Healthy Recipes 101

The Heart of The Home Beats in The Kitchen

  • Recipe Index
  • Courses
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
  • Method
    • Air Frying
    • Boiling
    • Broiling
    • Frying
    • Grilling
    • Oven Baked
    • One-Pan
  • About

Hot Tags

  • Juices
  • Chicken
  • Salmon Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Salads
Chicken

Chicken Larb Recipe

5 from 1 vote
  • Chicken
  • Main Dishes
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Servings 4 servings
Calories 498 kcal
Chicken Larb Recipe
Jump to Recipe
facebook pinterest twitter Print Recipe

Our healthy chicken larb recipe requires nothing more than a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes to make.

If you don’t know what it is, here are some facts about today’s dish.

What Is Larb?

Larb, also known as laab, is a national dish of Laos. It’s a type of meat salad often served with sticky rice and crunchy vegetables.

The dish contains minced meat — usually chicken, pork, beef, or fish, mixed with fresh mint and toasted ground glutinous rice. Larb is generally seasoned with fish sauce, lime juice, fermented fish paste, and red pepper flakes.

Although the dish originated in Laos, it’s also widely popular in Thailand and internationally.

what is larb

Is Chicken Larb Healthy?

Yes, our chicken larb recipe is healthy. Here is why:

  • Lean chicken meat: As mentioned, larb can also be made with beef, pork, or fish, but we’re using boneless, skinless chicken breast. It’s much lower in fat and calories compared to ground beef and pork, yet contains more protein.
  • Low in fat: Since we’re using skinless chicken, the main sources of fat in this recipe are only canola oil and roasted peanuts. But don’t worry, both of them provide you with only 2 grams of saturated fat per serving.
  • Monitoring the sodium content: Our recipe contains both salt and fish sauce to ensure the dish is well-seasoned. But don’t worry, it’s less than 600 mg of sodium per serving, which means it’s still within your recommended limit.

Want to know about your daily recommended intake of sodium and more? Check out our healthy eating guidelines.

is chicken larb healthy

Chicken Larb Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients to our chicken larb recipe:

  • Meat: We’re using ground boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe but there are a few other options for you to pick. We’ll get to that in a minute.
  • Aromatics and seasonings: We’re sautéing the chicken with red onions and minced garlic. After that, we season it with lime juice, sugar, black pepper, salt, fish sauce, chili powder, and sriracha.
  • Vegetables: Larb goes well with crunchy vegetables so we’re serving our chicken larb with cucumber and iceberg lettuce. You can also use carrots or cabbage as well.
  • Rice: Traditionally, larb is served with glutinous rice but for today’s recipe, we’re going for medium-grain white rice.

Can You Substitute the Meat in This Recipe?

Yes, you can.

Larb can be made with other types of protein such as ground beef, pork, duck, or fish.

If you’re using ground meat, we suggest using one with a high percentage of lean meat (80% or higher). This helps reduce your fat intake as much as possible.

ingredients

As for fish, freshwater catfish or tilapia are traditionally used. That being said, saltwater fish such as cod or haddock work just as well.

If you’re vegan, you can be creative and reinvent this recipe using mushroom, corn, and/or tofu. If you do try it, please let us know in the comment section below.

How to Make Chicken Larb

First, start by sautéing the aromatics like garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and red onion over medium heat. You need to stir them constantly to avoid burning.

They need to be cooked in the fat for at least 30 seconds to take the raw edge off and make them fragrant. Otherwise, they would be quite pungent and flavorless.

Next, add the ground chicken and cook over medium heat. If there are big chunks of chicken, use a wooden spoon to break them down into smaller pieces.

When the chicken is cooked, your larb is basically ready to eat. Add fresh herbs and garnish with peanuts and chili before serving it with warm, cooked rice.

Here is a summary of our healthy chicken larb recipe:

Step 1: Sauté the aromatics.

Step 2: Cook the chicken.

Step 3: Season the chicken.

Step 4: Add the herbs.

Step 5: Garnish and serve.

Full ingredients and measurements are available in the recipe card below.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Chicken Larb

Leftover chicken larb should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it’ll last up to 7 days. Be sure to keep the chicken and other fresh vegetables such as cucumber and iceberg lettuce in separate containers.

Larb will also last for up to a month in the freezer. You can store it in either a freezer-safe container or a Ziploc bag.

Transfer the chicken to a microwavable container and reheat it for 2 minutes. If your chicken larb is frozen, you should let it thaw or defrost it in the microwave before reheating.

Side Dishes for Chicken Larb

We’re serving our chicken larb with a side of Thai mango salad.

On one hand, the chicken is flavorful and savory. On the other hand, the salad is spicy, sweet, and sour.

Eaten together, they create a balance of all the flavors in one single bite. Try for yourself and you’ll see that these two Thai-inspired dishes pair so well you’ll  think they were made for each other.

Here’s a quick look today’s meal’s nutrition facts:

Recipes Course Calories Saturated fat Sodium
Chicken Larb Main Dish 498 2.3 g 553 mg
Thai Mango Salad Side Dish 256 2.3 g 226 mg
Total 754 4.6 g 779 mg
Nutritional values in this table vary somewhat to those below due to different app calculations. Read more...
side dishes for chicken larb

Easy, Healthy Chicken Recipes You May Like

Besides this tasty chicken larb recipe, we also have several amazing others chicken meals that we would like you to try. They’re easy to follow and strictly comply with our guidelines:

  • Chicken Carnitas Recipe
  • Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe
  • Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe
  • Chicken Flautas Recipe
  • Chicken a la King Recipe
Homemade Chicken Larb Recipe

Chicken Larb Recipe

5 from 1 vote
PRINT RATE Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest
Our healthy chicken larb recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare and 10 to cook. Your dinner will be ready in a blink of an eye.
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Thai
Servings 4 servings
Calories 498kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 15 oz skinless boneless chicken breast ground
  • 2 tbsp canola oil
  • 2 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp ginger minced
  • 2 tbsp lemon grass minced
  • 2 oz red onions finely diced
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp red bird’s eye chilli
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 cups cooked medium-grain rice
  • 0.25 oz mint leaves chopped
  • 0.25 oz coriander chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tbsp Thai fish sauce
  • 2 oz peanuts roasted
  • 1/2 tsp unsalted chili powder
  • 1 tsp sriracha
  • 4 oz cucumber sliced
  • 4 oz iceberg lettuce separated

Instructions
 

  • Sauté the aromatics: In a cast iron over medium heat, add the canola oil, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass. Stir constantly for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the red onions and stir for another minute.
  • Cook the chicken: Add the chicken to the same skillet and cook for 5 minutes. Break any big chunks into smaller pieces and stir occasionally while you cook.
  • Season the chicken: Add the cornstarch, lime juice, water, sugar, pepper, salt, fish sauce, chili powder, and sriracha. Cook and stir for an additional 3 minutes.
  • Add the herbs: Add the mint leaves and coriander. Stir for 30 seconds and turn off the heat.
  • Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with the roasted peanuts and bird’s eye chili. Lay the iceberg lettuce in a large serving platter and scoop the chicken larb on top of the lettuce. Serve with warm, cooked rice and cucumber.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Chicken Larb Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 498 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 78mg26%
Sodium 554mg24%
Potassium 678mg19%
Carbohydrates 52g17%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 32g64%
Vitamin A 415IU8%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 56mg6%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Homemade Chicken Larb Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas Recipe
Previous Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas Recipe
Chicken Spiedini Recipe
Next Recipe
Chicken Spiedini Recipe
Luna Regina

Luna Regina

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin
Luna is the founder and chief recipe developer of Healthy Recipes 101. Apart from cooking, she also loves reading, programming, exploring the outdoors, and collecting useless facts about everything.

Comments/ Reviews

Cancel reply
Chicken Larb Recipe
Chicken Larb Recipe
Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Alexa

    January 11, 2022 at 12:00 am

    This was so bright, fragrant, and delicious! I added chopped up bell pepper and broccoli for some extra veggies and added a little more of each seasoning to compensate. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Luna Regina

      January 11, 2022 at 4:03 am

      So glad you enjoyed it, Alexa!

      Reply
Luna Regina
Recipe developed by Luna Regina on December 27, 2021

Latest Recipes

Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Satay Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Satay Recipe

Air Fryer Mongolian Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Mongolian Chicken Recipe

Top Pinterest

Banana Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Banana Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Strawberry Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Strawberry Papaya Smoothie Recipe

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

AS SEEN ON
eatthis
parade
bustle
insider
buzzfeed
forbes
cnn
msn
Healthy Recipes 101
We do not offer medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice. Please seek consultation from a qualified health care professional prior to any decision to alter your current diet. Learn more See additional information.
  • Recipe Index
  • Course
  • Method
  • About
  • Cooking Challenge
  • Nutrition Guidelines
  • Recipe Development
  • Cooking Tips
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin

Get our latest healthy recipes

Stay up-to-date with our latest RDN-approved recipes, kitchen tips, and healthy eating challenges.

Opt-out at any time by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of our email.

Visit our other Healthy101 sites:

Healthykitchen101
© 2021 Healthy Kitchen 101, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Return to Top