Thai Beef & Rice Bowls
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Thai Beef & Rice Bowls – sweet chili, lime, and Thai Basil beef on top of coconut rice, with fresh veggies and a delicious sweet chili sauce. The combination of these sweet, salty, and creamy Asian flavors come together to make a healthy dinner bowl that is delicious and filling.
It’s no secret that I love Dinner Bowls. They are easy, filling, healthy, and they can be easily adapted for every flavor preference or food restriction. These Thai Beef & Rice Bowls are inspired by some of my favorite Thai flavors: Thai basil, sweet chili lime sauce, garlic, and ginger. I wanted to combine these Thai flavors into an easy and palatable dish that a whole family would enjoy.
The beef is salty and fresh from the lime juice and Thai basil, the rice is a creamy coconut base, and the veggies on top are crisp and healthy. Topped with my Sweet Chili Lime Mayo, you will want to scarf this down.
I love that these bowls can be easily adapted for any food restrictions or preferences, and they can also be easily mixed up. If you don’t like bell peppers, add in zucchini or broccoli or sweet potatoes! If you don’t like beef, you can use another protein. And if you’d like to make it lower carb, you could easily sub out the rice for cauliflower rice.
What is Thai Basil?
Thai basil is native to Southeast Asia and common in many Thai and Southeast Asian dishes. It has a slightly spicy, licorice-like flavor, with a sweet, anise-like scent. Thai basil has a purple stem and small, sturdy leaves with serrated edges. Most typical basil is sweet basil or Italian basil. Make sure you grab Thai basil – it is available at nearly all grocery stores in the produce section.
Thai Beef & Rice Bowls
Ingredients
Coconut Rice
- 2 cups white rice
- 2 cans (14 oz. each) coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
Chili Lime Mayo Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Thai Beef
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- 1/4 cup minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons fresh chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup green onions, diced (plus more for topping)
- 1/4 cup Thai basil, diced (plus more for topping)
Topping
- 2 red bell peppers, diced
- 2 large cucumbers, diced
- slivered almonds
- green onions, chopped (optional)
- Thai basil, chopped (optional)
- sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
Coconut Rice
- To a medium-sized pot, add rice, coconut milk, and water.
- Heat over high heat until vigorously bubbling. Stir once, then cover and reduce heat to low.
- Cook on low, covered, for 25-28 minutes until fluffy. Keep lid on while cooking.
- Once done, fluff with fork, then keep covered and warm until ready to serve.
Chili Lime Mayo Sauce
- You can make this sauce ahead of time or while the rice is cooking. To a small jar or bowl, add all ingredients and mix well until incorporated.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Thai Beef
- In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add ground beef and cook until really well browned. I like it a little crispy!
- Once browned, add in minced garlic, ginger, and Chinese five spice. Mix well to incorporate the spices throughout the meat.
- Once mixed, add in the soy sauce, chili sauce, and lime juice. Mix again and cover to simmer for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove lid and let mixture reduce down for 4-5 minutes. Then add in the green onions and Thai basil.
- Mix well and cover to keep warm until ready to serve.
For Serving
- To assemble bowls, layer each bowl with coconut rice, Thai beef, diced peppers and cucumbers, slivered almonds, and more green onions and Thai basil, and sesame seeds if desired.
- Top each bowl with lots of the Chili Lime Mayo Sauce. Enjoy!
- (Note: a couple of my kids love this meal wrapped in a tortilla – maybe your kids will want to give it a try!)
I hope you love these Thai Beef & Rice Bowls – let me know if you decide to make them too! Click here to see my other main dish recipes and tag me with photos if you make this @plumstreetcollective on Instagram. Thanks!
