Description
Looking for a quick dinner, healthy snack, or easy recipe to upgrade your weekly meal plan? This Mediterranean chicken and rice bowl is packed with vibrant vegetables, juicy seasoned chicken, and fluffy rice, making it one of the best dinner ideas for busy nights. It’s a wholesome, balanced dish full of fresh flavors, perfect for anyone seeking healthy food ideas that don’t compromise on taste.
Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 lemon juiced
1 cup long grain rice
2 cups chicken broth or water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cherry tomatoes diced
1 cup cucumber chopped
1/2 red onion finely chopped
1/2 cup zucchini diced
1/2 cup bell peppers diced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
2 tablespoons feta cheese optional
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
1. In a bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, and lemon juice, then coat the chicken and marinate for 20–30 minutes.
2. Rinse the rice until clear, then cook with broth, olive oil, and salt for 15–18 minutes until fluffy.
3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked.
4. In the same pan, sauté zucchini and bell peppers for 3–4 minutes, then add tomatoes briefly before removing from heat.
5. Mix in fresh cucumber and red onion with the cooked vegetables.
6. Assemble bowls with rice as the base, then layer vegetables and chicken on top.
7. Garnish with parsley, lemon zest, feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, marinate the chicken longer if time allows, up to 2 hours.
Use leftover or pre-cooked rice to save time on busy evenings.
Add fresh herbs and lemon juice just before serving to keep flavors bright and fresh.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 75mg