Sweet Chili Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Tender chicken glazed in tangy-sweet chili sauce with steamed rice and broccoli. A vibrant, satisfying Asian-inspired meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Sweet Chili Glaze

05 - 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
09 - 1 clove garlic, minced
10 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons water for thickening (optional)

→ Rice

11 - 1 1/4 cups jasmine or long-grain white rice
12 - 2 cups water
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

14 - 10 oz broccoli florets
15 - 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
17 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)

# How-to Steps:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - Steam broccoli florets over boiling water for 3-4 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drizzle with sesame oil if desired and set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken pieces and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic. Pour over cooked chicken and stir well to coat. If thicker sauce is desired, stir in cornstarch slurry and simmer for 1-2 minutes until glossy and thickened.
05 - Divide rice among four bowls. Top each with steamed broccoli and sweet chili chicken. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in about half an hour, which means you can have a real dinner on the table even on your most chaotic evenings.
  • The glaze clings to every piece of chicken and tastes like the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and just a little heat.
  • You only need one skillet for the chicken, so cleanup is blissfully simple.
  • It looks vibrant and restaurant-worthy without any fancy plating skills required.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice or it will turn out gummy and clumpy instead of light and fluffy.
  • If your skillet isn't hot enough, the chicken will steam instead of getting that golden, slightly caramelized edge that makes this dish sing.
  • Taste the glaze before you pour it over the chicken so you can adjust the balance of sweet, salty, and tangy to your liking.
03 -
  • Marinating the chicken in a tablespoon of soy sauce for 15 minutes before cooking adds an extra layer of flavor that's worth the small wait.
  • Use a wok if you have one because the high sides make tossing the chicken in the glaze so much easier and less messy.
  • Double the glaze and keep the extra in the fridge for drizzling over roasted vegetables, rice bowls, or even as a dipping sauce for dumplings.
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