Spicy Maple Chicken Coconut Rice (Printable)
Juicy chicken glazed in sweet-spicy maple, paired with fragrant coconut jasmine rice for a bold, comforting main.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Spicy Maple Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
05 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha or other hot sauce
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ For the Coconut Rice
10 - 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice, rinsed
11 - 13.5 ounces (1 can) unsweetened coconut milk
12 - 1 cup water
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Garnish
14 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
16 - Lime wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together pure maple syrup, soy sauce, Sriracha, minced garlic, grated ginger, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until thoroughly combined.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Lightly season both sides with salt and black pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken breasts in a single layer and sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until lightly golden.
04 - Pour the prepared maple sauce over the seared chicken. Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, turning chicken halfway through, until fully cooked and sauce is reduced to a glaze.
05 - While chicken is simmering, combine rinsed jasmine rice, coconut milk, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir once, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
06 - Spoon coconut rice onto serving plates. Arrange spicy maple chicken on top. Sprinkle with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and offer lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The slick kick of Sriracha mingling with sticky maple glaze is the kind of flavor combo you’ll crave long after cleanup.
- The luxurious coconut rice soaks up every drop of sauce, turning leftovers into a lunchtime treasure.
02 -
- If you rush the coconut rice and peek under the lid, you’ll wind up with uneven texture and sticky patches.
- Letting the sauce simmer and thicken with the chicken is what creates that lacquered, glossy finish—don’t crank the heat or it’ll burn.
03 -
- Using full-fat coconut milk delivers ultimate creaminess in the rice—lite just doesn’t cut it.
- A splash of lime juice into the leftover sauce, off the heat, brightens flavors like nothing else.