If you're craving the vibrant and fresh flavors of Thai cuisine, this Easy Larb Chicken recipe is the perfect choice. It's incredibly simple to make, requiring only basic ingredients that you can easily find at your local market. Despite its simplicity, this dish tastes just as amazing as the larb chicken you'll find at authentic Thai restaurants.
In this post, I will show you how to make your very own Larb chicken at home.
This Thai dish can be served as a side or main dish and has a wonderfully refreshing taste from the lime juice. It's slightly sweet and spicy, and you can easily adjust the flavors to suit your taste.
Be sure to check out other delicious Thai recipes on my blog: Thai salad dressing, Spicy Thai noodles, and Thai BBQ chicken. Let's get started!
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What is Larb Chicken?
Larb chicken is a traditional Thai dish made with ground chicken, fresh herbs, and a flavorful sauce.
Larb chicken can be served in lettuce or cabbage leaves as a wrap, or over white rice or brown rice for a more filling meal. It pairs well with a side of steamed vegetables or a light salad.
Ingredients for Larb Chicken:
Now, let's start with the ingredients you'll need to make larb chicken. This larb chicken recipe is made of:
- Ground Chicken: A lean protein that's easy to cook and absorbs flavors well.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Adds a refreshing tangy flavor that brightens the dish.
- Thai Fish Sauce: A salty, savory sauce essential for authentic Thai taste.
- Thai Red Chili: Adds heat and a bit of spice; you can adjust the amount to your preference.
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and depth of flavor without too much salt.
- Red Onions: Provide a mild, sweet flavor and a bit of crunch.
- Lemongrass: Adds a citrusy, aromatic flavor that is classic in Thai cuisine.
- Cilantro: Fresh and slightly citrusy, it enhances the overall flavor.
- Mint Leaves: Adds a cool, refreshing taste that complements the other ingredients.
- Sugar: Balances the tangy and spicy flavors with a touch of sweetness.
How to Make Larb Chicken Recipe:
Below you'll find easy steps to prepare Larb chicken at home:
- Brown the Chicken: Place a skillet over high heat and add low-sodium chicken broth. Bring to a boil and add ground chicken. Stir continuously to prevent lumps. Cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Remove the chicken, drain, and set aside.
- Make the Larb Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine fish sauce, fresh lime juice, chili, sugar, red onions, and lemongrass. Add the cooked ground chicken and stir until well mixed.
- Combine and Serve: Just before serving, stir in fresh mint leaves and cilantro. Enjoy your homemade Larb chicken!
FAQs for Larb Chicken:
Yes, you can substitute ground chicken with ground turkey, pork, or beef. The cooking method remains the same.
The spiciness of larb chicken can vary based on the amount of chili you use. You can adjust the heat to your preference by adding more or fewer chilies.
Yes, larb chicken is generally healthy. It's low in fat, especially if you use lean ground chicken, and packed with fresh herbs and vegetables. Using lettuce or cabbage wraps instead of rice can make it even lighter.
Use a good-quality Thai fish sauce for the best flavor. If you need a substitute, you can use soy sauce, but the taste will be slightly different.
Yes, you can prepare the larb chicken ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to two days. Add the fresh herbs just before serving to keep them vibrant and flavorful.
Storage and Reheating:
Store leftover larb chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. While it's possible to freeze larb chicken, it's best enjoyed fresh. Freezing can change the texture of the herbs. If you do freeze it, add fresh herbs after thawing and reheating. For additional food safety guidance, please visit this website.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, and add fresh herbs just before serving.
I hope you'll enjoy this recipe and share it with friends! If you try it and don't mind, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating. Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly recipes and follow me on Pinterest.
📖 Recipe
Easy Larb Chicken Recipe with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons Thai fish sauce (use more or less according to your liking)
- ⅔ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced Thai chilies or serrano chilies (or ½ teaspoon Thai hot chili powder)
- ½-1 tablespoon sugar
- ¾ cup thinly sliced red onions
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh lemongrass
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 15 whole mint leaves
- fresh cabbage washed
Method
- Brown the Chicken. Place a skillet over high heat and and add low sodium chicken broth. Bring to boil and add ground chicken. Stir continuously to prevent lumps. Cook until chicken is browned or cooked through about 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Sauce. Mix fish sauce, fresh lime juice, chili, sugar, red onions and lemongrass in a mixing bowl, then add cooked ground chicken. Stir until well-mixed.
- Combine and Serve. Stir in fresh mint leaves and cilantro right before serving and spoon the mixture into the cabbage to serve.
Jeanette says
I am trying to eat more lettuce and less bread I am still a work in progress though I bought the wrong lettuce (too big), but I have actually enjoyed it and not missing the bread really all that much.
Liz Mays says
I'm loving all of the veggies in this recipe.
Travel Blogger says
What a great and easy recipe! I love stuff like this that is quick and healthy for dinner.
NPC says
Great recipe! My in-law make this all the time! So yummy! Definitely have to eat it with lettuce!
Chubskulit Rose says
There's a magic from lime juice that makes any kitchen dish so delicious!
wemake7 says
That looks fantastic! I would love to try this with my family. Thanks for the recipe.
mary edwards says
This looks like a recipe my family will love. You take amazing pictures by the way. Big bold and beautiful shareable shots
Krystal @ Sunny Sweet Days says
This is a new way to prepare chicken for me!
Ricci says
Usually low carb recipes are boring but it looks like you have nailed this one!! Great job!!
Kim says
I just made this tonight. I have to say the amount of fish sauce it calls for is too much. If you do 2T instead of 1/3 cup and increase the broth to 1/3 cup it will be delicious. I'm sorry, but the fish sauce ruined it for me. I will try again!
rika agustini says
Hi Kim,
Thanks a lot for sharing your feedback. I am very curious as which brand of fish sauce did you use? Do you know the brand and/or the general type (Thai fish sauce, Vietnamese, Filipino fish sauce, etc.)? I'll make sure to edit the recipe, so readers can decide if they need to adjust the amount of fish sauce. I'm taking your comment to heart as with many of my recipes I strive for a lighter taste that's never hidden by the sauce, dressing, etc. so thanks again. Rika