This Chicken Peanut Sauce Rice Bowl is the perfect healthy, flavorful, and fast dinner solution! Featuring tender shredded chicken tossed in a creamy, tangy, homemade peanut sauce and served over fresh vegetables and rice, it’s an ideal recipe for a quick weeknight meal or easy meal prep.

The combination of warm chicken, cool, crunchy veggies (especially the Dandy® celery!), and a zesty squeeze of lime makes this a year-round favorite.

This post is sponsored by Duda Farm Fresh Foods.

Stop buying takeout! ✋ This 30-Minute Peanut Chicken Rice Bowl is faster, fresher, and so much more delicious than delivery.

The secret? A creamy, homemade peanut sauce and the incredible crunch of fresh, julienned Dandy® Celery! The contrast between the warm chicken, fluffy rice, and that signature Dandy® crispness is truly perfect.

It’s the ideal weeknight win, especially if you have leftover rotisserie chicken!

Pro Tip: Want your celery to stay perfectly crisp? Learn the best method for How To Store Celery) so your veggies are ready all week!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Looking for a healthy, vibrant weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes? This Fresh Peanut Chicken Rice Bowl is your answer!

It features a rich, creamy peanut sauce tossed with tender shredded chicken, served over fluffy rice, and loaded with fresh, crisp veggies. We love using Dandy® Celery because its natural sweetness and famous crunch provide the perfect textural contrast to the warm rice and rich sauce.

This bowl is packed with flavor, requires minimal cooking, and is an easy way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken!

Chef’s Notes & Pro Tips

• Celery Cut: The julienned celery is a major element of crunch in this bowl! Use a sharp knife or mandoline to cut thin matchsticks for the best texture contrast against the soft rice.
• Peanut Butter Type: For a creamy, emulsified sauce that coats the chicken perfectly, it is best to use regular creamy peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy) rather than natural peanut butter, which tends to separate.
• Make it Ahead (Meal Prep): This recipe is fantastic for meal prep! Store the rice, vegetables, and chicken (tossed with the sauce) in separate containers. Keep the remaining sauce, peanuts, and lime wedges separate, and assemble just before eating to maintain maximum crunch.
• Add Heat: For a spicy kick, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon of sriracha or a dash of chili-garlic sauce to the peanut sauce mixture in Step 1.

Recipe Variations for Peanut Rice Bowls

1. Protein Swaps

• Spicy Shrimp Bowl: Swap the chicken for shrimp. Quick-sautéed in olive oil with a pinch of red pepper flakes.
• Crispy Tofu Bowl (Vegan): Swap the chicken for firm tofu. Cut into cubes, toss in cornstarch/soy sauce, and pan-fry or air-fry until crispy.
• Steak Salad Bowl: Swap the chicken for Flank Steak. Thinly sliced and quickly pan-seared or grilled.
• Edamame & Egg Bowl (Vegetarian): Top with sliced hard-boiled eggs and shelled edamame for protein without cooking.
• Shredded Pork Bowl: Swap the chicken for Shredded Pork. Great use for slow-cooked pulled pork leftovers.

2. Flavor & Vegetable Swaps (The “Fresh Crunch”)

• Crunchy Cabbage Bowl: Add shredded Purple Cabbage and Bell Peppers for vibrant color and a robust crunch.
• Zesty Herb Bowl: Maximize fresh herbs. Add chopped Scallions and a handful of fresh Mint and Cilantro leaves.
• Spicy Ginger Bowl: Sauté the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh Ginger and top the bowl with thin slices of Diced Jalapeño for heat.
• Pickled Veggie Bowl: Use Pickled Red Onion or Pickled Carrots (store-bought or quick-pickled) to add a fantastic tangy, acidic element.
• Water Chestnut Bowl: Add Sliced Water Chestnuts and Bean Sprouts for a unique, juicy snap and classic crispness.

3. Base Swaps (Beyond Rice)

• Low-Carb Zoodle Bowl: Swap the rice for Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles). Toss the raw or lightly steamed zoodles directly with the sauce.
• Quinoa Power Bowl: Swap the rice for Quinoa. A high-protein, complete grain substitute.
• Cauliflower Rice Bowl: Swap the rice for Cauliflower Rice. A great low-carb base.
• Ramen Noodle Bowl: Swap the rice for Cooked Ramen or Soba Noodles. Toss the cooked noodles directly with the sauce for a peanut noodle dish.

4. Sauce/Topping Adjustments

• For Heat: Add 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha or chili garlic sauce to the peanut sauce.
• For Zest: Add the zest of 1/4 lime to the sauce.
• For Nutty Depth: Use chunky peanut butter instead of creamy, or add a drizzle of chili oil on top.

Ingredients

For the Creamy Peanut Sauce

• 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1/2 lime)
• 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter (preferably regular, non-natural style)
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

For the Bowl

• 1 cup cooked rice (brown rice or jasmine rice recommended)
• 1 cup shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup Dandy® celery, julienned (cut into thin matchsticks)
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 1/2 medium English cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the peanut sauce. In a small bowl, add the soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, and honey. Whisk together to combine. Then, add the peanut butter and sesame oil. Whisk vigorously until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.

Step 2: Next, warm and coat the chicken. Heat the olive oil in a nonstick 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until simmering. Add the shredded chicken and about 3 tablespoons of the prepared peanut sauce. Stir constantly to coat the chicken and let it heat through for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 3: Assemble the Rice Bowl.

1. Rice Base: Add the cooked rice to the bottom of a deep serving bowl.
2. Protein: Top the rice with the warm chicken covered in peanut sauce.
3. Veggies & Crunch: Arrange the cold vegetables: Dandy® celery, carrot, and cucumber around the chicken.
4. Finish: Top the bowl with the peanuts.

Step 4: Serve. Drizzle the remaining peanut sauce over the entire bowl. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges on the side to squeeze over the bowl before eating.

Ingredient Spotlight: Dandy® Celery

We chose Dandy® Celery for this bowl because it delivers that signature crunch and fresh, sweet flavor that contrasts beautifully with the savory peanut sauce. Slicing the celery into thin matchsticks (julienning) ensures that perfect, crisp bite in every forkful! Find fresh Dandy® Celery in the produce aisle of your local grocery store.

Related: How To Cut Celery 7 Different Ways

More Great Celery Recipes

Love this 30-minute bowl? We have more for your to try…

• Thai Celery Bowl
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Celery Pesto Pasta
• Winter Salad with Celery & Radish
• Celery Fennel Salad