These Sweet & Spicy Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls with Yum Yum Sauce are a flavor explosion! They’re like a restaurant-quality meal that you can easily make at home. Tender chicken, a sticky-sweet and spicy sauce, fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and a creamy, tangy Yum Yum sauce all come together to create a bowl that’s both satisfying and exciting. I love the combination of textures and flavors, and the fact that it’s customizable makes it perfect for everyone. Get ready to impress your taste buds!
Why You’ll Love These Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls
- Restaurant-Quality Flavor: The combination of honey, ginger, chili paste, and tamari creates a complex and delicious sauce that rivals your favorite takeout.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the spice level, add your favorite vegetables, or swap out the protein.
- Healthy and Balanced: These bowls are packed with protein, vegetables, and whole grains for a nutritious and satisfying meal.
- Fun to Eat: Building your own bowl with all the different toppings is part of the fun!
Ingredients for Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls
Here’s what you’ll need to make these amazing bowls. I’ve divided them up for clarity, but the full list with measurements is in the recipe card directly below.
Chicken and Marinade
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (Protein)
- Tamari or soy sauce (Condiment)
- Extra virgin olive oil (Oil)
- Black pepper (Spice)
- Orange Juice
- Cornstarch/Arrowroot Powder
Honey-Ginger Sauce
- Tamari or soy sauce (Condiment)
- Honey (Sweetener)
- Chili paste (Spice)
- Fresh ginger (Aromatic)
- Garlic (Aromatic)
- Orange Juice
Yum Yum Sauce
- Olive oil mayo (Condiment)
- Ketchup (Condiment)
- Worcestershire sauce (Condiment)
- Seasoned salt (Seasoning)
- Cayenne pepper (Spice)
For Serving
- Cooked rice (Grain)
- Sliced cucumber (Vegetable)
- Sliced avocado (Fruit)
- Kimchi (Fermented Vegetable)
- Fried wontons (Optional Garnish)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)
Variations
I love these bowls just the way they are, but here are a few variations you might want to try:
- Use Different Protein: Try this recipe with shrimp, tofu, or steak instead of chicken.
- Add More Vegetables: Toss in some broccoli florets, bell peppers, snap peas, or edamame for added nutrients and flavor.
- Make it Gluten-Free: Use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free.
- Adjust the Spice Level: Add more or less chili paste to control the heat.
- Different Grains: Serve over quinoa, brown rice, or even noodles instead of white rice.
How to Make Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls
Let me show you how to make these delicious and flavorful bowls:
Preheat Oven
- First, I preheat my oven to 425°F (220°C).
Prepare and Bake the Chicken
- On a large baking sheet, I toss the chicken with 1 tablespoon of tamari, 1 tablespoon of orange juice and black pepper. I sprinkle cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) over the chicken and lightly toss. I like to drizzle everything with olive oil.
- Then, I bake it for 15 minutes.
Make the Honey-Ginger Sauce
- While the chicken is baking, I whisk together the remaining tamari, remaining orange juice, honey, chili paste, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a bowl.
Finish Cooking the Chicken
- After the chicken has baked for 15 minutes, I pour two-thirds of the honey-ginger sauce over it and toss to coat.
- I return the chicken to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until it’s cooked through.
- For the final 1-2 minutes I turn on the broiler so the edges can char.
- If desired, I drizzle the remaining sauce over the chicken once it’s done.
Prepare the Yum Yum Sauce
- In a small bowl, I mix together the mayo, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and cayenne pepper. I adjust the seasoning to taste, adding more cayenne for extra heat or more salt if needed.
Assemble the Bowls
- To serve, I place a scoop of cooked rice in each bowl.
- Then, I top it with the sliced chicken, cucumber, avocado, kimchi, and fried wontons (if using).
- Finally, I spoon a generous amount of Yum Yum sauce over everything.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few tips I’ve learned to make these bowls even better:
- Use Fresh Ginger: Freshly grated ginger has a much more vibrant flavor than ground ginger.
- Adjust the Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the amount of honey.
- Don’t Overcook the Chicken: Cook the chicken until it’s just cooked through to avoid it becoming dry.
How to Serve
These Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls are a complete meal on their own, but here are a few serving suggestions:
- Serve with Extra Sauce: Have extra Yum Yum sauce and honey-ginger sauce on the side for those who like it extra saucy.
- Add a Sprinkle of Sesame Seeds: Toast some sesame seeds and sprinkle them over the bowls for added flavor and texture.
- Serve with a Side of Edamame: Steamed edamame makes a great and healthy side dish.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the chicken and the sauces ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the chicken and sauce gently before assembling the bowls.
FAQs
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about this recipe:
- Can I use soy sauce instead of tamari?
- Yes, you can use soy sauce as a substitute for tamari. Tamari is a gluten-free alternative, but soy sauce will work just fine if you don’t have dietary restrictions.
- What kind of chili paste should I use?
- You can use any type of chili paste you like, such as sambal oelek or gochujang.
- Can I make this without the Yum Yum sauce?
- Of course! The Yum Yum sauce adds a creamy and tangy element, but the bowls are still delicious without it.
Enjoy these flavorful and satisfying Spicy Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls with Yum Yum Sauce! They’re a delicious and easy meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
Print
Spicy Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls with Yum Yum Sauce
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Course, Bowl
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Description
These vibrant and flavorful Spicy Honey-Ginger Chicken Bowls are packed with tender chicken, a sweet and spicy sauce, and a creamy, tangy Yum Yum sauce. They’re perfect for a customizable and satisfying meal!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon + 1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce, divided
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2–3 tablespoons chili paste (such as sambal oelek)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced or grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
For the Yum Yum Sauce:
- 1/3 cup olive oil mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For Serving:
- 3–4 cups cooked rice (white, brown, or jasmine)
- Sliced cucumber
- Sliced avocado
- Kimchi
- Fried wontons (or crispy chow mein noodles)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Prepare Chicken: On a large baking sheet, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of tamari (or soy sauce) and 1 tablespoon of orange juice. Season generously with black pepper.
- Bake Chicken: Drizzle the chicken with the olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken is baking, whisk together the remaining 1/3 cup of tamari (or soy sauce),2 tablespoons of orange juice, honey, chili paste, minced ginger, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
- Finish Chicken: Remove the chicken from the oven. Pour two-thirds of the sauce over the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes, or until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). For a slightly charred finish, switch the oven to broil for the final 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. If desired, drizzle the remaining sauce over the chicken after cooking.
- Make Yum Yum Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and cayenne pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more cayenne for extra heat or salt for flavor.
- Assemble Bowls: Divide the cooked rice among bowls. Top with the cooked chicken, sliced cucumber, sliced avocado, kimchi, and fried wontons (or crispy chow mein noodles). Drizzle generously with the Yum Yum sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Chicken: You can use either chicken breasts or thighs in this recipe. Thighs will be more moist and flavorful.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of chili paste to your preference.
- Tamari vs. Soy Sauce: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce. If you don’t need the recipe to be gluten-free, you can use regular soy sauce.
- Rice: You can use any type of cooked rice you like. White, brown, and jasmine rice all work well.
- Toppings: Feel free to get creative with your toppings! Other options include shredded carrots, edamame, chopped peanuts, or a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
- Serving Suggestion: Add cornstarch to the chicken.