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Chicken Banh Mi Bowls with Pickled Veggies (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Whip up these easy Chicken Banh Mi Bowls with pickled veggies, sriracha sauce & jasmine rice. A gluten-free, dairy-free dinner everyone will love!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4
Author Rachael DeVaux

Ingredients

For the Pickled Veggies:

  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon coconut aminos
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
  • 1 cup thinly sliced carrot ribbons about 1 medium carrot
  • ½ cup thinly sliced shallots about 1 large shallot
  • 2 cups very thinly sliced Persian cucumbers about 2 mini Persian cucumbers

For the Chicken:

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1.5 pounds ground chicken I use 93/7
  • ½ cup thinly sliced shallot about 1 large shallot
  • 4 green onions white and green parts divided
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 cup coconut aminos
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha
  • 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • ¼ cup julienned Thai basil
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • ½ cup chopped roasted peanuts optional

Sriracha Sauce:

  • ½ cup dairy-free sour cream or sub avocado oil mayo, such as Primal Kitchen
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons sriracha
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

To Serve:

  • Cooked Jasmine rice

Instructions

For the Pickled Veggies:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk the rice vinegar, coconut aminos, salt, and chili flakes together.
  • Add the carrot ribbons and shallots. Toss to combine. Don’t add the cucumbers until you’re ready to serve!
  • Set aside in the fridge.

For the Chicken:

  • In a large, tall-sided skillet, heat the avocado oil over medium heat.
  • Once hot, add the chicken, shallot, and the white parts of the green onion. Spread into an even layer and cook, undisturbed, for 4 minutes. Stir, and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until the chicken is totally cooked through. Strain off the excess liquid using a strainer and set aside.
  • To the skillet, add the toasted sesame oil and increase the heat to medium-high.
  • Once hot, add the garlic and ginger, sautéing until fragrant and golden, about 1 minute. Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss to combine.
  • Add the coconut aminos, fish sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, sriracha, coconut sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine. Cook, undisturbed, for 4 minutes until the sauce begins to caramelize.
  • Toss and cook for another 4 minutes, until the liquid has mostly reduced, and the chicken is a deep golden brown with crispy edges. Remove from the heat and add the sesame seeds, Thai basil, cilantro, and peanuts. Toss to combine and top with the remaining green parts of the green onions.

Sriracha Sauce:

  • In a medium bowl, add the lactose-free sour cream, garlic, rice vinegar, lime juice, coconut sugar, sriracha, and salt. Stir to combine until smooth.

To Serve & Store:

  • Add the cucumbers to the pickled veggie mixture and toss to combine. Serve in shallow bowls with a bed of jasmine rice, a scoop of the chicken mixture, a few forkfuls of the pickled veggies, and a drizzle of the sauce.
  • Store any leftovers in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. For the best texture, keep the pickled veggies, sriracha sauce, and rice/chicken mixture stored individually and assemble your bowl fresh when ready to eat. This helps the veggies stay crisp and the rice from getting soggy. Reheat the chicken and rice before serving, then top with the chilled pickled veggies, sauce, and herbs.

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions
  • Ground chicken → Swap with ground turkey, beef, pork, or tofu for a plant-based option.
  • Coconut aminos → Use low-sodium soy sauce or tamari (note: this adds soy).
  • Creamy sriracha sauce → Sub with dairy-free mayo, Greek-style yogurt alternatives, or mashed avocado. If dairy isn’t a concern, use regular sour cream, mayo, or yogurt.
  • Chopped peanuts → Omit or swap with toasted sunflower seeds for a nut-free version.
  • Jasmine rice → Any rice works here, or use cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
  • Coconut sugar → Reduce or omit for a lower sugar version.