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Last Updated on February 8, 2024
Coconut chicken made with a rich dairy-free sauce that is filled with savory garlic. Top with your favorite low carb rice for a healthy dinner.
My mother is Filipino so I grew up eating exotic foods like lumpia, fried rice and coconut chicken. However I dreamed of eating air fryer asparagus, Wonder bread and ho hos as all of my friends were eating them.
With age comes wisdom, or at least for me, a more refined food palate, so I’ve tried to recreate my mom’s recipe since it works wonderfully as a paleo and keto chicken recipe I can eat over and over again (just like this keto sweet and sour chicken recipe).
Thankfully I have her to consult but we live a 1000 miles away so I can’t go watch her whip it up in her kitchen.Also, she doesn’t use standard measurement tools and instead she tends to describe measurements as ” a little bit of water” or ” a pinch of this.
I’m so glad I stuck with it because ever since I nailed this great recipe down, I’ve been in coconut chicken heaven.
If you’re not aware of the benefit of coconut oil, it’s been the focus of over 1500 studies. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest foods and it’s filled with medium-chain fatty acids.
Why Include Coconut Oil in Your Diet
Because coconut oil helps burn fat so easily, and because it doesn’t store as body fat, it is an ideal healthy fat to use a lot of while on the keto diet.
Plus, it tastes delicious! Coconut oil complements the keto diet perfectly because it supports the body systems the keto diet improves as well.
What I love about this coconut chicken recipe
- It’s dairy-free and works for the paleo, keto and low carb diet
- Packed full of healthy fats
- A simple recipe that you can make in 30 minutes or less
What you’ll need for this Recipe:
- Coconut oil
- Garlic
- Apple cider vinegar
- Boneless skinless, chicken thighs
- Black pepper
- Sea Salt
- Water
- Coconut milk
How to Make This Coconut Chicken Recipe:
In a large skillet over medium/low heat add the chicken and coconut oil
Cook for 2 -3 minutes and then add the apple cider vinegar, water and garlic cloves and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the salt and pepper and cook until the liquid all boils down. This should take roughly 10 minutes.
Stir in the coconut milk and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until your liquid thickens slightly and you have a coconut mixture that resembles a gravy.
Remove from heat and enjoy!
Please note that if you leave the pan on the heat, the gravy will cook away until you have coconut oil.
Notes and Variations
Can I substitute low fat coconut milk for full fat coconut milk?
No, you can’t. The recipe will not form a gravy if you use low fat coconut milk
Can I use chicken strips instead of chicken thighs?
Yes, you can use what ever cut you want just make sure the weight is the same.
Can I use lime juice instead of apple cider vinegar?
Yes, you can use that or lemon juice as a substitution.
Other chicken recipes you might like:
Did you make and love this recipe? Give your review below and make sure you share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!
Easy Coconut Chicken
This simple coconut chicken recipe is rich with fragrant garlic and dairy-free
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
- 5 cloves garlic, roughly crushed and skins removed
- 4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 lb boneless skinless, chicken thighs, cut into bite sizes pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 8 oz coconut milk, canned
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium/low heat add the chicken and coconut oil
- Cook for 2 -3 minutes and then add the apple cider vinegar, water and garlic cloves and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the salt and pepper and cook until the liquid all boils down. This should take roughly 10 minutes.
- Stir in the coconut milk and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until your liquid thickens slightly and you have a coconut mixture that resembles a gravy.
- Remove from heat and enjoy!
- Please note that if you leave the pan on the heat, the gravy will cook away until you have coconut oil.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 337Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 474mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 29g
That sounds delicious! When I lived in the Netherlands they had some awesome mixes for a coconut-based chicken and it was delish. I haven’t found a substitute since then so thanks for this recipe. BTW, I need you to scoot those mad lumpia-making skills over here!
Ha! Maybe I should do a youtube video on lumpia. I hope that you enjoy it!
Oh my gosh, that sounds SO good. I need some new stuff to try and this would definitely be one of them!! Can I pin this on Pinterest so I can remember to come back for the recipe?
Of course! It’s super tasty!
My sister-in-law is Filipino and I love when they have lumpia at family gatherings. They never had cocnut chicken, but it looks delicious!
You should ask her if she has a recipe. It’s really yummy.
This sounds so yummy! I just got some coconut oil so I’m going to try it out!
Yum, this sounds great. And I love that is it is a rediscovered family recipe! Thanks so much for sharing it with Delicious Dish Tuesday. I hope you link up again next week 🙂
I have coconut oil now, but no coconut milk… I’ll def have to get some of that now, cause I WANT to make this! Sounds SO good!
Thanks so much for linking up again!!!
I just made this tonight and it was amaaaaaaazing!!!!
Unfortunately, I didn’t have coconut oil, which I know adds the coconut flavor, so mine ended up tasting more like alfredo sauce. Still soooooo good!
As someone who is new to gluten-free, making meat more interesting is very important to me.
Thanks so much!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! On my diet, I eat a lot of protein so mixing it up with new flavors is a must.
I just have to say, this recipe is AMAZING! We’ve had it a few times already and my whole family loves it!
Thanks Janelle. It was one of my favorite dishes growing up.
This looks and sounds so good! I bet your mama can cook too! LOL!
She can and sometimes you never hear the end of her amazing talents. I’m just happy I inherited it 🙂
oh man that sounds really good, totally easy peasy!
I love coconut and chicken together.
Yum! That looks so good. I love all your recipes.
this looks delish!!!
That looks so good! I’ll have to try it!
Yummy!
love easy recipes thanks for sharing
Oooh this looks yummy!
Hmm. I never had cocunut chicken.
I am doing a Paleo challenge and this has been a great addition to my rotation! Although I think it would be amazing with some rice to soak up the “gravy”.
Yes, I hear you Kristine. Cauliflower works well though:)
That sounds so delicious, I love coconut and we’ve had a can in the cupboard for ages as I didn’t really know what to make with it!
I hope you like it Jen 🙂
I love this Easy Coconut Chicken Recipe, but I don’t see the actual recipe anymore. How can I get it again?
It might have been an issue with my host but you can see it now on my site.
Made it! Loved it! So easy, not a lot of ingredients, and delicious. Thanks!
I’m so glad you liked it Danielle 🙂
I ve been excited to try this—in fact, I’m in the middle of cooking it! However,! I think you might have mixed up some of the instructions . Are we supposed to use the coconut milk in step 1 or step 4? I added the coconut milk and the chicken to the pan first, as the instructions say, but now I’m thinking that I made a mistake….should it have been the oil first?
Thanks for any advice, we’ll see if I can salvage this!
Ops! Yes, I fixed the recipe. Honestly, you should just be able to simmer it until the chicken is cooked and the coconut milk is thickened and all will be well. If it starts to run dry, add a little more coconut milk. Thanks Kaitlin!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I use it a couple times a month. It is absolutely delightful!
I’m glad you like it Jessica!
Very good! And For those that don’t really care for coconut, the chicken still tatstes really good before the coconut milk is added 🙂
I made your Easy Coconut Chicken tonight and it turned out pretty runny. It was good tasting however. I was thinking, maybe I could leave out the water? Do you think that is why it was too runny?
You should cook it longer hun. It will reduce the longer you cook it hun.
TOO easy, such simple ingredients, sounds so delish!!
So yummy! I love how simple this is and bet all of that coconut goodness is so creamy and delicious with the chicken.
Love how simple it is to make this recipe. Thanks for sharing !
Hi,
Is the temperature supposed to be med/low the whole time? I’m wondering how such a low temp will boil anything down. Thanks!
Yes, one it starts to boil, it will go quick. If you are careful and watching it the whole time you can bring to a boil and reduce to medium.
Just made this..omg..soooo delicious!!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Love this! I didn’t have apple cider vinegar so I used rice vinegar. It worked fine. Next time I’ll try apple cider. I think it’s the vinegar that puts this recipe over the top!
It’s a surprisingly good recipe. I’m glad you liked it!