Peanut Chicken Protein Bowl (Print Version)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ Coconut Rice

01 - 1 cup jasmine rice
02 - 1 cup canned unsweetened 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

# How to Make It:

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 Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually spent less than an hour, and no one needs to know the difference.
  • The peanut sauce is genuinely addictive and works on just about anything, so you'll find yourself making extra.
  • It holds up beautifully in the fridge, making it the meal-prep dream that actually tastes better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, because if you do, you'll end up with a starchy, clumpy result that tastes like compromise rather than intention.
  • The peanut sauce thickens as it cools, so make it slightly looser than you think you want it, and keep extra warm water nearby to thin it if needed.
03 -
  • Toast your chopped peanuts lightly in a dry pan before sprinkling them on top, which deepens their flavor and creates a more luxurious crunch that tastes intentional.
  • A squeeze of fresh lime juice over everything at the very end elevates the entire bowl by bringing brightness and preventing it from tasting flat or one-dimensional.
Go Back