Pesto Chicken Bowl (Printable)

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

# 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, optional
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 in the refrigerator for enhanced flavor.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until 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 to 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 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and lightly browned.
04 - Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, slice red onion and avocado, and wash spinach or greens. Keep all components separate until assembly.
05 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with cooked pesto 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 -
  • The pesto does all the heavy lifting flavor-wise, so you get restaurant-quality taste in your own kitchen with minimal effort.
  • Everything comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you can have dinner on the table before anyone gets too hungry.
  • You can prep components ahead and assemble however you're feeling that day—it's flexible enough to work with what you have.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—it removes excess starch and keeps your grains from clumping together into a gluey mess.
  • If your avocado is rock-hard, slice it anyway and let it sit in the bowl for a few minutes; sometimes it softens enough to be perfect, and you'll save yourself from mushy brown avocado by not letting it wait.
03 -
  • If your pesto seems thick or you want more sauce, thin it with a little extra olive oil or even a squeeze of lemon juice—it'll coat the rice better and taste brighter.
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet for just a couple of minutes before you use them; they go from sad to magical in that short time, and the smell will remind you why you're doing this.
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