Chicken and Rice Bowl (Print View)

Tender chicken and fluffy rice paired with crisp seasonal vegetables for a satisfying wholesome meal ready in 40 minutes.

# Components:

→ Protein

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Marinade

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Grains

08 - 1 cup long-grain white rice or brown rice
09 - 2 cups water

→ Vegetables

10 - 1 cup broccoli florets
11 - 1 cup bell pepper, sliced
12 - 1 cup carrot, julienned or thinly sliced

→ Garnish

13 - 2 green onions, sliced
14 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional
15 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with olive oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss thoroughly to coat and let marinate while preparing the rice.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes for white rice or 35 minutes for brown rice until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add a splash of oil if needed. Sauté broccoli, bell pepper, and carrot for 4–5 minutes until tender but still crisp.
05 - Return the chicken to the skillet with the vegetables and stir to combine. Cook for 1–2 more minutes to heat through.
06 - Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and divide among bowls. Top with the chicken and vegetable mixture.
07 - Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and fresh herbs as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under an hour, leaving you time to actually sit down and enjoy dinner.
  • The marinade does all the heavy lifting, infusing the chicken with smoky, savory depth.
  • You can swap vegetables based on what needs to be used up, making it endlessly adaptable.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, soaking up all those pan juices overnight.
02 -
  • If your chicken releases a lot of liquid, do not panic, just let it cook off before adding vegetables or everything steams instead of sautés.
  • Rinsing rice is not optional unless you enjoy sticky clumps, it takes thirty seconds and changes the texture completely.
  • Do not cover the skillet while cooking chicken, trapped steam makes it rubbery instead of crispy.
03 -
  • Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet for thirty seconds before sprinkling, it wakes up their nutty flavor.
  • Use a wide skillet instead of a deep pan so vegetables get color instead of steaming.
  • Let the rice rest covered after cooking, lifting the lid too early releases steam and leaves you with underdone grains.
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