Protein Firecracker Ground Chicken Bowls (Printable)

Spicy ground chicken with crisp vegetables and tangy firecracker sauce over rice

# 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 for gluten-free)
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 (or cauliflower rice for low-carb)
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 drizzle of firecracker sauce

# Steps:

01 - Whisk together hot sauce, honey or maple syrup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and ground ginger in a small bowl until well combined. Set aside until ready to use.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken and break apart with a spatula while cooking. Continue cooking until browned and fully cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes.
03 - Pour the prepared firecracker sauce over the cooked chicken. Stir continuously for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and evenly coats all pieces of chicken. Remove from heat.
04 - Divide the cooked rice (or cauliflower rice for low-carb option) evenly among four serving bowls, creating the foundation for each bowl.
05 - Top each rice bowl with a portion of the firecracker chicken. Arrange shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, red bell pepper strips, and green onions around the chicken in each bowl.
06 - Sprinkle sesame seeds over each bowl. Add optional toppings such as fresh cilantro leaves or sliced avocado as desired. Serve immediately with additional firecracker sauce on the side if preferred.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce hits every flavor note sweet tangy spicy and comes together in literally two minutes
  • You can meal prep everything in advance and just reheat when hunger strikes
02 -
  • The sauce will continue thickening as it cools so dont panic if it looks thin in the pan
  • Ground turkey works just as well but the chicken has this naturally lighter texture I prefer
03 -
  • Taste your sauce before adding it to the chicken and adjust the heat or sweetness to your liking
  • Letting the sauce reduce slightly in the pan creates this gorgeous sticky coating that restaurant style bowls always have

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