Ginger Peanut Chicken with Coconut Rice

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I loved the simple ingredients but big flavor. Thank you!! 🙂Katcomment icon 232 more commentsThis recipe is a fan-favorite! It was originally published in 2022 as part of our Fall 2022 SOS Series! View the full series.This juicy, quick-marinated, ginger-spiked chicken on a bed of THE MOST LUSH coconut jasmine rice, with speckles of crunchy peanuts, bright fresh cilantro, and lime squeezers is coming to save your day.In This Post: Everything You Need For This Peanut ChickenVIDEO for How to Make This Peanut ChickenWhy This Recipe is Weeknight-Fancy SOSHow to Make Coconut RiceWhat to Serve with This Ginger Peanut ChickenFAQ about this recipeWhy This Recipe Is Weeknight-Fancy SOSWe are definitely ride-or-die for weeknight-easy meals but it’s definitely a bonus when it can still feel a little fancy-adjacent, you know? A little elevated. We also love a frozen pizza or an “ok, it’s popcorn for dinner!” kind of night, too…but it’s nice when that level of ease can also be lovely and delicious and look harder than it was. So, that’s the sweet spot these SOS recipes are always kinda going for.To bring this lil’ gem together:Marinate the chicken.Do you haaaave to? Nah. But it’s a great extra boost you can give the chicken while you’re prepping the rest of your ingredients anyway! The flavor will be there even if your heart says 😩 to marinating.Make your rice.Everything goes into the Instant Pot, voila! Perfect coconut rice.Caramelize dat chicken.Get all that deliciousness in your pan and let’s go. You actually want to leave it undisturbed in the hot pan for a bit anyway to get all that caramelly sear, so yay! Less to do!That’s really just about it, a simple 1-2-3! You’ll toss your peanuts and greens in there once the chicken thighs are cooked through. We love a cilantro/green onion blend but we’ve also done it with spinach for an A+ situation. Whatever you love!Top with more peanuts, more lime squeezes, everything spilling over that fluffy, luscious coconut rice…ok, YES, SOS. We see you.How To Make Coconut Rice (And Why It’s Heaven)We really don’t know what to say about this coconut rice other than we…never stop thinking about it? Like, awkwardly so. Have you tried this other SOS fave with coconut rice? Oof.It’s still an easy Instant Pot button-push away (or rice cooker/stove top if you prefer), so no extra work, but it IS extra luxe. That coconut milk just replaces part of the cooking liquid – yep, it’s that simple – and the result is out of this world. It doesn’t turn out creamy exactly, but it is just sort of…velvety? Is that a thing?So satisfying and rich that you don’t need any kind of extra sauce on the chicken, except for a lime squeeze or two for brightness. We are so very star-eyes about all of it.What To Serve With This Ginger Peanut ChickenEverything absolutely shines as is, but if you’d like to get some extra green on the table alongside, some roasted broccoli or maybe some seared green beans might be nice. There’s always another of our SOS-iest faves: this simple green salad. Simple, lovely, a never-fail.Do you want to pile the rice/chicken in a lettuce wrap? Hello, yes you’re a genius!Does extra-good puppy chow count as a side-dish? It does now.Do you want to just open a bag of baby carrots because hey, you already accomplished a lot with this dinner? Have at it! You win. Always.Welcome to the *almost* end of winter. Let’s really celebrate with some easy dinner wins. 🏆Ginger Peanut Chicken: Frequently Asked QuestionsCan you use other nuts, or just omit the nuts?For sure! You’ll lose some of the crunch, but it will still be delicious. As an alternative to peanuts, cashews would also work well here.How can I cook the coconut rice on the stovetop or in a rice cooker?Cooking the rice in a rice cooker or just on the stovetop should work well. To make it on the stove, you can add 2 cups of rice, 1.5 cups of water, and a 14-ounce can of coconut milk to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Once it’s boiling, you can reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook the rice for about 15-20 minutes.Do you have to take the time to marinate the chicken?Not really, the flavor will come through either way, but as long as you’re prepping everything else anyway – rice, toppings, etc. – it will just give the chicken more time to absorb that goodness if you start that first.Watch How To Make This RecipePrintclockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid iconGinger Peanut Chicken with Coconut Rice5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.8 from 120 reviewsAuthor:LindsayTotal Time:25 minutesYield:41xPrint PinDescriptionJuicy, quick-marinated, Ginger Peanut Chicken on a bed of THE MOST LUSH coconut jasmine rice, with speckles of crunchy peanuts, bright fresh cilantro, and lime squeezes.IngredientsUnitsUSMScale1/2x1x2xGinger Peanut Chicken1 1/4poundschicken thighs, fat trimmed, cut into small bite-sized pieces1-inch piece ofginger, grated3green onions, thinly sliced (white parts and green parts separated)zest and juice of 1-2limes2 tablespoonsbrown sugar1 1/2 teaspoonssalt1 tablespoonolive oiloravocado oil2–3 clovesgarlic, minced1/2cup choppedroasted peanuts1/2cup choppedcilantro1cupspinach,bok choy, etc.Coconut Rice2cupswhiteorjasmine rice1 1/2cupswater1 cancoconut milka pinch ofsaltCook Mode Prevent your screen from going darkInstructionsMarinate Chicken:In a stainless steel bowl, mix the chicken with the ginger, green onions (white parts), lime zest, brown sugar, salt, and oil. Marinate for 20 minutes-2 hours.Rice:Add the rice ingredients to an Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release for 10-15 minutes (it won’t be quite done yet after 3 minutes – it needs the rest time to finish cooking). Release the steam, fluff with a fork, and attempt not to eat the whole thing!(Don’t have an Instant Pot? Alternative methods are in the notes section!)Cook Chicken:Heat a large skillet (nonstick or cast iron work well) to medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken to the pan, working in 1-2 batches depending on the size of your pan. Leave the chicken sitting undisturbed for several minutes to get a nice caramelization on the chicken.Adding Extras:When all the chicken is cooked, turn the heat down slightly and add the peanuts and garlic to the pan. Sauté for 3-5 minutes to get the peanuts roasty and the garlic nice and fragrant.Finish by adding in the cilantro, green onion, and spinach. Squeeze lime juice into the pan and season with more salt and pepper as needed.Serve over coconut rice! SO simple but so good.NotesTo cook the coconut rice on the stove or in a rice cooker:Cooking the rice in a rice cooker or just on the stove top should work well. To make it on the stove, you can add 2 cups of rice, 1.5 cups of water, and a 14-ounce can of coconut milk to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Once it’s boiling, you can reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook the rice for about 15-20 minutes.Prep Time:10 minutesCook Time:15 minutesCategory:DinnerMethod:StovetopCuisine:Asian-InspiredKeywords: ginger chicken, peanut chicken, coconut rice, easy chicken recipeDid you make this recipe?I love hearing from you! Leave a comment or rating below!Other Delicious Chicken Stir-FrysSaucy Gochujang Noodles with ChickenCashew ChickenLemongrass Chicken with Rice and ZucchiniChicken Tikka Masala