Firecracker Beef Meal Prep Bowls

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.

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.

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 + 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.

How to Make Firecracker Beef Mince

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

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.

More Ground Beef Bowls:

• Crispy Beef Bowls
• Meal Prep Taco Bowls
• Loaded Burger Bowls

Firecracker Beef Meal Prep Bowls

Author: Stephanie Kay

With over 30 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving, these spicy firecracker beef bowls are the perfect meal prep idea for healthy lunches and dinners.

• Author: Stephanie Kay
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 bowls
• Category: Meal Prep
• Cuisine: Asian

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Ingredients

Firecracker Beef:

• 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

Bowls:

• 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

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Instructions

1. In a pot, combine the rice with 3 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, and allow to cook covered for 15 minutes, or as per package directions, until it can be fluffed with a fork.
2. In a small bowl, add the sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and honey, whisk to combine, and set aside.
3. In a large pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat, warm the olive oil, then add the ground beef, and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon into small pieces, for 4-5 minutes until mostly cooked.
4. Add the minced garlic, minced onion, and red pepper flakes to the beef, cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, then add the firecracker sauce, stir to combine with the ground beef, and cook for an additional 3-4 until the sauce reduces and the beef is slightly crispy. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
5. In a separate small pan, warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then add the broccoli florets and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until the broccoli is tender, then add shredded carrots and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until all of the vegetables are tender. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
6. Once the rice, beef, and vegetables are cooked, prepare the meal prep bowls. Divide the cooked rice evenly across 4 airtight containers, layer with ¼ of the firecracker beef, and ¼ of the sauteed broccoli and carrots, and top each bowl with green onions and sesame seeds.
7. The bowls can be served immediately, stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

To Use Garlic Powder: Swap the garlic cloves for 2 teaspoons of garlic powder in step #4.

To Use Frozen Broccoli: Use 4 cups of frozen broccoli florets and cook as per step #5 instruction but increase the cooking time to 5-6 minutes or until broccoli is tender.