Peanut Chicken Protein Bowl (Printable View)

Tender chicken over coconut rice with crisp veggies and rich peanut sauce

# Needed Ingredients:

→ 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 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

# Directions:

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 Hints:

01 -
  • The creamy peanut sauce hits that perfect sweet-savory-tangy balance that makes you want to eat faster and slower at the same time.
  • Protein-packed enough to keep you genuinely full until dinner, no afternoon energy crash.
  • Honestly forgiving—you can prep components separately and assemble when you're ready, making it ideal for chaotic weeknights.
02 -
  • Under-seasoning the chicken is the most common mistake—the salt and soy sauce seem light at first, but they're essential for cutting through the richness of the sauce.
  • If your peanut sauce breaks or separates, whisk in a few drops of warm water while stirring in one direction; patience fixes this every time.
03 -
  • Toast your chopped peanuts in a dry skillet for just 90 seconds before garnishing—the aroma alone makes the entire kitchen smell incredible, and the flavor deepens considerably.
  • If you're batch-prepping, keep the cooked rice and chicken separate from the raw vegetables until assembly time so nothing gets soggy or wilts.
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