Ever Ready: Thai Basil Chicken Bowls

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Thai Basil Chicken Bowls

Like Emily Dickinson, I also dwell in possibilities with recipes that are only limited by one's imagination.

THAI BASIL CHICKEN BOWL

Cook's Notes: As always, prepping ingredients ahead makes assembly go so much faster.
This 30 minute meal is less than 400 calories per serving. The recipe was quick to whip up, budget-friendly, and SO GOOD. Recipe adapted from damndelicious.net and serves 4 in medium sized bowls.
Ingredients:

1 lb. ground chicken
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup each minced onions, mini sweet red, yellow, and orange peppers
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2- 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons lime juice
1-1/2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 handful of torn basil leaves
A squirt or two of Sambel Oelek or Sriracha
Optional crushed nuts

Directions:

Sauté onions, peppers, and garlic for 2 minutes. Cover and sweat 3 minutes more to soften. Set mixture aside.
In a bowl, whisk cornstarch and chicken broth, and add to soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. Mix well and set aside.
Cook meat until browned. Use a pastry cutter to crumble cooked meat.
Add to the cooked chicken peppers, onions, and garlic. Add in the sauce and cook until thickened. Stir in basil leaves and cook until leaves are wilted. Add in a squirt of hot sauce taste test before adding more.
Cook jasmine rice to serve 4, following the box directions. I used Minute Jasmine Rice that cooks in 5 minutes.

Other recipes using similar ingredients:

Thai Basil Grilled Salmon