Spicy Peanut Chicken Bowls (High Protein)

Why You’ll Love These Spicy Peanut Chicken Bowls

This is one of those meals that feels like something you’d order from your favorite lunch spot, but it’s easy to make at home. Plus, everything can be prepped ahead of time, making these bowls perfect for meal prep, busy weeknights, or a satisfying lunch.

• Packed with protein. Between the chicken, farro, edamame, and peanuts, these bowls have plenty of protein to keep you satisfied.
• Perfect for meal prep. Prepare the ingredients ahead of time and assemble your bowls whenever you’re ready to eat.
• So much flavor and texture. You get juicy chicken, chewy farro, crunchy vegetables, and creamy peanut sauce in every bite.
• Easy to customize. Swap the farro for rice, adjust the spice level, or use rotisserie chicken when you’re short on time.
• A complete meal in one bowl. Protein, whole grains, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce all in one delicious dinner.

What Makes These Chicken Bowls High in Protein?

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that the protein doesn’t just come from the chicken. Almost every component contributes something! Here’s what makes these bowls such a satisfying, protein-packed meal:

• Chicken thighs: The main source of protein. They’re juicy, flavorful, and easy to grill.
• Farro: A hearty whole grain that provides plant-based protein and fiber, plus a delicious texture and flavor! You can certainly make these with rice, but I really love the slightly chewy texture of farro with the creamy peanut sauce.
• Edamame: These little green soybeans add even more protein, fiber, and a delicious pop of texture.
• Peanut butter and peanuts: Both contribute additional plant-based protein and healthy fats.

Ingredients You’ll Need

There are a few different components to these bowls, but don’t let that intimidate you! Each one is incredibly simple to prepare, and you can make several of them in advance. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ful list of ingredients and instructions.

For the Spicy Peanut Sauce

This sauce is really what brings everything together. It’s creamy, savory, spicy, and has just sweetness.

• Creamy peanut butter: Use your favorite creamy peanut butter. If you’re using natural peanut butter, make sure it’s stirred well. Different brands of peanut butter can vary in thickness, so add the hot water gradually until your sauce is about the consistency of pancake batter.
• Soy sauce: Adds a savory, salty flavor. You can use reduced-sodium soy sauce if you prefer.
• Chili crisp: Gives the sauce its spicy kick and adds a little texture. Just use your favorite brand!
• Rice vinegar: Balances the richness of the peanut butter with a little acidity.
• Sesame oil: Adds a delicious nutty flavor.
• Hot water: Thins the sauce to the perfect drizzling consistency.

For the Cucumber Carrot Salad

This simple salad adds freshness and crunch to the bowls, which is the perfect contrast to the rich peanut sauce. The cold salad paired with the warm chicken and farro is perfection.

• Mini cucumbers, sliced into thin rounds. I love using mini cucumbers because they have thin skins and very few seeds. There’s no need to peel them! You can also use an English cucumber if that’s what you have on hand.
• Shredded carrots. I highly recommend grating your own carrots. The pre-grated are always super tough.
• Fresh cilantro.
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Kosher salt

For the Bowls

Here’s everything else you’ll need to bring your spicy peanut chicken bowls together:

• Cooked farro: The hearty base for the bowls. Toss it with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a little salt for extra flavor. Cook the farro according to the package directions, if you haven’t already. Toss the cooked farro with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a few pinches of salt.
• Edamame: Use shelled edamame, cooked according to the package directions.
• Dry roasted peanuts: These add the best crunch!
• Lime wedges: A squeeze of fresh lime brightens everything up.
• Extra cilantro and chili crisp: Optional, but delicious for serving.

Tips for the Best Peanut Chicken Bowls

These bowls are pretty straightforward, but a few simple tips will make them even better.

• Season your farro. Don’t skip the rice vinegar, sesame oil, and salt. It’s a simple step that adds so much flavor to the finished bowls. Seasoning every layer of the bowl is the way to get the most flavor-packed result!
• Adjust the sauce consistency. The peanut sauce will thicken as it sits, especially after refrigeration. Whisk in a splash of warm water to loosen it up.
• Add the peanuts right before serving. This keeps them nice and crunchy.
• Taste your chili crisp. Some brands are significantly spicier than others, so adjust the amount to suit your preference.

Easy Variations and Substitutions

One of the best things about these bowls is how easy they are to customize with ingredients you already have.

Instead of	Try this
Farro	Brown rice, white rice, or quinoa
Chicken thighs	Chicken breasts or shredded rotisserie chicken
Edamame	Extra vegetables or chickpeas
Cilantro	Thinly sliced green onions
Roasted peanuts	Chopped cashews
Soy sauce	Tamari for a gluten-free option

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Since these bowls contain both warm and cold ingredients, I recommend storing the components separately whenever possible.

Refrigerator: Store the cooked chicken and farro in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days. Refrigerate the cucumber carrot salad and edamame separately, and use within 3 – 4 days for best quality.

Peanut sauce: Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It will thicken as it chills, so whisk in a little warm water before serving.

Freezer: You can freeze the cooked chicken and farro separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. I don’t recommend freezing the cucumber salad because the vegetables will lose their crunchy texture.

Reheating: Microwave the chicken and farro with a splash of water until heated through. Reheat leftovers to 165°F. Add the cold cucumber salad, peanut sauce, edamame, and peanuts after reheating.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

If you love easy, flavorful chicken dinners, here are a few more recipes to try next!