If you’re short on time and money, the *soboro donburi* is a classic, uncomplicated comfort food that makes a perfect weeknight dinner.


Chicken Soboro Recipe: Tips for Making a Chicken and Egg Bowl

[Donburi](https://masterclass.com/articles/donburi-rice-bowls-guide) means “bowl” in Japanese, but it's also a catch-all term for rice bowls. There are endless varieties of this Japanese dish that incorporate vegetables, meat, seafood, and eggs cooked with flavorful seasonings—all on top of plain, steamed white rice.

*Soboro donburi*, or *soboro don*, is a Japanese rice bowl consisting of seasoned ground chicken and scrambled eggs served atop steamed rice. *Soboro* is a Japanese term referring to any protein (whether beef, chicken, fish, or eggs) cooked down into a fine, crumbly texture. Green vegetables, like peas or green beans, are an occasional addition to the dish. 

*Soboro*, also known as *soboro bento* in some restaurants due to its popularity in [bento](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bento-box-explained) lunch boxes, can be served warm or at room temperature for a quick lunch or dinner. 

Here are a few tips to take your homemade *soboro* to the next level: 

1. __Add a little color__.  The *soboro don* served at a [yakitori](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/yakitori-guide) restaurant is more likely to feature seasoned chicken over rice, but some variations offer a bit more visual appeal. *Sanshoku donburi*, for example, pairs the ground meat and scrambled eggs with a blanched green vegetable, typically shelled peas, snow peas, or green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces—for a tri-color presentation.
2. __Adjust the sweetness to preference__. Traditional *soboro don* features a bit of sugar in both the braising liquid and the beaten eggs. The addition of sugar creates full-bodied [umami](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-umami-learn-about-umami-and-how-to-incorporate-umami-flavors-in-your-cooking) throughout the entire dish—balancing out the saltiness, savory tang, and heat from the soy sauce, [sake](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sake-guide), and fresh ginger in the dish. 
3. __Switch up the protein__. The word “*soboro*” refers to the crumbly texture of the ground protein. While ground chicken is a staple in the dish, the kind of protein you use is up to you. *Soboro don* can also feature other ground meats like ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork. You can also substitute firm [tofu](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tofu) or seafood like shrimp.
4. __Aim for an even texture__. Break up the ground meat into small, even pieces while it cooks to guarantee total flavor absorption and match the eggs’ fluffy curd-like texture. 
5. __Use chopsticks to scramble the eggs__. Using two chopsticks instead of a broad, flat tool, like a spatula, to scramble the eggs results in a finer, more even texture to match the ground chicken.

If you’re short on time and money, the *soboro donburi* is a classic, uncomplicated comfort food that makes a perfect weeknight dinner.


<a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/donburi-rice-bowls-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/donburi-rice-bowls-guide","linkCopy":"Donburi","category":null}'>Donburi</a> means “bowl” in Japanese, but it&#39;s also a catch-all term for rice bowls. There are endless varieties of this Japanese dish that incorporate vegetables, meat, seafood, and eggs cooked with flavorful seasonings—all on top of plain, steamed white rice.

What Is Donburi?

Soboro donburi, or soboro don, is a Japanese rice bowl consisting of seasoned ground chicken and scrambled eggs served atop steamed rice. Soboro is a Japanese term referring to any protein (whether beef, chicken, fish, or eggs) cooked down into a fine, crumbly texture. Green vegetables, like peas or green beans, are an occasional addition to the dish. Soboro, also known as soboro bento in some restaurants due to its popularity in <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bento-box-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bento-box-explained","linkCopy":"bento","category":null}'>bento</a> lunch boxes, can be served warm or at room temperature for a quick lunch or dinner.

What Is Soboro?

Here are a few tips to take your homemade soboro to the next level: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Add a little color. The soboro don served at a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/yakitori-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/yakitori-guide","linkCopy":"yakitori","category":null}'>yakitori</a> restaurant is more likely to feature seasoned chicken over rice, but some variations offer a bit more visual appeal. Sanshoku donburi, for example, pairs the ground meat and scrambled eggs with a blanched green vegetable, typically shelled peas, snow peas, or green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces—for a tri-color presentation. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Adjust the sweetness to preference. Traditional soboro don features a bit of sugar in both the braising liquid and the beaten eggs. The addition of sugar creates full-bodied <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-umami-learn-about-umami-and-how-to-incorporate-umami-flavors-in-your-cooking' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-umami-learn-about-umami-and-how-to-incorporate-umami-flavors-in-your-cooking","linkCopy":"umami","category":null}'>umami</a> throughout the entire dish—balancing out the saltiness, savory tang, and heat from the soy sauce, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sake-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sake-guide","linkCopy":"sake","category":null}'>sake</a>, and fresh ginger in the dish. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Switch up the protein. The word “soboro” refers to the crumbly texture of the ground protein. While ground chicken is a staple in the dish, the kind of protein you use is up to you. Soboro don can also feature other ground meats like ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork. You can also substitute firm <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tofu' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tofu","linkCopy":"tofu","category":null}'>tofu</a> or seafood like shrimp. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Aim for an even texture. Break up the ground meat into small, even pieces while it cooks to guarantee total flavor absorption and match the eggs’ fluffy curd-like texture. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Use chopsticks to scramble the eggs. Using two chopsticks instead of a broad, flat tool, like a spatula, to scramble the eggs results in a finer, more even texture to match the ground chicken. </li></ol>

5 Tips for Making Soboro

Chicken Soboro Don Recipe

If you’re short on time and money, the soboro donburi is a classic, uncomplicated comfort food that makes a perfect weeknight dinner.

If you’re short on time and money, the soboro donburi is a classic, uncomplicated comfort food that makes a perfect weeknight dinner.
