Grilled chicken rice bowl with step-by-step photos and a video recipe. This healthy chicken rice bowl is made with perfectly seasoned grilled chicken served over a bed of fluffy white rice, topped with fresh and colorful vegetables. Make this easy, delicious, and healthy meal in just 30 minutes. It is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or lunch.
Similar to the chicken fajita rice bowl, this recipe is easy to customize. You can add or skip ingredients as per your liking. These chicken and rice bowls are great when you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen preparing the meal.
Just grill the chicken and cook the rice. Top it with fresh veggies like corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and lettuce leaves. Drizzle our delicious homemade yogurt dressing on top. A delicious and healthy meal is ready in no time.
About this recipe
In this recipe post, I am sharing how to make a grilled chicken rice bowl. It is a quick and healthy meal that satisfies your hunger and is ready in just 30 minutes.
Start by marinating chicken breasts and then grill to perfection. Serve over steamed rice flavored with cilantro and lime. Top them with your favorite veggies for a nourishing and flavorful dish.
Want to make it more delicious? Try our homemade yogurt dressing. This dressing can be prepared with simple ingredients easily available in your kitchen pantry in just 5 minutes.
Make this traditional chicken and rice bowl exciting by adding any of your favorite toppings like cherry tomatoes, avocado, corn, or cheese.
This grilled chicken bowl is full of flavor and nutrients and is sure to become your family favorite.
You may also like these other popular chicken and rice recipes from this website:
- Chicken Fajita Rice
- Mexican Chicken and Rice
- Lemon Chicken and Rice
- Healthy Spinach Chicken and Rice
- Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice
Why You Need This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make - You can make this rice bowl quickly within 30 minutes. Easy step-by-step instructions with photos and a recipe video are shared in the post.
- Easy to customize - It is made with simple ingredients easily available in the kitchen pantry. Check out the ingredient list below for alternative ingredients. You can add or skip the ingredients as per your taste and availability.
- Healthy - This healthy chicken rice bowl is made with chicken (protein), vegetables (fiber & antioxidants), avocado (healthy fat), and rice (carbohydrate - give energy to the body). Definitely a healthy meal for your family that can be made quickly.
- Homemade yogurt dressing - This is so flavorful and easy to make. You will love it. I have shared the recipe in the post.
- Meal Prep friendly - This is great for meal prep. Cook rice and chicken and store them separately in an airtight container. Reheat and top with any of your favorite toppings.
- Balanced flavor - This recipe is not too spicy. This is the dish that your whole family can enjoy including the kids.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chicken - You can use either boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can also use leftover grilled chicken for a quick meal.
- Rice - I have used long-grain basmati rice. You can use any long-grain or medium-grain rice. Or for a healthier option use quinoa or cauliflower rice.
- Lime Juice - Fresh lime juice tastes the best. You can substitute it with bottled lime juice.
- Cilantro - I have used fresh cilantro. Skip, if you do not have it. Or substitute it with parsley. However, the flavor will slightly differ.
- Garlic - Use fresh garlic for the best flavor. You can substitute it with garlic powder
- Soy Sauce - Use low sodium light soy sauce. Substitute with regular soy sauce.
- Corn - You can use fresh, canned, or frozen corn for this recipe. Skip, if you do not have it.
- Oil - You can use any neutral flavor cooking oil that does not have a strong smell.
- Toppings - This is completely optional. Add whatever you like to add or have in your pantry. I have added cherry tomatoes, avocado, corn, and onions. You can also add zucchini, bell peppers, steamed cooked broccoli, etc.
- Dressing - This is also optional. But it adds beautiful flavors to your chicken and rice bowl recipe. Try it, you will not be disappointed. For this dressing, I have used greek yogurt, mayonnaise, fresh garlic cloves, salt, pepper, lime juice, cilantro, and honey. You can skip mayonnaise for a low-calorie version.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make Grilled Chicken Rice Bowls (Step by step instructions with photos)
Preparations
- Pound the chicken breast for even thickness or slice it in half.
- Marinate with lime juice, oil, garlic, pepper, paprika, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Keep it aside for 30 minutes.
- To make the yogurt dressing - combine the ingredients mentioned under the dressing in a mixing bowl. Keep it in the refrigerator.
Making healthy chicken rice bowl
- Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and grease it with oil. Once the pan is hot enough, place the marinated chicken over it (discard the excess marinade). Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked (internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F). Remove and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Slice it and keep it aside.
- To assemble the bowls - Divide the cooked rice into 4 bowls. Top it with grilled chicken, lettuce leaves, corn, onion slices, tomatoes, avocado, and lime wedge.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing on top and enjoy.
Cooking Tips
- Marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes. It keeps the chicken tender and juicy. Also, enhances the flavor.
- Cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- After cooking the chicken, keep it aside for 10 minutes before slicing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, definitely it is a healthy meal. Chicken breasts are a good source of lean protein than any other cuts of chicken. Rice is a rich source of carbohydrates. It is the body's main fuel source that keeps you energized and satisfied. Also, the addition of veggies to the rice bowl adds antioxidants and fiber to your diet and makes it healthier.
You can substitute white rice with brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or couscous.
You can add whatever veggies you want like zucchini, bell peppers, steamed cooked broccoli, etc.
Storage Suggestions
- Store the leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.
- Transfer the leftover chicken and rice to separate airtight containers. Stays good for 3 days. Reheat until piping hot and serve.
- Transfer the veggies (onion, tomato, and corn) to a separate airtight container and refrigerate. Stays good for 2 days.
- Do not try to store sliced avocado. It may turn brown and soggy.
Variations that you can try
- Make it healthier - Instead of white rice as the base of the bowl make it with quinoa or brown rice.
- Substitute chicken with any other protein like shrimp.
- Make it vegetarian by substituting chicken with tofu, beans, or boiled chickpeas.
- Try to add different toppings like broccoli or bell peppers. Add cheese or sour cream.
- Make a burrito - Wrap it in a tortilla. Lightly grill it and serve.
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Grilled Chicken Rice Bowl
Equipment
- 1 Grill pan
- 1 Mixing bowl
Ingredients
To marinate the chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (substitue: white sugar or honey)
- 2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
For the yogut dressing
- ½ cup greek yogurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise (skip for a low calorie version)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
- 1.5 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
For cilantro lime rice
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1.5 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
- ½ teaspoon pepper powder
- salt to taste
To assemble the chicken and rice bowl
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 corn, fresh, frozen or grilled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1 onion, sliced
- lime wedges
Instructions
Preparations
- Pound the chicken breast for even thickness or slice it in half.
- Marinate with lime juice, oil, garlic, pepper, paprika, brown sugar and soy sauce. Keep it aside for 30 minutes.
- To make the dressing - combine the ingredients mentioned under yogurt dressing in a mixing bowl. Keep it in the refrigerator.
Making healthy chicken rice bowl
- Heat a grill pan over medium high heat and grease it with oil. Once the pan is hot enough, place the marinated chicken over it (discard the excess marinade). Cook 4-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked (internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F). Remove and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Slice it and keep it aside.
- To assemble the bowls - Divide cooked rice in 4 bowls. Top it with grilled chicken, lettuce leaves, corn, onion slices, tomatoes, avocado and lime wedge.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing on top and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes. It keeps the chicken tender and juicy. Also, enhances the flavor.
- Cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- After cooking the chicken, keep it aside for 10 minutes before slicing it.
- To grill chicken on a gas grill - Preheat the gas grill to 425 degrees F. Once preheated grill chicken for 4 - 6 minutes per side (depending on their size) until the center registers 165 degrees. Remove from heat, cool for 10 minutes then dice into cubes.
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