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High Protein Firecracker Chicken Bowls - Spicy, Satisfying, and Meal-Prep Friendly

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Chicken: 1.5–2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (or thighs, if preferred)
  • Rice: 3 cups cooked jasmine or brown rice (about 1 cup dry)
  • Vegetables: 1 red bell pepper, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 cup steamed broccoli florets, 3–4 green onions
  • Oil: Avocado or olive oil
  • Firecracker Sauce: 1/3 cup hot sauce (sriracha or chili-garlic sauce)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar or honey
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional but great)
  • 1–2 teaspoons cornstarch (for thickening)
  • 1/4–1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
  • Seasoning for Chicken: Salt, black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Toppings (optional): Sesame seeds, lime wedges, cilantro

Method
 

  1. Prep the rice. Cook rice according to package directions. Fluff and keep warm. For meal prep, cook extra and portion into containers.
  2. Chop the chicken. Dice chicken into bite-size cubes. Pat dry with paper towels so it sears instead of steams. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Make the sauce. In a bowl, whisk hot sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch until smooth. Adjust heat with red pepper flakes if you like it spicier.
  4. Sear the chicken. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add a drizzle of oil. Cook chicken in a single layer, 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Work in batches if needed to avoid crowding.
  5. Add the veggies. Toss in bell pepper and broccoli. Cook 2–3 minutes until crisp-tender. Stir in carrots and most of the green onions (reserve some for topping).
  6. Sauce it up. Pour in the firecracker sauce. Stir as it simmers. In 1–2 minutes, it should thicken and coat the chicken and veggies. If it’s too thick, splash in a tablespoon of water. Taste and adjust salt.
  7. Assemble the bowls. Spoon rice into bowls. Top with the firecracker chicken mixture. Finish with green onions, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime.