Firecracker Ground Chicken Bowl (Print version)

Spicy ground chicken with fiery sauce over jasmine rice and fresh vegetables, topped with creamy Sriracha drizzle.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 1 lb ground chicken
02 - 2 tablespoons neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ For the Firecracker Sauce

07 - 1/3 cup hot sauce (Franks RedHot or Sriracha)
08 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
09 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
12 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ For the Bowls

13 - 2 cups cooked jasmine rice
14 - 1 cup shredded carrots
15 - 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
16 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
17 - 2 scallions, sliced
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Optional Creamy Drizzle

19 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
20 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha
21 - 1 teaspoon lime juice

# How To Make It:

01 - Whisk together hot sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until fully combined. Set aside until ready to use.
02 - Heat neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
03 - Add ground chicken, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until fully cooked and lightly browned, approximately 5–7 minutes.
04 - Pour the firecracker sauce over the cooked chicken. Stir well to coat evenly, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 3–4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
05 - In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, Sriracha, and lime juice until smooth and well combined.
06 - Divide cooked jasmine rice among four bowls. Top each bowl with firecracker chicken, then arrange shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, and bell pepper on the side.
07 - Drizzle the creamy sauce over each bowl. Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The perfect balance of sweet heat that builds slowly but keeps you coming back for another bite
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights when takeout feels tempting
02 -
  • The sauce will look thin when you first pour it over the chicken, but it thickens beautifully as it simmers, so do not be tempted to add more thickener
  • Everything needs to be hot when you assemble the bowls, so have your vegetables prepped and rice cooked before you start the chicken
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes before sprinkling them on top for extra nutty flavor
  • Let the chicken get slightly crispy in spots before adding the sauce for better texture contrast