Spicy Lunch Bowl Bold Flavors (Printable)
A nourishing bowl filled with bold spices, tender chicken, and colorful fresh vegetables with zesty sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein
01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to desired heat)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
→ Grains
08 - 1 cup (200 g) brown rice, uncooked
09 - 2 cups (480 ml) water
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Vegetables
11 - 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup (130 g) cucumber, diced
13 - 1/2 cup (60 g) shredded carrots
14 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
15 - 2 cups (60 g) baby spinach
16 - 1 avocado, sliced
→ Spicy Sauce
17 - 1/3 cup (80 ml) Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt for dairy-free
18 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha or other hot sauce
19 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
20 - 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
21 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Garnish (optional)
22 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
23 - Fresh cilantro leaves
24 - Lime wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Rinse brown rice and transfer to a medium saucepan with water and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until tender. Fluff rice with a fork and set aside.
02 - In a bowl, toss chicken pieces with olive oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked and lightly browned. Remove from heat.
04 - Combine Greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt), Sriracha, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and salt in a small bowl. Mix until smooth and well blended.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Arrange baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, shredded carrots, red bell pepper, and avocado around the rice. Top each with cooked chicken.
06 - Drizzle the spicy sauce over each bowl. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, additional cilantro leaves, and lime wedges as desired.
07 - Serve immediately for optimal freshness and flavor.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in 40 minutes flat, making it perfect for meal prep or a quick weeknight dinner that doesn't taste quick.
- The spicy yogurt sauce is addictive enough that you'll find yourself drizzling it on everything else you cook for weeks.
- You can customize almost every element based on what's in your fridge, so it never gets boring.
02 -
- The spicy sauce needs to go on warm rice so it thins out slightly and distributes evenly—putting it on cold ingredients makes it clumpy and separated.
- Don't slice your avocado until you're ready to assemble, because it browns faster than you'd think and ruins the presentation of an otherwise vibrant bowl.
03 -
- Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 2–3 minutes before garnishing—the aroma is incredible and the flavor becomes more complex and nutty.
- If you're making this for meal prep, keep the avocado separate and slice it fresh each day, because nothing ruins a beautiful bowl faster than brown, oxidized avocado.