Peanut Chicken Protein Bowl (Printable Version)

Protein-packed bowl featuring coconut rice and peanut sauce

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 - 1–2 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 Prepare:

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 6–8 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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been in the kitchen all afternoon.
  • The combination of creamy peanut sauce with crisp fresh vegetables creates textures that never get boring, even when you're eating it three days in a row.
  • High protein and fiber means you'll actually stay full, not hunting through the pantry two hours later.
02 -
  • If your peanut sauce breaks or gets too thick, don't panic—a splash of warm water and whisking brings it back to silky life.
  • The beauty of this bowl is that every component can be prepped ahead, but you need to add the sauce and cilantro just before serving or they'll get sad and wilted.
03 -
  • Toast the chopped peanuts lightly in a dry skillet before sprinkling them on top, which brings out their flavor and adds a textural crunch that makes a noticeable difference.
  • Squeeze lime over your bowl just before eating, not before, because the acid does something magical to wake up all the flavors.
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