Simple Protein Firecracker Ground Chicken Bowls (Printable)

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

# What You'll 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together hot sauce, honey or maple syrup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and ground ginger in a small bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside for later use.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and completely cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
03 - Pour the prepared firecracker sauce over the cooked chicken. Stir continuously for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and evenly coats all the chicken pieces. Remove from heat.
04 - Divide the cooked rice or cauliflower rice among four serving bowls. Top each portion with the firecracker chicken, distributing evenly.
05 - Arrange shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, bell pepper slices, and green onions around the chicken in each bowl for visual appeal and balanced flavors.
06 - Sprinkle sesame seeds over each bowl and add optional toppings such as fresh cilantro leaves or sliced avocado. Serve immediately with extra firecracker sauce on the side if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan in under 20 minutes so cleanup is practically nonexistent
  • The sauce hits every flavor note sweet tangy spicy savory and keeps you coming back for bite after bite
02 -
  • The sauce thickens quickly once it hits the hot pan so have your whisk ready and do not walk away even for a second
  • If the sauce gets too thick just splash in a teaspoon of water to loosen it back up
03 -
  • Let the chicken get a little crispy in spots before adding the sauce for extra texture
  • Double the sauce recipe and keep the extra in the fridge for drizzling over eggs or roasted vegetables all week long

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