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Chicken Croquettes - Coxinha

Homemade Coxinha Recipe

Coxinhas are a popular Brazilian snack, featuring a savory chicken filling encased in a smooth, buttery dough and deep-fried to perfection.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chilling Dough 1 hour
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine Brazilian
Servings 2 People
Calories 160 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Medium saucepan
  • 1 Large frying pan or pot
  • 1 Mixing bowls
  • 1 Large spoon or spatula
  • 1 Slotted spoon (for frying)
  • 1 Deep frying thermometer Optional
  • 1 Paper towels
  • 1 Small bowls for breading setup
  • 1 Knife and cutting board

Ingredients
  

For the Dough

  • 2 Cups Chicken Broth
  • 1½ Cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • ½ Tsp Salt

For the Filling

  • 1½ Cups Cooked shredded chicken breast
  • ¼ Cup Cream cheese
  • ¼ Cup Chopped onions
  • 1 Clove Clove garlic minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped optional

For Breading and Frying

  • 2 Eggs beaten
  • 1 Cup bread crumbs
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the Dough
    In a medium saucepan, combine chicken broth, butter, and salt.
    Bring to a boil over medium heat.
    Once boiling, add the flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a spatula until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pot, about 3-5 minutes. The dough should be smooth and pliable.
    Remove from heat and let the dough cool for 15-20 minutes or until it’s cool enough to handle.
    Prepare Dough
  • Make the Filling
    In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cream cheese, chopped onions, and minced garlic.
    Mix well until the filling is creamy and well combined.
    Season with salt, pepper, and parsley or cilantro to taste.
    Make Filling
  • Shape the Coxinhas
    With slightly oiled hands, take a small ball of dough (about the size of a golf ball) and flatten it in your palm.
    Place a spoonful of chicken filling in the center of the dough.
    Carefully close the dough around the filling and shape it into a teardrop or drumstick shape, ensuring the filling is completely enclosed.
    Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
    Shape Coxinhas
  • Bread the Coxinhas
    Set up two small bowls: one with beaten eggs and the other with bread crumbs.
    Dip each coxinha in the beaten eggs, then roll in bread crumbs, ensuring each piece is fully coated.
    Bread Coxinhas
  • Fry the Coxinhas
    In a large frying pan or pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat (to around 350°F, if using a thermometer).
    Fry the coxinhas in batches for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown on all sides.
    Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to paper towels to drain.
    Fry Coxinhas

Video

Notes

  • Avoid overcrowding the frying pan to ensure even cooking.
  • Chilling the dough for 15-20 minutes in the fridge makes it easier to handle and shape.
  • Use a thermometer to monitor oil temperature—too hot, and the dough will brown too fast; too cool, and the croquettes will absorb too much oil.
Keyword Appetizers, Brazilian Cuisine, Chicken Recipe, Deep Fried, Party Snacks