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Easy Thai Sweet Chili Beef Rice Bowls

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Thai
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 520kcal

Description

These quick Thai sweet chili beef rice bowls are packed with caramelized ground beef coated in a savory sauce. Served over warm jasmine rice with fresh veggies, toasted cashews, and a tangy sweet chili lime drizzle, this meal comes together in under 20 minutes. Perfect for a fast weeknight dinner full of bold flavor.

Ingredients

For the Beef Stir-Fry

  • cup cashews unsalted, roasted
  • 1 tbsp canola oil or other neutral cooking oil
  • 500 g ground beef
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 3 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves coarsely chopped

For the Stir-Fry Sauce

  • 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce

For the Chili Lime Drizzle

  • 3 tbsp sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tbsp lime juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 tsp fish sauce
  • 1 clove garlic minced or pressed

For Serving

  • 3 cups jasmine rice cooked
  • 1 cup cucumber chopped
  • ½ small red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds
  • ½ tsp chili flakes

Instructions

  • Toast the cashews in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant, then set aside to cool and chop.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the chili lime drizzle ingredients: sweet chili sauce, lime juice, fish sauce, and pressed garlic.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the stir-fry sauce ingredients: sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, and dark soy sauce.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic for 1 minute, then add the ground beef and cook until browned.
  • Pour in the stir-fry sauce and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce and caramelize the beef into a deep brown color.
  • Assemble the bowls with cooked jasmine rice and fresh cucumber and red onion tossed with sesame oil, sesame seeds, and chili flakes.
  • Top the rice with the caramelized beef, drizzle with the chili lime sauce, and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and toasted cashews before mixing and serving.

Notes

  • Do not skip caramelizing the beef step; allowing the sauce to reduce creates rich depth and intense flavor.
  • Unsalted peanuts can be used as a substitute for cashews if preferred.