Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe ( Paleo & Whole30) (2024)

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This easy Banh Mi Bowl recipe is like a deconstructed Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, but healthier and low carb! The base is made with cauliflower rice, then it’s topped with spicy-sweet ground beef, veggies, and Asian sriracha mayo.

Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe ( Paleo & Whole30) (1)

These Paleo Banh Mi Bowls are pure heaven. With just the right amount of spicy, salty, and crunchy elements - so fun to eat! If you like Vietnamese food, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Spicy sweet fried ground beef served on fluffy cauliflower rice alongside plenty of crunchy and colorful veggies that would also go into a traditional Banh Mi Sandwich - carrots, cucumbers, scallions, radishes, cilantro, jalapenos! On top - a creamy Sriracha Mayo that comes together in seconds.

Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe ( Paleo & Whole30) (2)

This bowl recipe comes together from start to finish in less than 25 minutes, so I’m really not joking when I say it’s STUPID EASY. You can prep all ingredients ahead of time so this would also be a wonderful meal prep recipe and such a welcome change from Vietnamese subs and other calorie-dense Asian Takeaway food.

Instructions for meal prep:

Wanna make these banh mi bowls for meal prep? Just shred and chop all the veg, make the sauce, and store everything ahead of time. The meat can be made the night before. It will get a bit tough if it sits in the fridge so I recommend reheating it. Reheat the meat gently in a saucepan.

To Store. You can easily store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3- 4 days.

How to make this Vietnamese Bahn Mi Rice Bowl Recipe:

Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe ( Paleo & Whole30) (3)

Step 1 - Stir together sriracha and mayo in a bowl. Set aside while you make the rest of the recipe.

Step 2 - Next, make the sauce: stir together coconut aminos, honey, sriracha, arrowroot, and ginger in a bowl. Set aside.

Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe ( Paleo & Whole30) (4)

Step 3 - Prepare the beef. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat with oil. Add the meat to the pan and break it into large pieces. As the beef begins to brown, continue to break it into smaller and smaller pieces. Try not to stir too much; just occasionally until all of the beef is browned, about 5 minutes.

Step 4 - Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add prepared sauce and reduce heat to low. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes and remove from heat.

Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe ( Paleo & Whole30) (5)

Assemble:

  1. Pepare the cauliflower rice according to the package instructions.
  2. Divide the cauliflower rice into 2 bowls then top it with beef and arrange the cucumber, carrot, radish. Scatter with scallions and jalapeño, if using.
  3. Drizzle Sriracha mayo over the bowls (if it’s too compact to drizzle, you can dilute it with lime juice, or even a splash of water). Finish with some fresh cilantro leaves and serve! Enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

  • Make it vegan: If you want to keep this meat-free, simply use your favorite vegan “meat” substitution - either fried tofu or seitan would work well here.
  • If you're not on low carb/ paleo/ whole30 use white rice instead of cauliflower rice.
  • Mayo: Make sure it's a whole30-friendly mayo.
  • Sriracha: Try to find sriracha with minimal ingredients
  • Ground Beef: I like a 85/15 lean to fat ratio.
  • Cauliflower rice: you can buy frozen bags of cauliflower rice instead of making my own

Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowls with Sriracha Mayo (Paleo, Whole30)

This easy Banh Mi Bowl recipe is like a deconstructed Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, but healthier and low carb! The base is made with cauliflower rice, then it’s topped with spicy-sweet ground beef, veggies, and Asian sriracha mayo.

CourseMain Course

CuisineAsian

Keywordbanh mi bowls, Vietnamese rice bowl

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 3

Ingredients

Sriracha Mayo:

  • ¼cupmayo - see notes
  • 3tspsriracha - see notes

Beef:

  • 1tsprefined coconut oil see recipe - optional
  • 1lb.ground beef - see notes
  • 3garlic clovesminced

Sauce:

  • ¼cupcoconut aminos
  • 1tbsphoneyleave out for Whole30 or add date paste
  • 1tspsriracha
  • 1tbsparrowroot
  • 1tspfresh ginger grated

Bowls:

  • 6cupscauliflower riceor classic rice
  • ¼long English cucumbersliced or cut into ribbons
  • 1large carrotcut into matchsticks (you can also use shredded carrots)
  • ½cupradishcut into matchsticks (about 9 medium radishes)
  • 2stalks scallionsthinly sliced (optional)
  • sliced jalapeno peppersfor garnish (optional)
  • cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  1. Stir together sriracha and mayo in a bowl. Set aside while you make the rest of the recipe.

  2. Next, make the sauce: stir together coconut aminos, honey, sriracha, arrowroot and ginger in a bowl. Set aside.

  3. Prepare the beef. Heat a large pan over medium high heat with oil. Add the meat to the pan and break it into large pieces. As the beef begins to brown, continue to break it into smaller and smaller pieces. Try not to stir too much; just occasionally until all of the beef is browned, about 5 minutes.

  4. In order for the meat to brown, rather than steam, the pan needs to be hot. Adding oil is optional but recommended for better browning.

  5. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add prepared sauce and reduce heat to low. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes and remove from heat.

  6. Prepare the cauliflower rice according to the package instructions.

  7. Divide the cauliflower rice into 2 bowls then top it with beef and arrange the cucumber, carrot, radish. Scatter with scallions and jalapeño, if using. Drizzle Sriracha mayo over the bowls (if it’s too compact to drizzle, you can dilute it with a big a lime juice, or even a splash of water). Finish with some fresh cilantro leaves and serve! Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • Make it vegan: If you want to keep this meat-free, simply use your favorite vegan “meat” substitution - either fried tofu or seitan would work well here.
  • If you're not on low carb/ paleo/ whole30 use white rice instead of cauliflower rice.
  • Mayo: Make sure it's a whole30-friendly mayo.
  • Sriracha: Try to find sriracha with minimal ingredients
  • Ground Beef: I like a 85/15 lean to fat ratio.
  • Cauliflower rice: you can buy frozen bags of cauliflower rice instead of making my own

If you tried this Paleo Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram,PinterestandFacebookfor more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

More healthy Asian recipes you will love:

  • Asian Slaw with Peanut Ginger Dressing
  • Ground Turkey Rice Bowls
  • Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Glazed Chicken Meatballs

« Thai Coconut Turkey Meatballs Curry (Paleo + Whole30 Option)

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam

    What a colorful, healthy and yummy dish. Thank you for sharing the recipe and all of the great tips!

    • Marie

      This bowl is definitely something to look forward to! Thanks so much

  2. Beth

    Yum! This looks fantastic and so delicious! My hubby is going to love this recipe! So excited to give this a try!

    • Marie

      OH I hope hubby enjoys it! Have fun cooking and eating together!

  3. Shelley

    Such a brilliant idea to deconstruct the beloved banh mi sandwich! And yes, yes, yes to nutritious cauliflower rice - delicious and so much healthier!

    • Marie

      YES - that cauli rice is perfect as a low-cal bowl filler! Thanks so much Shelley

  4. Claudia Lamascolo

    Wow these flavors are absolutely fabulous I think this will be lunch as soon as I get to the market !

    • Marie

      Oh amazing! Enjoy Claudia!

  5. Toni

    This was so good! Quickly became a favorite at my house!

    • Marie

      So happy you liked the recipe!

  6. MK

    Can't wait to try this but was just wondering if you think i can use ground turkey instead of ground beef 🙂

    • Marie

      Hi! yes sure that would work just fine! Enjoy

Vietnamese Banh Mi Rice Bowl Recipe ( Paleo & Whole30) (2024)

FAQs

Is Vietnamese rice bowl healthy? ›

I have been craving this Vietnamese rice noodle salad with grilled chicken and nuoc cham for quite some time. It's a dish with an explosion of flavours and crunchy texture. A wholesome and nutritious salad that is gluten-free, low in carbs, and features a variety of fresh vegetables and herbs.

What is the brown spread in Banh Mi? ›

Pate – pork or chicken, the very best Banh Mi vendors make their own. Any normal pate that's not heavily flavoured with liquor or a flavouring like orange is just fine.

What is the healthiest food to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant? ›

Vietnamese fresh spring roll (goi cuon) - one of the healthiest Vietnamese dishes. Vietnamese fresh spring rolls (goi cuon), often dubbed Vietnamese vegetable rolls, are a shining example of wholesome Vietnamese cuisine.

Are Vietnamese rice noodles high in carbs? ›

From a basic nutritional perspective, when you buy vermicelli rice noodles, you are getting a useful calorie hit and an ingredient that is naturally high in carbohydrates. At the same time, these noodles are low in sodium and nearly entirely fat-free.

How many calories in a Vietnamese rice bowl? ›

Vietnamese Rice Bowl: Chicken
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 1 serving
How many calories are in Vietnamese Rice Bowl: Chicken? Amount of calories in Vietnamese Rice Bowl: Chicken: Calories 820Calories from Fat 288 (35.1%)
% Daily Value *
9 more rows

Is eating rice bowls healthy? ›

Rice bowls are easy customizable meals that are healthy and, in this case, high in protein. Each serving has at least 15 grams of protein, so you know these recipes will help keep you feeling full. They have the added benefit of fiber, which adds to the satisfaction factor.

Is Vietnamese food very healthy? ›

Vietnamese food is considered one of the healthiest ethnic cuisines globally. Vietnamese food is a healthy and green option that can compete with the popular Mediterranean diet due to its focus on fresh ingredients, minimal cooking, leafy greens, fish, minimal animal protein and fat, and moderate sugar use.

How healthy is a bowl of pho? ›

Pho is a great source of protein (vital for your bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood). But it's best to choose a lean protein. Mia Syn, a nutritionist, says: "When it comes to the protein, opt for lean cuts of meat or veggies to lower your saturated fat intake.

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