Peanut Chicken Protein Bowl (Printable Version)

Protein-packed bowl with coconut rice, seasoned chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy Thai peanut sauce

# What You'll 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
21 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
22 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped, optional
23 - Lime wedges for serving

# Steps to Follow:

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.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It actually tastes better than most takeout bowls, and your bank account will thank you after the third time you skip the delivery app.
  • You can prep components on Sunday and assemble in minutes, making weekday dinners feel effortless even when you're exhausted.
  • The peanut sauce is so good that you'll find yourself drizzling it on roasted vegetables, eggs, and probably straight from the jar at midnight.
02 -
  • If your peanut sauce breaks or looks separated, don't panic—whisk in a tablespoon of warm water and it will come back together, it's just the oils settling and nothing that can't be fixed.
  • The moment you skip the water rinsing step on rice is the moment you'll understand why it matters, so treat those few extra seconds as non-negotiable even when you're rushing.
  • Taste the sauce before assembling because every peanut butter brand is slightly different, and you might want to add another squeeze of lime or splash of soy sauce to make it sing for your palate.
03 -
  • Toast your peanuts yourself if you have time—the warmth right before serving makes them taste impossibly fresh and adds a textural contrast that elevates the entire bowl.
  • Prep your vegetables the night before and store them separately so assembly becomes a five-minute ritual rather than a project that makes you tired before you eat.
  • If you're batch cooking, make extra peanut sauce because you'll find yourself using it on leftovers, roasted vegetables, and probably just eating it straight while standing at the counter at 10 PM.
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