Name: Firecracker Beef Meal Prep Bowls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground beef; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 green onions, minced, white parts only; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 3 tablespoons sirracha; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 1/2 cups rice, dry; 4 cups broccoli florets; 1 cup shredded carrots; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 green onions, thinly sliced, green parts only; 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds

Ready in 30 minutes and made with minimal ingredients, these spicy firecracker beef meal prep bowls are quick and easy to make while being full of flavor. Plus, they are packed full of protein and fiber making them a great meal prep idea for healthy lunches or dinners.

Firecracker beef meal prep bowls with in glass contains with sesame seeds and green onions sprinkled on top.

Whether your goal is weight loss, muscle gain, or just to eat a little healthier, this firecracker beef is a great recipe to add to your repertoire. Not only do they store well in the fridge and freezer for days and weeks to come, but the spicy firecracker sauce is incredibly versatile and you can use it on chicken, turkey, or fish to boost the spice level in any meal!

Although I designed the recipe for meal prep, you can certainly enjoy them for a healthy weeknight meal. So, if you’re looking for something to make for dinner tonight, whip up the bowls and enjoy the leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.

Close up of a spicy firecracker beef with rice, broccoli, and carrots in a meal prep container.

Why You’ll Love Them

Quick and Easy – Ready in under 30 minutes, these firecracker beef bowls are very fast to make.
High in Protein – These bowls are a high-protein meal prep idea with over 30 grams of protein per serving.
Perfect for Meal Prep – These beef bowls keep incredibly well in the fridge for days and freezer for months making them a great make-ahead lunch or dinner idea.

Ingredients for firecracker beef bowls; ground beef, sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, rice, broccoli, green onions, and sesame seeds.

Ingredients + Substitutions

Ground Beef – To make the spicy beef and ensure the bowls are packed full of protein. While the recipe is for beef, you can use ground turkey or ground chicken if preferred.
Sriracha – To make the spicy firecracker sauce. I used sriracha in my recipe but you can use any hot sauce you like.
Soy Sauce – To add some saltiness to the sauce, you can also use tamari or coconut aminos if preferred.
Rice Vinegar – To balance the firecracker sauce with some acidity. If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar instead.
Honey – To add a hint of sweetness and stickiness to the sauce.
Garlic – To enhance the flavor of the beef. I used fresh garlic cloves, but you can use garlic powder if preferred, see the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Red Pepper Flakes – To ensure the beef is extra spicy. I used dried chili flakes but you can use fresh chili if preferred.
Rice – To ensure the bowls are a well-balanced meal with a source of complex carbohydrates.
Broccoli – To add some veggies and fiber, you could also use green beans.
Carrots – To add some more veggies and color.
Green Onions – To flavor the beef and finish the bowls with some color and crunch.
Sesame Seeds – While optional, you can add a sprinkle to serve.

Dietary Adaptions

To Make it Gluten-Free: Swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.

To Make it Dairy-Free: No adaptations are needed, this recipe is gluten-free.

Spicy firecracker beef in a cast-iron skillet.

How to Make Firecracker Beef Mince

Cook the rice. In a small pot, bring 3 cups of salted water to a boil, then add the white rice, cover with a lid, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 15 minutes until tender and rice can be fluffed with a fork.
Make the firecracker sauce. In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients; sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and honey, and whisk until well combined, then set aside.
Brown the beef. In a large pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat, warm the oil, then add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula, for 4-5 minutes, then add the minced garlic, onions, and red pepper flakes and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until lightly browned.
Season the beef. Pour the firecracker sauce into the same pan with the beef, stir to combine, and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the sauce reduces and the beef is slightly crispy.
Sauté the broccoli. In a small pan on medium heat, warm the olive oil, then add the broccoli florets and a pinch of salt and saute for 3-4 minutes until tender. Add the shredded carrots and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Combine the bowls. Once the rice, beef, and vegetables are cooked, transfer them to 4 airtight containers, dividing the ingredients evenly among them, top with green onion and sesame seeds, then allow everything to cool completely.
Store and enjoy! Once cooled, cover the containers with a lid and store them in the fridge. When you are ready to eat, reheat the firecracker beef meal prep bowls in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.

You can find the detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

Four spicy firecracker beef meal prep bowls in glass meal prep containers.

Red’s Nutrition Tip

Although beef is often considered an “unhealthy” meal prep choice, ground beef is a great source of protein and micronutrients and certain cuts of beef are just as lean as chicken. In fact, the nutritional values of beef vs. chicken are much more similar than you may think, and both can be included in a healthy diet regardless of your health goals.

Alternative Suggestions

I made these bowls with lean ground beef, white rice, and broccoli, however, you can adapt the bowls to create a calorie deficit for weight loss or a calorie surplus for weight gain with a few simple adaptations. Here are some suggestions:

For a higher-calorie option, make the bowl with high-fat ground beef or ground pork and extra white rice.
For a lower-fat option, make the bowls with ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef.
For a lower-carb option, serve the bowls with cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
For a higher-fiber option, serve the bowls with brown rice instead of white rice and add additional broccoli or other vegetables.

Close up of meal prep firecracker beef with white rice and sautéed broccoli and carrots and a fork.

Storage + Reheating

To Refrigerate: Once cooked, allow the firecracker beef bowls to cool completely, then cover them with a lid and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To Freeze: Once the bowls have cooled completely, cover them with a lid and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: You can reheat firecracker beef meal prep bowls in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until warm. If using frozen bowls, remove them from the freezer and allow them to that overnight in the fridge before reheating.

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