Pesto Chicken Bowl (Print View)

Tender pesto-marinated chicken over fluffy rice with fresh vegetables and toppings.

# What You’ll 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
15 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# How To Make It:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine chicken pieces, basil pesto, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly, cover, and marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours refrigerated for enhanced flavor development.
02 - Rinse rice under cold running water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups salted water to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed. Remove from heat, keep covered, and rest 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 cooked through and lightly browned on the exterior.
04 - Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, slice red onion and avocado, and rinse spinach or mixed greens. Arrange all components for efficient assembly.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with cooked chicken, followed by fresh vegetables and greens. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
06 - Serve immediately while warm, or allow to cool to room temperature before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The pesto does all the heavy lifting for flavor, so you're eating something that tastes restaurant-quality without the stress.
  • Everything comes together in 40 minutes, which means it's perfect for nights when you're hungry now, not in an hour.
  • You can eat it warm, room temperature, or even cold the next day, and it somehow tastes even better.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—it's the difference between fluffy and gluey, and it takes 30 seconds.
  • The avocado goes in last, right on top of your bowl, or it will brown before you even sit down to eat.
03 -
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before using them—it wakes up their flavor and makes the whole bowl taste more intentional.
  • If your pesto seems thick when you're marinating the chicken, add a squeeze of lemon juice to loosen it up and brighten everything.
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