Pesto Chicken Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender basil pesto chicken over fluffy rice with fresh vegetables for a satisfying 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 - Combine chicken pieces, basil pesto, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, cover, and marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for enhanced flavor.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Bring water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes until tender and water is fully absorbed. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let 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 chicken is cooked through and lightly browned.
04 - Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, slice onion and avocado, and wash spinach or greens. Arrange prepared components for assembly.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among 4 bowls. Top each with chicken, 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 Advice:

01 -
  • Your kitchen smells like an Italian summer while you're cooking, and that aroma sticks around long after dinner.
  • Everything comes together in 40 minutes, which means you can actually make this on a weeknight without stress.
  • The bowl format feels fancy enough for guests but casual enough that you won't judge yourself for eating it straight from a mixing bowl.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—starchy rice becomes gluey rice, and that changes the whole eating experience.
  • If your chicken pieces are thick or uneven, pound them slightly before marinating so they cook evenly and don't dry out while waiting for thicker pieces to finish.
03 -
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet for just two minutes—they go from ordinary to buttery and nutty almost instantly, and burned pine nuts taste bitter and ruin the moment.
  • If your pesto is salty, reduce the extra salt you add to the chicken, since pesto already carries quite a bit of seasoning.
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