Ground Chicken Stir Fry Bowls

This ground chicken stir fry recipe is easy to make and perfect for meal prep. Chicken, bell peppers, carrots, and onions are fried in a sticky umami sauce for a flavorful combination. Serve with rice to soak up all of the deliciousness! 

Ground chicken stir fry recipe

What’s your go-to recipe for meal prep? 

Personally, I’m a big fan of the humble bowl. It’s versatile, easy to store, and a simple way to pack in a ton of nutritious ingredients. Case-in-point – my ground chicken stir fry bowls!

These bowls are made with ground chicken, thin-cut bell peppers, carrots, and yellow onion, cooked down in a sticky umami sauce. 

This recipe is rich in flavor and full of protein for your dose of weeknight magic; it’s perfect for busy days and effortless healthy eats that you’ll actually look forward to!

Sold yet? Follow along and learn how to make your own chicken stir fry bowls.

Ingredients needed

Here’s a little bit about everything that goes into my ground chicken stir fry bowls:

Ground chicken bowls

• Olive oil: I use 2 tbsp of olive oil to cook down the vegetables and ground chicken. Feel free to swap this for the neutral oil of your choice. 
• Yellow onion: 1 yellow onion provides a great flavor base to this stir-fry. Remember to cut them into thin matchsticks. 
• Bell peppers: I love using bell peppers in my veggie stir-fries because they add a subtle sweetness and crunch. This recipe used 1 red bell pepper, 1 yellow, and 1 green, all sliced into thin matchsticks. 
• Carrots: For extra nutrition and crunch, I use 3 large carrots, sliced into thin matchsticks. 
• Ground chicken: For a lean protein source, this recipe calls for 2 lbs of ground chicken. Ground turkey or veggie ground would also be tasty in this dish. 
• Cooked rice: You’ll need cooked rice for serving your ground chicken stir fry – my preference is jasmine. This rice base will help soak up all of the tasty marinade.
• Green onion: Fresh green onions add a bright topping to these chicken bowls. The dark green tops are perfect as a mild garnish. 
• White sesame seeds: Finally, top with white sesame seeds for a nutty bite. 

Sticky umami sauce

• Soy sauce: The base of our sticky marinade is ½ cup soy sauce, giving it a deep, umami flavor. 
• Honey: For sweetness, I use ¼ cup of honey. 
• Rice vinegar: ¼ cup rice vinegar adds a mild acidity. 
• Sesame oil: For fat content, 2 tsp of sesame oil is just the ticket!
• Minced garlic: I also use 2 cloves of minced garlic for aromatics. 
• Ground ginger: To season, ½ tsp ground ginger goes a long way. 
• Red pepper flakes: 1 tsp red pepper flakes adds a touch of spice. Feel free to adjust this measurement based on your spice preference. 
• Arrowroot powder: Lastly, I use 2 tsp arrowroot powder to help thicken the sauce. You can swap for cornstarch if preferred. 

Kitchen tools required

To make this stir fry with ground chicken, you’ll need a few kitchen essentials:

• Large skillet
• Cutting board
• Kitchen knife
• Spatula 
• Liquid measuring cup
• Whisk

You’ll also need some measuring cups, including ½ cup, ¼ cup, 1 tsp, and ½ tsp.

How to make ground chicken stir fry bowls

To a large skillet, add 2 tbsp olive oil and heat over medium-high. 

Once the oil is hot, add 1 yellow onion, 1 red pepper, 1 green pepper, 1 yellow pepper, and 3 large carrots, all sliced into thin matchsticks. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften (about 3-4 minutes). 

Next, add in 2lbs of ground chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink, breaking up the ground as you go. 

To prepare the sauce, add ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 2 tsp sesame oil, 2 cloves minced garlic, ½ tsp ground ginger, and 1 tsp red pepper flakes to a liquid measuring cup. Whisk well, then whisk in 2 tsp arrowroot powder. 

Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken and vegetables, giving it a stir to combine. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly. 

Recipe tips

Below are some common ground chicken stir fry questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

How to serve ground chicken stir fry bowls

Serve your cooked chicken and vegetables on a bed of rice, and top with chopped green onions and white sesame seeds. 

Get creative by swapping rice for rice noodles, cauliflower rice, or shredded lettuce. 

For side dishes, I recommend something crisp and light, like fresh cucumber salad, pickled vegetables, or homemade slaw. 

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Sure thing. For a veggie-friendly version, simply swap the ground chicken for a veggie ground. Impossible, Beyond, and Gardein are popular options. 

Can I add more vegetables to my ground chicken stir fry?

One of my favorite things about a recipe like this is that you can add and swap ingredients based on preference, what’s in season, or what you have on hand. 

For even more nutritional value, add some of these vegetables to the mix:

• Mushrooms
• Snap peas
• Bean sprouts
• Broccoli florets
• Cauliflower crumble
• Zucchini
• Cabbage

Is ground chicken stir-fry gluten-free? 

This recipe is almost 100% gluten-free, with the small exception of soy sauce. Many soy sauce ingredients contain wheat. 

So, to make this recipe celiac-safe, simply choose a gluten-free brand. 

Storing leftovers

These ground chicken stir fry bowls are excellent for meal prep! Let your ingredients cool completely, then store in an airtight container or individual containers. They’ll keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. 

To reheat, a minute in the microwave will do the trick!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

“Bowls” are my secret to nutritious and satisfying meal prep. Try these bowl recipes next:

• Sticky Salmon Rice Bowls
• Easy Egg Roll In A Bowl Recipe
• Teriyaki Beef Bowls
• Fall Harvest Bowl Recipe with Chicken
• Beef Burger Bowl Recipe

All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn