Pesto Chicken Bowl (Printable version)

Tender pesto-marinated chicken over fluffy rice with fresh vegetables for a nourishing, flavorful meal.

# What you need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Rice

06 - 1 1/4 cups uncooked jasmine or basmati rice
07 - 2 cups water
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Fresh Vegetables & Toppings

09 - 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
11 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
12 - 1 medium avocado, sliced
13 - 2 cups baby spinach or mixed salad greens
14 - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts, optional
15 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - In a bowl, combine chicken pieces, basil pesto, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well, cover, and marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
03 - While rice cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and lightly browned.
04 - Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, slice onion and avocado, and wash spinach or greens.
05 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and greens. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and garnish with basil leaves.
06 - Serve immediately. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns a weeknight into something special without any fancy technique or hard to find ingredients.
  • You can prep the components ahead and assemble bowls in minutes when hunger strikes.
  • The pesto does all the heavy lifting, coating the chicken in bright, garlicky flavor that makes plain rice taste luxurious.
  • Everyone gets to customize their bowl, so picky eaters and adventurous eaters both leave the table happy.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the rice. The first time I ignored this step, I ended up with gummy clumps instead of fluffy grains.
  • Let the rice rest covered after cooking. Those five minutes off the heat finish the job and make every grain tender.
  • If your pesto is thick, thin it with a teaspoon of water or lemon juice so it coats the chicken more evenly.
  • Cut the chicken into similar sized pieces so they cook at the same rate and nothing ends up dry or underdone.
03 -
  • Let the chicken marinate longer than you think you need to. The pesto seeps into every fiber and makes the meat impossibly tender and flavorful.
  • Do not crowd the pan when cooking the chicken. Give each piece space to brown instead of steam, and you will get those caramelized edges that taste like magic.
  • Assemble the bowls with the warmest ingredients on the bottom and the coolest on top. The contrast in temperature wakes up your palate with every forkful.
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