Thai Peanut Chicken and Rice Bowls

This tasty recipe yields the perfect Thai peanut chicken and rice bowls. No only is it a quick meal but it also makes the perfect meal prep! Packed with nutrition and paired with my favorite flavorful peanut sauce, this is one recipe that you won't get tired of.

Jump to:

• Making The Peanut Sauce
• Recipe Variations
• Recipe Tips
• Meal Prepping This Recipe
• Related Recipes
• 📖 Recipe

I am a big fan of bowls. Full of veggies and flavors, you can't really go wrong.

This beauty contains carbs, protein, fats and fiber all in one dish. Macronutrients, check. It is loaded with herbs and fresh veggies making it also rich in micronutrients. In this bowl you will get a hearty dose of beta carotene (vitamin A), potassium and vitamin C along with 7 grams of fiber and 33 grams of protein.

The nutrition information is calculated using a hearty 1 cup of rice. Most people won't need that much. To lower the carbohydrate and calorie count simply reduce the rice by half.

Making The Peanut Sauce

To make the peanut sauce, combine the following ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whisk together:

• ⅓ cup coconut milk 
• ½ cup unsweetened peanut butter
• 1 tbsp. sriracha
• 2 tbsp. maple syrup
• 3 tbsp. coconut aminos
• Juice of 1 lime

For best results, use a coconut milk that does not separate. I like the pourable Thai Kitchen brand and the coconut milk from Thrive Market. If your coconut milk separates, you may need to heat it in a pan in order to get all ingredients to incorporate.

A peanut butter that contains just peanuts and salt will produce the best, most peanut-y peanut sauce. If your peanut butter is a little too stiff, you can place the jar in a bowl of warm water for a minute or so until it softens.

I would not generally recommend substituting soy sauce in place of coconut aminos. The sauce will taste less sweet and more salty with soy sauce, although this is an option if you can't find coconut aminos. You can find coconut aminos on Thrive Market, Amazon and most grocery stores. Usually the most reasonably priced coconut aminos will be found at Trader Joe's.

Recipe Variations

This is a very simple recipe that can be adjusted to cater to what you have on hand and what flavors you prefer.

Vegetables

I use carrot and cucumber in this recipe, but you can add any mild flavored vegetable you would like. Things like cabbage, spinach, red bell peppers, avocado or zucchini will go well in this recipe. The best veggies for bowls are crunchy, not bitter and taste good raw.

Grains

I use basmati rice in this recipe because it is very neutral in flavor and adds a nice texture to the dish. I chose white rice because I tolerate it best, but if you prefer to do brown rice, go right ahead. You could also substitute quinoa, farro or any preferred grain. Consider the other flavors in the bowl before choosing a different grain.

For a grain-free option you could substitute roasted sweet potatoes. You could also skip the rice altogether or use cauliflower rice. While this will be very low carb and nutrient dense, it will not be quite as satisfying.

Protein

Shredded chicken is something I usually have on hand, so this is what I generally use when making these chicken and rice bowls. I use this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe, but these bowls would also be a good way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken!

Don't feel limited to chicken either. You could always sub tofu, tempeh or chickpeas for meatless options. Or, if you are just tired of chicken, flank steak or ground pork could be used as well.

Toppings

I love the combination of fresh basil, garlic, crushed peanuts and pickled ginger. It is the perfect combination of sweet and savory. But, feel free to add whatever toppings you would like to these bowls.

Here are a few ideas:

• Crushed cashews
• Hemp seeds
• Avocado
• Sesame seeds
• Chili sauce
• Green onions
• Sprouts
• Chili flakes
• Fermented veggies

Recipe Tips

• If using this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe, prepare your rice and veggies while the chicken is cooking. Or, better yet, prepare the chicken ahead of time and store in the fridge or freezer!
• Using packaged par-cooked rice will safe you time as it can usually be microwaved in under 2 minutes. You can also find par-cooked rice in the freezer section of most stores.
• Using unsweetened peanut butter will yield the best results. I prefer the taste of peanut butter that contains just peanuts and salt.

Meal Prepping This Recipe

This Thai peanut chicken and rice bowl recipe makes the perfect meal prep! The key to meal prepping this recipe is to keep all ingredients separate to prevent the veggies and rice from getting soggy.

Using meal prep containers with a divider and/or condiment containers can be helpful. Store the peanut sauce, crushed peanuts and pickled in separate containers. The chicken and rice should be kept separate, but the veggies can be stored in the same container.

This meal can be eaten cold and does not require a microwave. Store in the fridge and consume within 4 days of preparing.

Related Recipes

• Thai Chicken Tacos with Spicy Peanut Sauce
• Chicken Summer Rolls with Peanut Sauce
• Paleo Pad Thai
• Whole30 Orange Chicken
• Paleo Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Have you tried these Thai Peanut Chicken and Rice Bowls? If so, leave a comment and a rating below. I would love to hear from you!

📖 Recipe