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This garlic ginger chicken is the kind of high-protein meal prep recipe that will make future you very happy. Ground chicken gets cooked with lots of fresh garlic and ginger, then doused in a very simple sauce that you probably already have the ingredients for. It takes 20 minutes, makes a big batch and works over noodles, salads, rice, baked potatoes, or in power bowls with miso vinaigrette for easy lunches all week long.

Close-up of saucy garlic ginger ground chicken in a skillet with fresh herbs and sesame seeds.
small photo of the author, Erica

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again.

It is undeniably awesome to have a big batch of meal-prep protein ready to go in the fridge. 

This is one of those meal prep recipes that you can repurpose into different weeknight dinners or make into power bowl lunches for busy weekdays! 

My meal prep ground chicken highlights from the last month:

  • My girls love it, and we all have fun making our own rice bowls. Family-friendly, little-kid-friendly FTW.
  • I’ve been enjoying it over brown rice with veggies and miso vinaigrette, power-bowl-style. It is THE perfect midday fuel for busy summer days.
  • It is also wicked good over a baked sweet potato or a bed of cabbage, kinda like egg roll in a bowl.

This recipe makes 6 good-sized servings or 8 slightly smaller servings (if you’re making it into something like tacos). Each serving has 30+ grams of high-quality protein that actually tastes gooood. All my high-protein girlies, you’re going to love this one!

signature of Erica

What Ingredients You’ll Need To Make this Garlic Ginger Chicken:

Ingredients for recipe including ground chicken, Thai basil, coconut aminos, honey, ginger paste, garlic, sriracha, sesame oil, avocado oil, salt and pepper.
  • I use 94% lean ground chicken. For some reason, I simply cannot get behind ground turkey, but you could use that if you prefer or if it’s what you have on hand.
  • Fresh garlic and fresh ginger are what give this chicken its great flavor. Garlic paste and ginger paste also work great if you want to keep things quick and easy.
  • Coconut aminos, honey, toasted sesame oil and sriracha make a sticky-sweet, savory sauce for the chicken. Brown sugar can be used as a substitute for honey. Low sodium soy sauce works in place of coconut aminos, but it is a little bit saltier. If you use soy sauce, just be sure to taste before adding any extra salt.
  • Fresh Thai basil adds the herby finish that makes this garlic ginger chicken taste so good. Regular basil works too.

How to Make this Meal Prep Ground Chicken:

First, whisk together the coconut aminos, honey, water, toasted sesame oil, and sriracha until smooth.

Then preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add avocado oil, and cook the ground chicken until browned and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF. Season with salt and pepper, then add the garlic and ginger and stir until fragrant.

Pour the sauce over the cooked ground chicken and stir to combine. Bring everything to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the chicken gets glossy, golden brown and slightly caramelized.

Add the sliced Thai basil and stir it into the chicken at the end. Finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds, extra Thai basil or green onions if you want a little extra texture and color.

Serve the garlic ginger ground chicken over brown or white rice with fresh vegetables, avocado, cashews, and miso vinaigrette dressing. Or divide everything into meal prep containers so lunch is ready to go the next day.

FAQs

Can I make this garlic ginger chicken ahead of time?

Yes, this recipe was made for meal prep! Store the cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet with a splash of water to loosen up the sauce.

Can I freeze garlic ginger ground chicken?

Yes, the key is to make sure the chicken cools completely first. Then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat until warmed through.

Is this honey garlic ground chicken spicy?

It has a little heat from the sriracha, but I would not call it spicy. If you’re feeding kids or spice-sensitive people, start with 1 teaspoon of sriracha. If you like heat, add more or top your bowl with chili crisp.

What should I serve with garlic ginger chicken?

My favorite way is meal prep power bowls with miso vinaigrette. You can also serve it over rice, noodles, salads, or baked sweet potatoes, or use it as the filling for lettuce wraps.

Can I use this honey garlic sauce for chicken breast or chicken thighs?

Yes. The sauce would also be delicious with cubed skinless chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs. Cook the chicken pieces first, then add the garlic, ginger and sauce and simmer until everything is glossy and caramelized in spots. Note that the cooking time may be longer than with ground chicken.

Catch me eating this ALLLL week.

If you try and like this recipe please don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating down below! For more lifestyle, behind the scenes and ‘eating in real life’ type of content come find me over on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or Youtube – I love connecting with you all there!

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Close-up of saucy garlic ginger ground chicken in a skillet with fresh herbs and sesame seeds.

Garlic Ginger Chicken Recipe

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  • Author: Erica Baty
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: Six 45oz servings 1x
  • Category: Meal Prep
  • Method: One Pan
  • Cuisine: Asian-inspired
  • Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free

Description

This 20-minute garlic ginger chicken is sweet, savory, slightly spicy and perfect for meal prep. Serve it over rice, noodles, salads or power bowls for an easy lunch or dinner.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Instructions

  1. Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon avocado oil and when the oil is hot, add 2lb ground chicken, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
  2. Reduce heat to medium low and add 5 cloves minced garlic and 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger, stirring for 60 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Whisk together ⅓ cup coconut aminos, ¼ cup honey, ⅓ cup water, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil and 2 teaspoons sriracha. Pour sauce on the chicken, stirring to combine.
  4. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes until thickened and the chicken is slightly caramelized and brown. Stir in 1 cup of fresh basil.

Serve over rice, noodles or salad! I highly recommend my meal prep power bowls (pictured).


Notes

Chiffonade is a fancy French term for how to thinly slice basil. See my notes and photos on ‘how to chiffonade basil’ in this blog post!

Refer to above blog post for step-by-step photos, ingredient information and answers to frequently asked questions.

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4oz cooked chicken
  • Calories: 274
  • Sugar: 11.9 g
  • Sodium: 619.7 mg
  • Fat: 11.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 17.5 g
  • Fiber: 0.2 g
  • Protein: 29.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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