Ground chicken bowl is a dish that I want to cook when I feel lazy but want something hearty and filling. The flavor of the dish is similar to Lu Rou Fan, or Taiwanese pork rice bowl. It uses ginger, garlic, soy sauce and Chinese five spice to create a savory sauce that goes great with rice and noodles. Instead of cut up pork belly, this recipe uses ground chicken. Not only is it much faster to make, it tastes great, and it’s a healthier version that I don’t feel guilty eating on a regular basis.
Ground chicken bowl ingredients
Dried shiitake mushrooms
Dried shiitake mushrooms are a must-have for a well equipped Chinese pantry. Different from fresh mushrooms, it has a smoky flavor and such a condensed umami that a small amount goes a long way. It stays good at room temperature for a long time. It’s a great item to have so you can kick up the flavor of your dishes in a pinch, when you don’t have a lot of fresh ingredients around. If you do not have dried shiitake mushrooms at home, it’s possible to use fresh mushrooms such as regular white or brown mushrooms. I would use 1/2 lb (225 g) to replace the shiitake mushrooms. You can quarter or slice the mushrooms depending on their size. If using fresh mushrooms, you might need an extra splash of oil and to cook them a bit longer, so the mushrooms will sear properly.
Ground meat
I used ground chicken in this recipe. But feel free to use other types of ground meat, such as ground pork, ground beef or ground turkey. The flavor profile of the sauce works well with all of them.
Mise en place
When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:
Mixed sauce Ground meat of your choice Rehydrated and chopped shiitake mushrooms Minced aromatics (ginger and garlic) Cornstarch slurry Sesame oil
Other ingredients you might need
You will need either steamed rice or boiled noodles to go with the chicken. To make the meal more satisfying and balanced, consider adding an egg and steamed vegetables on the side. For the egg, fried eggs, marinated eggs or a regular hard boiled egg will all work well. My soy sauce eggs, easy marinated eggs, and tea eggs are great options. For the vegetables, I prefer Chinese greens such as choy sum, Chinese broccoli (gai lan), or baby bok choy. But other vegetables such as steamed broccoli, cauliflower and / or carrot work great as well.
How to make the Chinese ground chicken bowl
Making a ground chicken bowl is super easy.
How to serve ground chicken bowl
The ground chicken topping works well with both steamed rice and boiled noodles. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it: The ground chicken bowl is also a great dish for meal prep and lunch boxes. It freezes well and can be prepared in bigger quantities as well.
Other easy dinner recipes
Crispy Sesame Chicken (without Deep Frying) Shrimp and Asparagus Stir Fry Easy Beef Fried Rice (牛肉炒饭) Beef and Celery Stir Fry Chinese Curry Chicken
