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This colorful Chili Crisp Chicken Mango Cucumber Rice Bowl is full of Thai flavors and so simple. Made with flavorful Thai curry paste and doused in a chili crisp butter sauce. The chicken is cooked until caramelized around the edges then added to bowls of rice. A fresh, bright mango herb salad is spooned overtop for a balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavor. Altogether, it’s so delicious.
Come late spring, I find the most inspiration from fresh herbs and flowers. The perkiness of their leaves and their bright colors give me so many ideas. Their inspiration is a welcomed change of pace after a very white and cozy winter.
Where we live in Colorado, it’s just barely starting to get green. There’s still a fair chance we’ll get a sprinkling of snow. We had a snowstorm on June 18th a couple of years ago. I’ve even seen it snow after a beautiful warm day on the night of July 4th…you just never know around here. But even the slight glimpse of growth and warmer days has brought me new ideas.
Whole Foods was filled with fresh herbs last week and I snatched up every last one. I had an abundance of fresh basil, cilantro, and mint, and plenty of sweet mangos. So this recipe kind of just built itself.
It turned out to be everything I had pictured in my head and the flavor was better than I’d imagined. Plus, these bowls are the easiest to make. Lots of chopping I guess, but otherwise, simple.
All this to say, I love today’s recipe!
Details – start with that mango herb salad
This is my thing, my favorite! Lots of ripe fresh mango, so many fresh herbs, refreshing cucumber, toasted seeds, a little spice from a serrano pepper, and a simple lime dressing.
Just toss everything together in a bowl, no fancy steps.
The chicken
It’s a little crispy, a little spicy, but simple. Toss it up with some arrowroot or cornstarch to help with the crispiness. Then cook it up with Thai red curry paste and a splash of fish sauce.
You can certainly use tamari or soy sauce too, but I love fish sauce.
And the chili crisp butter, make sure it’s a high-quality grass feed butter for best flavor. I love Straus Organic European butter. Then just cook the garlic and chili flakes in the butter until golden and crisp.
Finish it up
Lots of rice, then the chicken. Spoon the butter over the chicken, then top each bowl with the mango salad.
Enjoy immediately…and that’s it! This takes less than an hour to make and it’s not only delicious but fun! All those fresh herbs really make a difference.
Looking for other quick weeknight dinners? Here are some favorites:
Coconut Popcorn Chicken with Sweet Thai Chili Lime Sauce
30 Minute Sticky Thai Meatballs with Sesame Noodles
Better Than Takeout Sweet Thai Basil Chicken
Lastly, if you make this Chili Crisp Chicken Mango Cucumber Rice Bowl, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Chili Crisp Chicken Mango Cucumber Rice Bowl
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 531 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Mango Salad
- 1 mango, diced
- 2 Persian cucumbers, chopped
- 1 Serrano or jalapeño pepper, seeded and sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh mint or basil, torn
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 3 tablespoons mixed sesame and/or sunflower seeds
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 avocado, cubed
Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Thai red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce, tamari sauce, or soy sauce
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- chili flakes
- 3-4 cups cooked rice
Instructions
- 1. Â To make the salad. Combine the mango, cucumbers, serrano pepper, cilantro, basil, and green onions in a bowl. Toss with olive oil, vinegar, and lime juice, and season with salt. Add the avocado and toss lightly. Sprinkle the sesame and/or sunflower seeds overtop.2. In a bowl, toss together the chicken and cornstarch (or arrowroot powder). 3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Thai red curry paste and cook 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Add the chicken and toss to coat in the curry paste. Cook until the chicken becomes crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the fish sauce or tamari/soy sauce.4. Meanwhile, in a small skillet melt together the butter, garlic, and a pinch of chili flakes. Cook until the butter is browning and the garlic crisps.5. Spoon the chicken over the bowls of rice. Pour the garlic chili butter over the chicken. Top with the mango salad. Enjoy!
I have made this a few time now and I love it every time. Nothing like a good spicy rice bowl.
Hey Jessica,
Happy Friday! I am so excited that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a go! xT?
I loveeee all of these flavors! I cannot seem to figure out how to make the chicken crispy though…I always dry off the chicken before chopping but the olive oil and curry paste seem to make it gooey, almost. It still tastes good but do you have any tricks to make it crispy? I don’t want to overcook the chicken!
Hi Anna,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad you enjoyed the flavors! What kind of pan are you using? I really find my cast iron skillet gives the best crisp to the chicken. I hope this helps! xx
Another hit at our house! Loved all the flavors. Thanks again
Hi Karen,
Amazing!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback:)
It was outstanding. I made a huge batch for 6 people and had to do the chicken in heats. So putting them in the oven at 375 kept them crispy.
Has anyone tried an air fryer?
Hey Jami,
Fantastic! Thanks for your comment and trying the recipe:) I am so glad it was enjoyed! I’ve not tried the air fryer, but I bet it would work well for you:) xxT
This was sooo good. My bf was also obsessed with it. I didn’t realize the curry paste would splatter everywhere though !! ?
Hi Rebecca,
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing your feedback:) I appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was a winner! ? xx
How can I get the chicken to crisp? Mine never ends up crispy? I love the flavor though. I have made it twice and keep missing the mark on the crisp. Help!!
Hi Evie,
What kind of pan are you using? I find cast iron really helps to crisp the chicken!
I made this last night and it is undoubtedly going to become a staple in my summer rotation! So perfect & fresh & massively flavorful! I found that the recommended serving size of 6 was a bit off. For me, it just served 4. So that might be something to keep in mind if, like me, your house consists of very active 20-somethings. Lastly…I couldn’t get my chicken crispy. I think the cornstarch mixed with the curry paste and just made it saucy? Still delicious, but I’d love to hear suggestions as to what I could have done wrong.
Hi Renee,
Happy Friday! Thanks for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was a winner! I think serving sizes can vary for everyone, so I would make to your liking. For the chicken I think the right pan can go a long way, I really like using cast iron skillets to get the best crisp. I hope this helps! ? xx
I’m still waiting on a dish I’m disappointed in, I love your recipes and cook for all my neighbors to share and they are always pleased! This one specifically they gobbled up! Keep up the great work, can’t wait to get your cookbook!
Hi Rachel,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a go, I am so glad it was a winner:) Thanks for your kind message! Have the best week! xx
Yum! Getting the chicken crispy was a bit of trick for me, but once I did that, it’s one of my favourite dishes I’ve made in a long time!
Thanks for sharing!!
Hey Ellen,
Happy Wednesday! Thanks for sharing your review and making this recipe, I am so glad it was a winner! xxTieghan
How did you get it crispy? I followed directions exactly and used a cast iron skillet but did not get crispy. Thanks!
I made this right after you posted and it was excellent! I have been looking forward to making it again and that day is finally here, it is for dinner tonight. I added a few things to the dressing but now can’t remember what beside a splash of fish sauce, maybe it was honey or sugar. I forgot to get sesame or sunflower seeds so used some chopped peanuts and think they worked well as a substation.
Hey Samantha,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it and sharing your feedback!! 🙂
Love this. One of my favorite!
Hey Kellie,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!!? xTieghan
Love love love! Have already made twice in 2 weeks. The whole family (even my picky dad) was a fan
Hey Colleen,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for your review:) Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try! xx
This was okay. Felt like a recipe that was trying too hard.
Hi Kimberly,
Thanks for trying the recipe, sorry to hear it was not enjoyed. Please let me know if there is any way that I can help! xx
Not bad but not impressed. Definitely missing some ingredients to make it pop like onions, maybe some kind of sauce instead of just butter/garlic, some tomatoes. Chicken was great though.
Hi Hugh,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! Have a great Sunday! xTieghan
I love love this recipe. Second time I made it, I skipped the brown butter sauce to try and cut down on calories and honestly didn’t miss it, the other flavors are so good. I don’t know where red curry paste has been all my life but am buying it in bulk now! So good. Thank you for all the great recipes!
Hi Angela,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for trying it out and sharing your review! xxT
Absolutely delicious and refreshing!
Hey there,
Happy Wednesday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xx
This is so good I make it pretty much once a week since I tried it the first time.
Hi Dina,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for trying it out and sharing your review! xxT