Thai Peanut Chicken Rice Bowls with Slaw

This Thai peanut chicken rice bowl was an easy crock pot dinner that ended up being a family win. It was warm, filling, flavorful, and simple enough to throw together without a lot of extra steps.

I served ours over fresh white rice with coleslaw mix on top for a little crunch and freshness. My son skipped the toppings, but he completely cleared his plate;

I’m counting that as a success.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts or thighs

• 1 cup peanut butter

• 1 cup coconut milk

• ½ cup soy sauce

• 2–4 tablespoons honey or brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder or minced garlic

• Ginger, to taste

• 2 tablespoons sesame oil

• 1 teaspoon fish sauce

• Optional: lime juice at the end

• Optional toppings: cilantro, green onions, extra slaw, crushed peanuts, or lime wedges

• White rice, noodles, or veggies for serving

• Coleslaw mix for topping

How to Make It

Add the chicken, peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and fish sauce to the crock pot.

Give everything a good mix so the sauce starts coming together around the chicken.

Cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and easy to shred.

Serve over white rice, then top with coleslaw mix for crunch and freshness. Add any extra toppings you like.

My son didn’t want any toppings, but completely cleared his plate!

After about 4 hours on high! Smells delicious!!

Once cooked, shred the chicken and stir it back into the peanut sauce. Add a squeeze of lime juice at the end if you want a little brightness.

Don’t second guess it!

I always use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked before shredding/chopping.

Fresh white rice is a staple base for this meal in our house,

but you can easily make it work for your own preferences.

Make It Work for Your Family

You could serve it with:

• Rice noodles

• Brown rice

• A veggie base

• Steamed broccoli

• Extra coleslaw mix

• Crispy tofu instead of chicken (left- I made it for this meal and it was PERFECT)

Don’t second guess it, this is one of those meals that comes together better than you expect.

Meals like this are exactly the kind of thing I love for postpartum families: easy to prep, comforting to eat, and flexible enough to work for real life.

Why I Like This Meal for Postpartum Families

This kind of meal can be helpful during pregnancy, postpartum, or just busy parenthood because it is warm, filling, and easy to make in a crock pot.

The peanut sauce adds protein, fat, and flavor, while the rice makes it feel comforting and satisfying. Adding slaw or vegetables gives the bowl some freshness and crunch without making the meal complicated.

Peanuts can provide:

• Unsaturated fats

• Plant-based protein

• Fiber

• Vitamins and minerals

No single meal has to be perfect, especially during postpartum. Sometimes the goal is simply having something filling, comforting, and easy enough to actually make.

For more breastfeeding and postpartum nutrition ideas, you can also check out Milky Mama and other trusted lactation nutrition resources.