Protein Firecracker Ground Chicken Bowls (Printable Version)

Spicy ground chicken with tangy firecracker sauce over rice with fresh vegetables

# What You Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 lb ground chicken

→ Firecracker Sauce

02 - 1/4 cup hot sauce (Sriracha or Frank's Red Hot)
03 - 3 tbsp honey or maple syrup
04 - 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
05 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
06 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 tsp 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 tbsp sesame seeds

→ Optional Toppings

15 - Fresh cilantro leaves
16 - Sliced avocado
17 - Extra firecracker sauce

# How To Make It:

01 - Whisk together hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and ground ginger in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
02 - Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken and cook, breaking apart with spatula, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
03 - Pour firecracker sauce over cooked chicken. Stir continuously for 2 to 3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats chicken evenly. Remove from heat.
04 - Divide cooked rice among four serving bowls, creating an even layer at the bottom of each bowl.
05 - Top each rice bowl with portioned firecracker chicken, placing in center.
06 - Arrange shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, bell pepper strips, and green onions around the chicken in sections.
07 - Sprinkle sesame seeds over each bowl. Add fresh cilantro, avocado slices, or extra sauce if desired. Serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The sauce hits that perfect sweet-spicy balance that makes you want to lick the bowl
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like takeout from your favorite spot
  • You can meal prep the components and have lunches sorted for days
02 -
  • The sauce will continue thickening after you remove it from heat, so pull it slightly earlier than you think is necessary
  • Ground chicken releases a lot of liquid as it cooks, so don't be alarmed if your pan looks soupy at first, it all reduces down
  • Have your vegetables prepped before you start cooking the chicken, because once that sauce hits the pan, you need to pay attention
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes before sprinkling them on, it makes a huge difference in flavor
  • If the sauce is too spicy, add another tablespoon of honey, if it's too sweet, a splash more rice vinegar balances it

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