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Chicken Larb

4 servings

Dinner

Chicken Larb

Thai Chicken Larb Recipe ready in 30 minutes. Ground chicken with garlic, ginger, lime, and fresh herbs. Serve over coconut rice or in lettuce wraps for a flavorful meal!

Author’s Notes

My Thai Takeout Favorites!

I love Thai food. If I get to choose where we go out to eat, I almost always pick a Thai spot. Of everything I’ve tried, Thai drunken noodles are a reliable, with Chicken Larb a close second.

Inspired by Larb Gai, a classic dish from Thai and Lao cuisine, this is my straightforward, family-style take. It’s not fully traditional, just my simplified version for busy nights. If you have a favorite local Thai restaurant, I highly recommend trying the real deal!

Larb Gai is a Thai and Laotian meat salad made with ground chicken or pork and vibrant flavors like lime, chili, fish sauce, and fresh herbs, traditionally served with sticky rice and lettuce.

This Chicken Larb recipe comes together in about 30 minutes. I swap soy sauce for fish sauce, use chili sauce instead of ground chilies, and skip the toasted rice powder to keep it simple and approachable.

It’s light and fresh with a bright lime flavor, a gentle heat, and a balanced mix of salty and slightly sweet.

All the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for straightforward assembly including the lettuce, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, coconut rice, chicken, green onions, limes, garlic, ginger, sugar, cucumbers, and additional herbs.

Ingredients In Chicken Larb Recipe

IngredientTip
Ground chickenDark meat stays more tender and has better flavor than lean ground chicken.
Garlic, ginger & green onionsFresh makes a big difference here. Finely mince so they meld well into the chicken.
LimeUse both zest and juice for the strongest lime flavor in this Chicken Larb recipe.
Soy sauce, brown sugar & chili sauceThese add salty, sweet flavor with a little heat. Adjust chili sauce to your preference.
Fresh herbs & cucumbersDon’t skip the herbs, they add freshness and balance. Slice cucumbers thin so they absorb more flavor.
Chili garlic sauce being whisked together and cucumbers sliced and seasoned for this Chicken Larb recipe.

How To Make This Chicken Larb Recipe

  1. Cook Rice: Simmer until liquid is absorbed, rest covered, then fluff and mix in lime.
  2. Make Sauce: Whisk together and adjust salt and heat to taste.
  3. Prep Toppings: Toss cucumbers with dressing and chop herbs.
  4. Cook Chicken: Sauté aromatics, add chicken and cook until no pink remains; drain if needed, mix in sauce, and cook until coated.
  5. Serve: Spoon over rice or into lettuce leaves and top with herbs and cucumbers.
The herbs, garlic, and ginger being whisked together and then the ground chicken being browned through and sauce being added in.

Variations

Switch Things Up

Make this Chicken Larb recipe your own with simple swaps and straightforward add-ins.

  • Add fish sauce: A splash boosts traditional flavor.
  • Adjust heat: Increase chili sauce or Sriracha as desired.
  • Swap the meat: Ground pork or ground turkey also work well.
  • Add veggies: mix in finely diced mushrooms, carrots, or bell peppers. Increase the sauce if adding a larger amount.

Storage

Store chicken, rice, herbs, and cucumbers in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

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