everyday in some way shape or form.  I feel like I can always find a way to incorporate it into my meals.  That is where I decided to make this dish into a salad. 

    birds eye view of coconut crusted chicken strips sitting on a white plate
    Toss these babies into a delicious salad!

    I used 1 cup of baby spinach, a handful of blueberries because they are good for your memory and Mom brain is a real thing.  Last, but certainly not least, I added some crumbled feta cheese.  If you are pregnant make sure you use pasteurized feta cheese. 

    For dressing I used my go-to easiest 2 ingredient homemade dressing.  That consists of 1 tsp of garlic salt and 1 tbsp of olive oil.  I used Chosen Foods avocado oil and McCormicks Garlic Salt.  Sprinkle the salt on first, then drizzle the olive oil on and toss.

    How to make these strips

    You will start off by preheating your oven to 400°F.  Put the egg whites or vegan egg in a small, shallow bowl and whisk with a fork until frothy.  Put the cereal, coconut, salt, and pepper in a food processor (or blender) and pulse to combine. 

    Transfer the mixture to a shallow plate.  I had my Taylor help me dump all the ingredients into the blender and press the buttons.  Luke also enjoys helping with this process and little Cammy even started enjoying getting in on the cooking.

    ingredients for coconut crusted chicken inside a blender
    coconut crusted chicken on a baking tray lined with foil

    Next, I dredge the chicken strips in the egg white or vegan egg mix using a fork to avoid touching the chicken because that is just not my thing. Then, I dip the chicken into the coconut mixture pressing down to make sure the coating really sticks.

    Place the coated strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.  If you are in the market for a new blender, I have the Ninja and it works like a charm.

    Fun ways to coat chicken

    I've found that you can really coat your chicken with almost anything! Some fun, yummy, ideas I've come up with are

    • panko breadcrumbs
    • parmesan
    • quinoa
    • pretzels
    • cornflakes
    • chips (I'm thinking kettle cooked, but if anyone tries Doritos please let me know)
    • a buttery cracker
    • Cheetos are another one I haven't tried, but someone MUST
    • the possibilities are really endless 😉

    Tips and FAQ's

    Use the flakes!


    Whole wheat cereal can come as flakes or as little wheat squares. The flakes break up WAY easier and coat much better to the chicken.

    Do I have to use the whole wheat cereal?


    Not at all! I enjoy using it because the crunch is like nothing you've ever had before. Best crunch in the game 😉 If you prefer to leave the cereal out then swap in some whole wheat flour instead to help the coconut flakes stick better.

    Storing your leftovers!

    Your leftover chicken strips can be stored in an airtight container in fridge for 2 to 3 days or if you want to freeze them place in a freezer bag, seal, and place in freezer for up to 3 months.

    Other chicken recipes to try

    • garlic butter chicken bites in a cast iron skillet topped with lemon slices and parsley with a side plate of lemon asparagus
      Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Asparagus
    • A birds eye view of crispy air fried cutlets on a cream colored plate with fresh parsley scattered on top and a lemon slice placed on the side.
      Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
    • homemade baked chicken nuggets with honey glazed carrots on white plates on a wooden table
      Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets
    • the ultimate buffalo chicken sloppy joes
      The Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

    If you give this recipe a try don't forget to rate the recipe below! Always love hearing what you all think. You can also Stay in touch with me through social media on @Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my healthy recipes!

    close up of coconut crusted chicken strips made with whole grain cereal

    Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips

    These Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips made with whole grain cereal are sweet and crunchy and very simple to make! They are oven baked and made without egg. A vegan egg was used instead!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: lunch, Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Low Fat
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 88kcal
    Author: Jillian Schneider

    Equipment

    • blender
    • baking pan
    • shallow dish

    Ingredients

    • 2 egg whites OR if you happen to not have eggs or prefer not to use eggs, then you can use vegan eggs, which is what I did. If you want the vegan egg you will need ground flaxseed combine 1 tbsp of flaxseed meal with 3 tbsp of water to make 1 vegan egg and let sit for 5 minutes before using. For this recipe use 2 tbsp of flaxseed meal and 6 tbsp of water
    • 3 cups whole-grain cereal crushed to crumbs
    • ½ tsp kosher salt
    • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into strips
    • 1 cup shredded coconut flakes

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment and set aside.
    • Put the egg whites in a small, shallow bowl and whisk with a fork until frothy OR if you prefer the vegan egg, mix 2 tbsp of flaxseed meal and 6 tbsp of water in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
    • Put the cereal, coconut, salt, and pepper into a food processor (or blender) and pulse to combine. Transfer to another shallow bowl.
    • Next, dredge the chicken strips in the egg white or vegan egg mix using a fork to avoid touching the chicken or you can get down and dirty and use your hands. Then, dip the chicken into the coconut mixture pressing down to make sure the coating really sticks. Coat both sides of chicken.
    • Place the coated strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and bake 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Serve on a salad or with your favorite dipping sauce!

    Notes

    What can my child do?  Your kids can help dump all the ingredients that go into the blender and hit the pulse button.
    Not a fan of coconut?  These chicken strips are just as delicious simply crusted with the crushed whole-grain cereal.  Give Raisin Bran a try.  The added raisins are out of the world when baked! 
     
    Your leftover chicken strips can be stored in an airtight container in fridge for 2 to 3 days or if you want to freeze them place in a freezer bag, seal, and place in freezer for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1piece | Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.8g | Protein: 2.4g | Fat: 2.9g | Saturated Fat: 2.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 2.9g | Sugar: 1.1g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 11mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @JilliansHealthfulEats or tag #jillianshealthfuleats!
    « Lemon Garlic Salmon in a Creamy Greek Yogurt Sauce
    19 Easy Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids (and adults;) »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Jillian’s Healthful Eats is full of recipes that are dedicated to making your favorite meals in a healthier way! From breakfasts to lunches to dinners you'll find wholesome, clean, dishes the whole family will love :)

    More about me >

    Stay Connected with Me

    Spring Favorites

    • birds eye view of Easter blondies on a white plate on a white wooden board topped with mutli-colored m&ms
      Healthy Easter Blondies
    • Gluten-Free Fruit Crisp (made with frozen fruit)
    • A birds-eye view of avocado fries in a bowl with parchment paper and a dipping sauce.
      Air Fryer Avocado Fries
    • Air fryer shrimp on a white plate on top of a white wooden board with slices of lemon on the side.
      Easy Air Fryer Shrimp
    • Blueberry donuts on a cream colored plate with a cooling rack in the top right corner and a blue and white checkered napkin laid on the bottom.
      Healthy Blueberry Donuts w/ Homemade Vanilla Glaze
    • flourless banana muffins made with chickpeas
      Flourless Banana Muffins (made with chickpeas)

    Popular Posts

    • birds eye view of zucchini roll ups in a glass dish with a wooden slotted spoon stuck in the side of the meal
      Zucchini Lasagna Roll Ups (without ricotta)
    • birds-eye view of ground turkey mac and cheese in a Lodge cast-iron skillet on a white wooden table
      Super Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ground Turkey
    • cauliflower egg wraps on a white plate on a wooden board with cilantro leaves and a white napkin
      Cauliflower Egg Wraps
    • A fork cutting into an avocado omelette that's sitting on a gray plate.
      Spinach and Avocado Omelette
    • garlic lemon salmon in a greek yogurt cream sauce
      Lemon Garlic Salmon in a Creamy Greek Yogurt Sauce
    • bbq chicken flatbread on a wooden plate with red onion and cilantro sprinkled on top
      BBQ Chicken Flatbread (Panera Copycat)

    Subscribe Here!

    (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [], forms: { on: function(evt, cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt, callback: cb } ); } } } })();


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Jillian's Healthful Eats