Thai Peanut Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Tender chicken, coconut rice, crisp veggies, and spicy peanut sauce come together in this vibrant Thai-inspired bowl.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Coconut Rice

01 - 1.5 cups jasmine rice
02 - 1 can (13.5 fl oz) coconut milk
03 - 1 cup water
04 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Chicken

05 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
06 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
07 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
08 - 1 tablespoon fish sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
10 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
11 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
12 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

→ Peanut Sauce

13 - 0.33 cup creamy peanut butter
14 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
15 - 1 tablespoon sriracha
16 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
17 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lime juice
18 - 0.33 cup warm water
19 - 1 teaspoon grated ginger
20 - 1 garlic clove, minced

→ Vegetables and Garnish

21 - 1 cup shredded carrots
22 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
23 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
24 - 0.33 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
25 - 0.25 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
26 - 2 green onions, sliced
27 - Lime wedges for serving
28 - 1 cup edamame, steamed (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a saucepan, combine rice, coconut milk, water, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 10 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Add chicken pieces and toss thoroughly to coat evenly. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add marinated chicken and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
04 - In a bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, warm water, grated ginger, and minced garlic until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more water if needed. Taste and adjust spice level as desired.
05 - Divide cooked coconut rice among 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with cooked chicken, shredded carrots, sliced bell pepper, sliced cucumber, and steamed edamame if using.
06 - Drizzle peanut sauce generously over each bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro, chopped roasted peanuts, sliced green onions, and lime wedges. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under an hour, yet it feels like you've spent all day building these flavors.
  • The peanut sauce hits that perfect balance between spicy and creamy, and you control exactly how fiery it gets.
  • One bowl somehow manages to be a complete meal without feeling heavy or forgettable.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, because the difference between fluffy and gummy is literally just that thirty seconds under cold water.
  • If your peanut sauce breaks or looks separated, whisk in cold water very slowly instead of panicking, as it always comes back together.
  • The raw vegetables must stay raw, because cooking them would destroy the textural contrast that makes this bowl worth eating.
03 -
  • Make the peanut sauce the morning of and store it in the fridge, as the flavors deepen and blend together overnight.
  • Cook the chicken and rice ahead of time, then warm them gently before assembling, because this is a great meal for meal prep.
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