Coconut Oil Fried Peanut Chicken with Thai Honey Butter
This Coconut-Oil Fried Peanut Chicken might just be the very best chicken this world has ever seen. Seriously, I said it and you have to try it now. It’s fried in healthy coconut oil, crunchy and delicious! Plus, there's Thai honey butter dip. Win-Win!
This fried peanut chicken might just be the very best chicken this world has ever seen. Seriously. It's like the fried chicken had a hot and spicy fling in Bangkok, and this is its love child. It's crunchy, it's peanut-y, and it's crazy delicious. When you dip it in the sweet and spicy Thai honey butter, it becomes almost unbearably good. Almost.
Between mouthfuls of fried peanut chicken, all I could say was, “I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.” And let's be honest, when I'm required to taste test a plate of the best-fried peanut chicken ever, I use the term ‘job' very loosely.
I used coconut oil for frying the chicken because I wanted to make a healthier version of fried chicken for you guys. I was even planning on calling this Healthy Fried Peanut Chicken. The thing is when I started eating it I just couldn't wrap my head around the healthy part. This is fried chicken, through and through.
But … coconut oil is very healthy for you. There are lots of people who add it by the spoonfuls to their morning smoothies and coffees. Is that you? So even though we can't call this healthy fried peanut chicken (it does have flour, panko and a good bunch of sugar in the form of honey), it is far better for you than regular ol' fried chicken. But trust me, you would never know by eating it.
How comfortable are you with deep-frying? I know I was freaked out the first few times I did it. I mean, oil is HOT and potentially dangerous.
While you do need to be very careful when you're deep-frying, don't let that stop you from making this fried peanut chicken. If this is your first time frying something in hot oil, check out this post for some very important tips and tricks to keep you safe.
The most important points are:
NEVER walk away from a pot of oil on the stove. It will start smoking at 400 degrees and burst into flames at 500 degrees.
NEVER add water or anything wet to a pot of hot oil. Not even the tiniest drop. The water will explode and send hot oil all over you. You will burn.
Now you know what not to do, let me give you a few tips on what you should do.
- Keep the oil temperature between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a candy thermometer attached to the side of the pot to accurately judge the temperature.
- Only fry a few pieces at a time – to keep the oil temp from lowering.
- Use a pot with high sides – as the oil gets older and dirtier it will bubble up more, and you don't want to risk it boiling over.
- Wear long sleeves – just in case there are any splatter.
- Wear an apron or an old shirt – oil stains are impossible to get out and inevitable when you're frying foods.
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More Delicious Chicken Recipes:
- Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets
- Sweet and Spicy Paleo Chicken Fingers
- Paleo Honey Garlic Chicken Fingers
- Baked Sesame Ginger Chicken
- Sticky Thai Peanut Chicken Wings
Coconut Oil Fried Peanut Chicken with Thai Honey Butter
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Ingredients
- Coconut oil, for frying
- 1 cup roasted peanuts
- 1 cup panko, gluten-free if needed
- ½ cup flour, gluten-free if needed
- 1 large egg
- 4 chicken drumsticks
- 4 bone-in chicken thighs, skin on or off, your choice
Thai Honey Butter
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce, gluten-free if needed
- 2 teaspoons red curry paste
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add 2 inches of coconut oil to a medium-sized, high-sided pot and attach a candy thermometer to the side. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower the heat to medium and let oil rise to 350 degrees.
- While the oil is heating, prepare the chicken. Pulse the peanuts in your food processor until they are coarsely chopped. There will be some that are finely ground and other pieces that are coarse. Add the chopped peanuts to a large bowl, add the panko and mix together. Add the flour to a medium-sized bowl. Whisk the egg with a splash of water in another medium-sized bowl.1 cup roasted peanuts, 1 cup panko, ½ cup flour, 1 large egg
- Keeping one hand for the dry ingredients (flour and peanuts) and the other for the wet (egg), dip the chicken first in the flour, second in the egg, and third in the peanuts. Press the peanuts firmly into the chicken so that they stick. Once the chicken is coated, place it on the prepared baking sheet.4 chicken drumsticks, 4 bone-in chicken thighs
- Fry the chicken pieces in the hot oil a few pieces at a time, turning a few times, until they are brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Keep the oil as close to 350 degrees as possible. If the oil temperature lowers, make sure to let it heat up before you add the next batch. Place the fried chicken on the same baking sheet.
- Once all of the chicken has been fried in the coconut oil, place it in the oven and let it bake for 20 minutes.
- While the chicken is baking, prepare the sweet Thai butter. Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Be careful as honey will boil up and spill over the pan. Whisk the honey as it boils for 1 minute then remove it from the heat.½ cup honey, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 2 teaspoons red curry paste, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger, 1 clove garlic
Hi Kristen. This looks amazing! I want to try it but I don’t have the curry paste or the fish sauce in my pantry. Will the honey butter be ruined without them or could I substitute something?…. Don’t laugh but I was going to try a kung pao sauce or something tangy like Sriracha. Thanks so much!
I’m so sorry I didn’t see your question until now. I hope it’s not too late! Honestly, the fried chicken is amazing all on its own. You could easily whip up a little spicy honey with sriracha and you’d be good to go. 🙂
Well Kristen, you have me drooling on my keyboard with this one – the flavors! the texture! I love this fresh take on fried chicken – will be trying this recipe pronto.
Ha ha I love it! It really is my fav fried chicken 🙂
Can’t wait to try your “love child”!!! And yes, I’m one of those people who put a spoonful of coconut oil in my shake every morning. And If I spill some, I just use it as handcream. It’s good for me, inside and out!
I think you’re going to love this ‘love child’!
Coconut oil is so good, isn’t it? I drink bulletproof coffee as a treat some mornings and absolutely love them. Mmm coconut oil!
Wow! You packed in just about every possible flavor! Fantastic! You make the chicken look so beautiful! xoxo
Thank you so much!