When the dinner hour approaches and you’re stuck in the kitchen juggling multiple pots and pans, chicken dinner bowls can be your saving grace for a simple yet satisfying meal. Here are 31 of my favorite chicken dinner bowl recipes, each designed to make your life a little easier and a lot tastier.
Contents
- Chicken Dinner Bowls
- 1. Classic Grilled Chicken and Quinoa Bowl
- 2. Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl
- 3. Lemon Herb Chicken and Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl
- 4. Chicken and Kimchi Bowl
- 5. Mediterranean Chicken and Couscous Bowl
- 6. Chicken Fajita Bowl With Cauliflower Rice
- 7. Peanut Chicken and Soba Noodle Bowl
- 8. BBQ Chicken and Corn Salad Bowl
- 9. Chicken and Lentil Bowl With Tahini Dressing
- 10. Chicken and Mushroom Risotto Bowl
- 11. Chicken and Mango Salsa Bowl
- 12. Teriyaki Chicken and Brown Rice Bowl
- 13. Chicken and Sweet Potato Hash Bowl
- 14. Buffalo Chicken Grain Bowl
- 15. Chicken and Farro Bowl
- 16. Chicken and Greek Yogurt Bowl
- 17. Chicken and Chickpea Curry Bowl
- 18. Chicken and Moroccan Spiced Bowl
- 19. Chicken and Butternut Squash Bowl
- 20. Chicken and Pesto Pasta Bowl
- 21. Chicken Caesar Bowl
- 22. Chicken and Tomato Basil Bowl
- 23. Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice Bowl
- 24. Sweet Chili Chicken Meatball Bowl with Tzatziki
- 25. Sheet Pan Chicken Tinga Bowl
- 26. Chicken Adobo Rice Bowl
- 27. Instant-Pot Chicken Burrito Bowl
- 28. Chicken and Beet Bowl
- 29. Chicken and Apple Walnut Bowl
- 30. Chicken and Wild Rice Bowl
- 31. Chicken and Spinach Artichoke Bowl
- Conclusion
Chicken Dinner Bowls
This collection of 31 chicken dinner bowls offers practical solutions for the common challenges of weeknight cooking, from time constraints to dietary restrictions. Each recipe provides a complete blueprint for creating balanced, customizable, one-bowl meals that eliminate guesswork and simplify both preparation and cleanup.
Sometimes, you just want a good, filling meal without the fuss. That’s where dinner bowls shine – they’re easy, versatile, and perfect for meal prepping. Plus, you can pack them with sorts of delicious and healthy ingredients.
1. Classic Grilled Chicken and Quinoa Bowl
Grill seasoned chicken breast, cook quinoa, then combine with steamed broccoli and cherry tomatoes. Grilled chicken and cooked quinoa hold up well in the fridge, making this a perfect base for a week’s worth of lunches. This smoky and nutty bowl can also give you sustained energy from the quinoa and chicken.
2. Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl
Here’s a zesty blend of flavors with a hint of spice and a refreshing citrus kick. Season and cook the chicken, then combine it with black beans, corn, rice, and a cilantro-lime dressing. This fiber-rich chicken dinner bowl is perfect for anyone who loves Southwestern cuisine and needs a quick, satisfying meal.
3. Lemon Herb Chicken and Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl
Need a tasty yet healthy chicken bowl recipe you can share for a potluck? Roast sweet potato cubes, pan-sear chicken with lemon and herbs, and combine with spinach. The lemon and herbs brighten up the chicken, the sweet potatoes are caramelized and sweet, and the spinach adds a fresh, earthy note.
4. Chicken and Kimchi Bowl
Sauté chicken, serve over brown rice with kimchi, and top with a fried egg. This bowl promotes gut health with the probiotics in kimchi, provides protein, and gives you a good dose of vitamin K. This spicy, tangy, and umami-rich chicken bowl is ideal for those who enjoy Korean flavors and want a gut-friendly meal.
5. Mediterranean Chicken and Couscous Bowl
Grill chicken seasoned with oregano and garlic, then mix with couscous, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives. This bowl supports heart health with olive oil’s healthy fats, provides hydration from cucumbers and tomatoes, and gives you complex carbohydrates for energy. It has a fresh mix of flavors – the chicken is herby, the veggies are crisp, and the olives add a salty bite.
6. Chicken Fajita Bowl With Cauliflower Rice
Even if you’re watching your carb intake, you can still enjoy a spicy, savory, and satisfying chicken dish. Sauté chicken with bell peppers and onions, season with fajita spices, and serve over cauliflower rice. This bowl is low-carb, helps regulate blood sugar, and provides a good dose of vitamin C.
7. Peanut Chicken and Soba Noodle Bowl
If you don’t want to use rice, you can cook soba noodles, pan-fry chicken with peanut sauce, and combine it with shredded carrots and cabbage. This bowl delivers protein and healthy fats from the peanut sauce, provides fiber from the vegetables, and gives you a good source of manganese. This Asian-inspired dish has a nutty and slightly sweet taste with a nice crunch from the veggies.
8. BBQ Chicken and Corn Salad Bowl
Perfect for a casual weeknight meal – just shred cooked BBQ chicken, then mix with corn, black beans, red onion, and a light vinaigrette. This bowl provides fiber for digestive health, antioxidants from the corn, and protein from the chicken. It’s sweet, smoky, and slightly tangy, with a refreshing crunch from the corn and onions.
9. Chicken and Lentil Bowl With Tahini Dressing
Running out of ideas for your meal plans? Cook lentils, pan-sear chicken, and drizzle it with a tahini dressing. This protein-packed dinner bowl is an explosion of earthy, savory, nutty, and creamy notes that will keep everyone at the dinner table satisfied.
10. Chicken and Mushroom Risotto Bowl
Cook risotto with chicken broth and mushrooms, then add shredded cooked chicken. This bowl provides calcium from the parmesan and gives you protein from the chicken. The creamy, rich, and earthy flavors are perfect for a cozy dinner on a cold night.
11. Chicken and Mango Salsa Bowl
Grill chicken, dice mango, red onion, and cilantro, and combine with cooked black beans. This bowl increases your vitamin C intake, aids in digestion with the fiber from the mango and black beans, and hydrates you with the juicy mango. Its sweet, tangy, and refreshing taste is perfect for a light, tropical-inspired dinner.
12. Teriyaki Chicken and Brown Rice Bowl
Need to feed a bunch of guests, yet don’t have the time to clean a messy kitchen? Simply marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce, bake or pan-fry, then serve over brown rice with steamed edamame. This bowl delivers sustained energy from the brown rice, provides plant-based protein from the edamame, and gives your body the sodium needed for proper function.
13. Chicken and Sweet Potato Hash Bowl
Sauté chicken with sweet potato hash (diced sweet potatoes, onions, and peppers), then top with a fried egg. This bowl provides vitamin A from sweet potatoes, protein, and fiber. It also has a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy taste with a satisfying mix of textures.
14. Buffalo Chicken Grain Bowl
Toss cooked chicken in buffalo sauce, serve over grains like quinoa or farro, and add toppings such as celery, carrots, and blue cheese. This bowl provides a protein punch for muscle recovery, an improved metabolism from the spicy buffalo sauce, and fiber for digestive health. It has a tangy, spicy, and savory experience, with a creamy contrast from the blue cheese.
15. Chicken and Farro Bowl
Did you know that just one cup of whole grain emmer farro can provide a whopping 20% of the daily recommended fiber intake? Aside from fiber, this earthy and nutty chicken bowl provides iron, protein, and antioxidants. To get these nutritional benefits, sauté chicken with mushrooms and spinach, then combine them with cooked farro.
16. Chicken and Greek Yogurt Bowl
Looking for a refreshing dinner bowl for the warm weather? Grill chicken, then combine with cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and a dollop of Greek yogurt. This bowl provides protein and calcium from Greek yogurt, gives you hydration from cucumbers and tomatoes, and is low in calories.
17. Chicken and Chickpea Curry Bowl
Do you enjoy Indian flavors and want to incorporate them into a comforting meal? Cook chicken in a coconut milk-based curry sauce with chickpeas, then serve over basmati rice. Aside from giving protein and healthy fats, it’s rich, creamy, and aromatic, with a blend of warming spices.
18. Chicken and Moroccan Spiced Bowl
Craving something aromatic, sweet, and savory with a blend of warming spices? Cook chicken with Moroccan spices like cumin, cinnamon, and ginger, and serve over couscous with dried apricots and almonds. This bowl provides warming spices that aid digestion while delivering a sweet and savory flavor.
19. Chicken and Butternut Squash Bowl
Need a seasonal meal, especially during fall? Roast chicken and butternut squash cubes, then combine with kale and cranberries. This bowl provides vitamin A from butternut squash, gives you fiber and antioxidants, and delivers a sweet and savory flavor.
20. Chicken and Pesto Pasta Bowl
Cook pasta, sauté chicken with pesto, and combine with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella. This bowl provides carbohydrates for energy, gives you protein, and delivers healthy fats from pesto. This fresh, herby, and creamy chicken bowl is perfect for packing for travel.
21. Chicken Caesar Bowl
Grill chicken, then toss with romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and a light Caesar dressing. Romaine lettuce has more than 20% of the daily value recommended of vitamin K for adults to help with blood clotting, bone health, and heart health. Aside from these health benefits, this bowl also gives a creamy, cheesy, and refreshing taste.
22. Chicken and Tomato Basil Bowl
Looking for an Italian-inspired meal for dinner? Pan sear chicken, then combine with cooked pasta, fresh tomatoes, and basil. It’s bright, fresh, and slightly acidic from the tomatoes and aromatic from the basil.
23. Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice Bowl
Do you have some leftover chicken? Just stir fry cooked chicken with rice, pineapple, peas, carrots, and soy sauce. This sweet, savory, and slightly tangy chicken bowl is great for those who enjoy Asian-inspired meals and want something fast and filling after a tiring day at work or school.
24. Sweet Chili Chicken Meatball Bowl with Tzatziki
Bake or pan-fry chicken meatballs coated in sweet chili sauce, serve over rice or couscous, and drizzle with tzatziki. This results in a sweet and spicy kick from the meatballs, balanced by the cool, tangy tzatziki. This bowl offers a balance of protein for muscle building, healthy carbohydrates for energy, and probiotics from the tzatziki for gut health.
25. Sheet Pan Chicken Tinga Bowl
Toss chicken with tinga spices, roast on a sheet pan with bell peppers and onions, and serve over rice or quinoa. Sheet pan cooking allows for easy cleanup and large batches, making it perfect for efficient weekly meal prep. This protein-packed chicken dinner bowl gives a smoky, slightly spicy, and deeply flavorful experience with tender chicken and caramelized vegetables.
26. Chicken Adobo Rice Bowl
Simmer chicken in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and pepper adobo sauce until tender, then serve over steamed rice, often with a side of steamed greens. The adobo chicken stores exceptionally well, as the vinegar acts as a natural preservative, and the flavors deepen over time, making it ideal for reheating. It has a rich, savory, and tangy flavor profile, with a perfect balance of salty, sour, and garlicky notes that permeate the tender chicken.
27. Instant-Pot Chicken Burrito Bowl
Cook seasoned chicken, rice, and beans in an Instant Pot, then top with your favorite burrito fixings like salsa, avocado, and cheese. The Instant Pot method allows for large batches of chicken and grains to be cooked simultaneously, making it incredibly efficient for weekly meal prep. This spicy and creamy chicken dinner bowl is perfect for busy individuals and families who desire a quick, customizable, and hearty meal at night.
28. Chicken and Beet Bowl
To make this nutrient-rich chicken dinner bowl, roast chicken and beets, then combine with spinach, walnuts, and a balsamic vinaigrette. It’s earthy, sweet, and slightly tangy, with a nutty crunch. This recipe is also packed with iron from beets and healthy fats from walnuts.
29. Chicken and Apple Walnut Bowl
Grill chicken, then combine with diced apples, walnuts, celery, and a light vinaigrette. This chicken dinner bowl recipe provides fiber from apples, healthy fats from walnuts, and lean protein. It’s ideal for a light, autumn-inspired lunch or dinner.
30. Chicken and Wild Rice Bowl
Bake chicken, cook wild rice, and combine with roasted vegetables like carrots and Brussels sprouts. This bowl provides sustained energy from the wild rice, gives you fiber for digestive health, and delivers antioxidants from the roasted vegetables. This earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet dinner recipe is great for a comforting and nutritious meal, especially during colder months.
31. Chicken and Spinach Artichoke Bowl
Cap off your night with Mediterranean flavors for a comforting, easy dinner meal. Sauté chicken with spinach, artichoke hearts, and garlic, and serve over cooked pasta. This protein-packed chicken bowl gives a creamy, savory, and slightly tangy taste with a rich and satisfying flavor.
Conclusion
These one-bowl wonders pack protein, vegetables, and grains into a single delicious dish that makes mealtime a breeze. Chicken dinner bowls can revolutionize your weeknight routine, giving you back precious time while making your family enjoy nutritious, flavorful meals that satisfy everyone’s taste preferences.
Nathaniel Lee is an avid cook, drawing on his decades of home cooking and fine dining experience. He is a contributing chef at Mashed, and his recipes and contributions have been featured in Tasting Table, Edible Arrangements, Insanely Good Recipes, and The Daily Meal.