Peanut Chicken Protein Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender chicken over fragrant coconut rice with crisp vegetables and creamy Thai peanut sauce

# What You Need:

→ Coconut Rice

01 - 1 cup jasmine rice
02 - 1 cup unsweetened canned coconut milk
03 - 1 cup water
04 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Chicken

05 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
08 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1 clove garlic, minced

→ Peanut Sauce

10 - ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
11 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
15 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water
18 - ¼ teaspoon chili flakes, optional

→ Toppings

19 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
20 - 1 cup carrots, julienned or shredded
21 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
22 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped, optional
23 - Lime wedges for serving

# Steps:

01 - Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, coconut milk, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, stir once, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, soy sauce, black pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes until chicken is golden and cooked through. Remove from heat.
03 - In a bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, lime juice, sesame oil, garlic, and chili flakes. Add warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
04 - Divide coconut rice among four bowls. Top each with sautéed chicken, red cabbage, carrots, and cilantro. Drizzle generously with peanut sauce. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • The peanut sauce is silky and addictive without any complicated technique or weird ingredients you can't find.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, making this a lifesaver when you're juggling a busy week.
  • It's genuinely filling enough that you won't be hunting for snacks two hours later.
02 -
  • Don't skimp on the lime juice in the peanut sauce—it's what keeps it from tasting flat or overly rich, and you can always add more but you can't take it out.
  • If your peanut sauce breaks or gets too thick, a little more warm water fixes it completely, so don't throw it out if it's not perfect on the first try.
03 -
  • If the coconut milk separates or looks weird, shake the can vigorously before opening—that thick part at the top is flavor and you want all of it mixed in.
  • Toast your chopped peanuts in a dry skillet for 30 seconds right before serving if you have the time, because that little bit of warmth and nuttiness changes everything.
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