Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowl

This sweet chili chicken recipe is trending fast — cozy, bold, and perfect for busy nights. It gives you juicy bites of glazed chicken, fluffy rice, fresh crunchy veggies, and a sticky-sweet-spicy sauce that ties everything together in one colorful bowl.

Think of it as your new “better than takeout” dinner: simple ingredients, fast cooking, zero stress. You cook the rice, sear the chicken, toss it in a glossy sweet chili sauce, and pile everything into bowls with your favorite toppings. It looks restaurant-worthy, but it’s actually super easy to make at home.

Whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, or trying to meal prep for a few days, this sweet chili chicken rice bowl fits right in. It’s flexible, customizable, and easy to adjust for mild or spicy heat.

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Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowl

This Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowl brings big flavor with minimal effort—juicy chicken glazed in a sticky sweet chili sauce, fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and customizable toppings. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or a healthier takeout-style dinner at home.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Asian-Inspired

Servings 4 bowls

Ingredients

  

Sweet Chili Chicken

• 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces
• 0.33 cup sweet chili sauce
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar or fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp honey or brown sugar optional, for extra sweetness
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp fresh grated ginger or ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp neutral oil e.g., avocado or canola

Rice Bowls

• 3 cups cooked rice jasmine, basmati, or brown rice
• 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber or shredded cabbage
• 2 green onions thinly sliced
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro or parsley chopped
• 2 tsp sesame seeds optional
• 1 lime cut into wedges for serving

Extra Sweet Chili Drizzle

• 0.25 cup sweet chili sauce
• 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp water to thin to drizzling consistency
• 1 tsp sesame oil optional, for a toasty flavor

Instructions

 

• Cook the Rice: Rinse rice until the water runs clear. Cook according to package directions. Fluff with a fork and keep warm.
• Prep Chicken and Sauce: Whisk together sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, vinegar or lime, honey, garlic, and ginger. Reserve 2–3 tablespoons for drizzle. Toss chicken with cornstarch.
• Cook Chicken: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high. Cook chicken in a single layer until golden and cooked through. Add sauce and stir to coat. Let simmer until glossy.
• Prepare Veggies and Drizzle: Slice and prep vegetables and herbs. Mix reserved sauce with more sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, water, and sesame oil.
• Assemble Bowls: Start with rice, add veggies, then chicken. Drizzle with extra sauce. Garnish with green onions, herbs, sesame seeds, and lime.

Notes

This dish is great for meal prep and reheats well. Keep fresh toppings separate until serving. For extra heat, add chili flakes or hot sauce. For a milder version, use mild sweet chili sauce and skip the extra drizzle.

Keyword chicken rice bowl, easy dinner, meal prep bowls, spicy chicken, sweet chili chicken

Why You’ll Love This Sweet Chili Chicken Bowl

• Big flavor, minimal effort
  A simple sweet chili sauce plus garlic, ginger, and soy turns basic chicken into something bold and addictive.
• Perfect for busy weeknights
  Most of the work is chopping and a quick sauté. You can easily have dinner ready in about 30–35 minutes.
• Custom spice level
  Use mild sweet chili sauce for a gentle heat, or add extra chili flakes or sriracha-style sauce for a stronger kick.
• Simple, everyday ingredients
  Chicken, rice, veggies, pantry sauces. Nothing fancy, but the flavors feel special.
• Great for meal prep
  The chicken and rice reheat well, so you can portion everything into containers for grab-and-go lunches.
• Family-friendly bowl
  Keep it mild and serve the extra spicy drizzle on the side so everyone can adjust their own heat.

Quick Recipe Overview

• Servings: 4 bowls
• Prep Time: about 15 minutes
• Cook Time: about 20 minutes
• Total Time: about 35 minutes
• Main Keyword: sweet chili chicken

What Is a Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowl?

A sweet chili chicken rice bowl is a complete, all-in-one meal built in layers:

1. Base: Fluffy white rice, jasmine rice, or brown rice.
2. Protein: Bite-sized pieces of chicken coated in a sticky sweet chili glaze.
3. Veggies: Crunchy, fresh vegetables for color and texture—like bell peppers, carrots, cucumber, or cabbage.
4. Toppings: Fresh herbs, green onion, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime to brighten everything up.
5. Drizzle: An extra spoonful of sweet chili sauce (thinned slightly) over the top to make every bite saucy and satisfying.

It’s the kind of bowl that feels a bit like your favorite takeout order, but you control the ingredients, the amount of sauce, and the level of heat.

Ingredients for Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowls

For the Sweet Chili Chicken

• 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (or ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil (avocado, canola, or similar)

For the Rice Bowls

• 3 cups cooked rice (jasmine, basmati, or brown rice)
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber or shredded cabbage
• 2–3 green onions, thinly sliced
• Small handful fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
• 1–2 teaspoons sesame seeds (optional)
• Lime wedges, for serving

For the Extra Sweet Chili Drizzle (Optional but Delicious)

• ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1–2 tablespoons water (to thin to drizzling consistency)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional, for a toasty flavor)

How to Make Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowls

1. Cook the Rice

1. Rinse your rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear.
2. Cook according to package directions (stovetop, rice cooker, or instant pot).
3. When done, fluff with a fork and keep warm.

Tip: If you’re using leftover rice from the fridge, break up any clumps with your fingers and warm it in the microwave with a splash of water.

2. Prep the Chicken and Sauce

1. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces so it cooks quickly and evenly.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together:
   • ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce
   • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
   • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lime juice
   • 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar (if using)
   • Minced garlic
   • Grated ginger
3. Scoop out 2–3 tablespoons of this sauce into a small bowl and set aside (this will be part of your final drizzle).
4. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with the tablespoon of cornstarch and toss to coat lightly. This helps the sauce cling and gives a glossy finish.

If you’re new to cooking jasmine rice, this step-by-step guide shows you how to get perfectly fluffy grains every time.

3. Cook the Sweet Chili Chicken

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the chicken in a single layer (cook in batches if needed to avoid crowding).
3. Let the chicken cook undisturbed for 2–3 minutes to get some color, then flip and continue cooking until the pieces are cooked through (no longer pink in the center).
4. Reduce the heat to medium.
5. Pour the main bowl of sweet chili sauce over the chicken and stir to coat.
6. Let it bubble gently for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and clings to the chicken, making a glossy glaze.

If the sauce becomes too thick, splash in 1–2 tablespoons of water to loosen it up.

4. Prep the Veggies and Drizzle

While the chicken is cooking:

1. Slice the bell pepper into thin strips.
2. Shred the carrots (you can use a box grater or buy them pre-shredded).
3. Slice the cucumber or cabbage.
4. Thinly slice the green onions.
5. Chop the cilantro or parsley.

For the extra drizzle:

1. Take the reserved 2–3 tablespoons of sauce from earlier.
2. Add ¼ cup sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1–2 tablespoons water.
3. Stir until smooth and pourable.
4. Add sesame oil if using and whisk again.

5. Assemble Your Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowls

1. Base: Add about ¾ cup of warm rice to each bowl.
2. Veggies: Arrange sliced bell pepper, shredded carrots, and cucumber/cabbage around the bowl.
3. Chicken: Spoon a generous portion of sweet chili chicken into the center.
4. Drizzle: Spoon or drizzle some of the extra sweet chili sauce over the chicken and rice.
5. Finish: Top with green onions, fresh herbs, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime.

Serve right away while everything is hot and the veggies are still crisp and fresh.

Customize the Heat and Flavor

One of the best things about this sweet chili chicken bowl is how easy it is to adapt:

• Make it milder:
  Use a mild sweet chili sauce and skip any extra chili flakes or hot sauce.
• Make it spicier:
  Add crushed red pepper flakes, a spoonful of chili paste, or your favorite hot sauce to the glaze.
• More tang, less sweet:
  Add extra lime juice or a bit more rice vinegar and reduce or skip the honey/brown sugar.
• Extra saucy:
  Double the sweet chili sauce mixture if you love your bowls very saucy and want extra for mixing into the rice.

Topping Ideas and Add-Ins

Boost flavor, texture, and nutrition with simple add-ons:

• Crunchy toppings: Crushed roasted peanuts, cashews, or crispy fried onions.
• More veggies:
  • Steamed broccoli or green beans
  • Sliced snap peas
  • Shredded red cabbage
• Creamy element: A little drizzle of plain yogurt or a dollop of mayo mixed with sweet chili sauce for a creamy swirl.
• Fresh herbs: Cilantro, parsley, basil, or green onion for brightness.
• Citrus: Extra lime wedges on the side so everyone can add more brightness.

Tastyinspo Notes

I love recipes that look vibrant and “special” but are secretly weeknight-easy, and this sweet chili chicken rice bowl is exactly that. Once the rice is going and the chicken is cut, everything moves quickly. The sweet chili sauce does most of the heavy lifting for flavor, so you don’t need a long list of ingredients or complicated techniques.

It’s also one of those meals that works for different appetites and preferences at the same time. Someone can load their bowl with extra veggies, another can add lots of chicken, and anyone who loves heat can go heavy on the spicy drizzle. If you’re into meal prep, you’ll probably find yourself making a double batch and packing bowls for the next couple of days.

Make It a Balanced, Satisfying Meal

This bowl naturally gives you a nice balance:

• Protein: Chicken keeps the bowl filling and satisfying.
• Carbs: Rice gives you energy and that cozy comfort factor.
• Veggies: Fresh crunchy vegetables add fiber, color, and texture.
• Fats: The oil in the cooking and any nuts or sesame seeds add a bit of healthy fat and richness.

You can easily adjust the portions to fit how you like to eat:

• More rice if you need extra fuel,
• More veggies for a lighter bowl,
• Or extra chicken if you want a higher-protein meal.

Meal Prep, Storage & Reheating

Fridge:

• Store cooked chicken, rice, and veggies in separate airtight containers (or assemble bowls without the fresh herbs and seeds yet).
• They usually keep well for up to 3–4 days in the refrigerator.

Reheating:

• Warm the rice and chicken together in the microwave with a splash of water and an extra spoonful of sweet chili sauce.
• Add the fresh veggies, herbs, and sesame seeds after reheating so they stay crisp.

Freezer:

• The chicken and rice can be frozen together for up to 2 months in freezer-safe containers.
• Add fresh veggies and toppings after thawing and reheating.
• For best texture, don’t freeze the raw fresh vegetables.

For more details on how long cooked chicken stays safe in the fridge, you can check the official USDA guidance.

Variations: Make It Your Own

• Use chicken thighs:
  Boneless, skinless thighs stay extra juicy and are very forgiving if slightly overcooked.
• Swap the grain:
  Try brown rice, quinoa, couscous, or cauliflower rice if you prefer.
• Make it veggie-forward:
  Reduce the chicken and add more vegetables—like roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, or zucchini.
• Lettuce wrap style:
  Skip the rice and serve the sweet chili chicken in lettuce cups with the crunchy veggies.
• Kid-friendly version:
  Use mild sweet chili sauce and keep extra sauce on the side so each person can control their own heat.

Make your own sweet chili sauce: If you want to go fully from-scratch, try this homemade sweet chili sauce and use it instead of the bottled version.

FAQs About Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowls

Final Thoughts

This Sweet Chili Chicken Rice Bowl brings together everything people love about viral bowl recipes: bold flavor, simple prep, and a colorful, scroll-stopping look that still feels comforting and practical on a busy night.

Serve it right out of the skillet for dinner, or portion it into containers for easy lunches. However you use it, this sweet chili chicken is the kind of recipe you’ll keep coming back to whenever you need something fast, flavorful, and satisfying in one bowl.