Pesto Chicken Bowl (Printable)

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

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 4 tbsp basil pesto
03 - 1 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Rice

06 - 1 1/4 cups uncooked jasmine or basmati rice
07 - 2 cups water
08 - 1/2 tsp 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 tbsp toasted pine nuts, optional
15 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine chicken pieces, basil pesto, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well, cover, and marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 12-15 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 6-8 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.
05 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and greens. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and garnish with basil leaves.
06 - Serve immediately. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The pesto does all the heavy lifting, turning simple chicken into something that tastes like you spent hours on it.
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, which means you can actually eat dinner before 8 p.m.
  • It's the kind of bowl that works for meal prep Sunday or a quick lunch you threw together from leftovers.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—it genuinely makes the difference between fluffy individual grains and a starchy paste.
  • If your pesto has cheese in it and you're serving this to someone with dairy restrictions, check the label or make a quick nut-and-herb version instead.
03 -
  • Taste the pesto before you use it; some store-bought versions are salty enough that you might skip additional seasoning on the chicken entirely.
  • If your chicken is thick, slice the breasts in half horizontally so the pieces cook through evenly and get more surface area for browning.
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