Sweet chili chicken bowl: 20-minute incredible dinner

I honestly cannot count how many times this Sweet chili chicken bowl has saved my life on a Tuesday night. You know those days when you come home and you are just starving but the thought of spending an hour over the stove makes you want to cry. That was me about a year ago until I started playing around with these flavors. This bowl is the perfect mix of that sticky sweet glaze and a little kick of heat that makes your mouth happy. It tastes just like something you would order at a fancy restaurant but you can make it in your pajamas in under 30 minutes.

Why this Sweet chili chicken bowl is a weeknight favorite

The best part about this recipe is how fast it comes together. I am a big fan of anything that does not leave me with a mountain of dishes to wash at the end of the night. You get these amazing textures like the crispy edges on the chicken and the crunch of the fresh veggies. It is so colorful and bright that you will actually want to take a picture of it before you inhale the whole thing. It is the ultimate low stress meal that feels like a total treat.

Essential ingredients for your Sweet chili chicken bowl

You only need a few basic things to make this happen. Grab some chicken breast and a bottle of your favorite sweet chili sauce. You will also need soy sauce plus some fresh garlic and ginger to really make the flavors pop. For the base you want some fluffy white rice. I love adding broccoli and red bell peppers because they soak up the sauce so well and look beautiful. You can use whatever vegetables you have in the drawer but these are my top picks for the best crunch.

How to prepare the perfect Sweet chili chicken bowl

We are going to get this whole meal on the table in exactly 25 minutes. It is a very fast process so you have to stay on your toes once the heat is on. One thing to watch out for is the sauce thickness. It might look thin when you first pour it in but do not worry. It thickens up almost instantly once it hits the hot pan and starts bubbling away with the chicken.

Prepping the chicken and sauce

First you need to cut your chicken into small cubes about one inch big. Try to keep them all the same size so they cook at the same time and nobody gets a dry piece of meat. While the pan is heating up whisk your sweet chili sauce and soy sauce together in a small bowl. Having that sauce ready to go before you start the stove makes the actual cooking part way less stressful and keeps you from burning anything.

Cooking and assembly

Get your pan really hot and sear that chicken until it is golden brown and looks delicious. Once the meat is mostly cooked through toss in your vegetables and let them soften up just a little bit. Then you pour in that sauce mixture. Stir everything together so every single piece is covered. You will know your Sweet chili chicken bowl is done when the sauce is thick and glossy and it clings to the back of your spoon.

Pro tips for the best Sweet chili chicken bowl

If you want that extra crunch like you get at the mall food court toss your chicken in a little bit of cornstarch before you fry it. It creates a thin crust that the sauce loves to stick to. Also if you have leftover rice from the night before use that. Cold rice actually fries up better than fresh rice and saves you even more time. And please use fresh ginger if you can because the powdered stuff just does not have that same amazing zing that makes this dish special.

Variations of the Sweet chili chicken bowl

You can totally change this up to fit what you like or what you have in the fridge. If you are watching your carbs try serving the chicken over cauliflower rice instead of white rice. You can also swap the chicken for shrimp or even firm tofu if you want a meatless meal. It is a very flexible recipe that works with almost any protein you have on hand. If you like things really spicy you can even throw in some red pepper flakes.

Frequently asked questions about this Sweet chili chicken bowl

People always ask me how long this stays good for meal prep. You can keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for about three or four days and it still tastes great. I would not recommend freezing the whole bowl because the vegetables can get a bit mushy when they thaw out. If you are making this for kids you can just add a little less of the chili sauce and more honey or brown sugar to keep the heat down so they will actually eat it.

Nutritional information for one Sweet chili chicken bowl

Here is the estimated data for one serving of this delicious meal so you can keep track of what you are eating while still enjoying a great dinner.

• Calories: 450 kcal
• Protein: 32g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Fat: 12g

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