Simple Protein Firecracker Ground Chicken Bowls (Printable)
Spicy ground chicken with vegetables in tangy sauce over rice
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein
01 - 1 pound ground chicken
→ Firecracker Sauce
02 - 1/4 cup hot sauce (Sriracha or Frank's Red Hot)
03 - 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
04 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
05 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
06 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon ground ginger
→ Vegetables & Bowl Base
09 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or brown rice
10 - 1 cup shredded carrots
11 - 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
12 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
13 - 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
14 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
→ Optional Toppings
15 - Fresh cilantro leaves
16 - Sliced avocado
17 - Extra firecracker sauce
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and ginger in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken and cook, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned and completely cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
03 - Pour the firecracker sauce over the cooked chicken. Stir continuously for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken evenly. Remove from heat.
04 - Divide cooked rice among four serving bowls. Top each portion with the firecracker ground chicken, arranging it in the center.
05 - Arrange shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, bell pepper slices, and green onions around the chicken in each bowl.
06 - Sprinkle sesame seeds over each bowl and add desired toppings such as fresh cilantro or sliced avocado. Serve immediately with additional firecracker sauce if preferred.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get that takeout flavor without the delivery fee or mysterious ingredients
- The sauce comes together in seconds but tastes like it simmered for hours
- Everything cooks in one pan so cleanup is basically non existent
02 -
- The sauce will look thin when you first pour it but it thickens quickly once it hits the hot pan
- Ground chicken releases a lot of liquid, so let it cook long enough to evaporate before adding the sauce
- These bowls are fantastic cold the next day if you're into meal prep
03 -
- Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds before sprinkling, the nutty flavor is worth the extra step
- Prep all your vegetables while the chicken cooks to keep the momentum going