Buffalo Chicken Grain Bowl (Print)
Spicy buffalo chicken over wholesome grains with fresh veggies and creamy dressing for a satisfying meal.
# Ingredient list:
→ Chicken
01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
04 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Buffalo Sauce
05 - 1/3 cup hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot)
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 tbsp honey (optional)
→ Grains
08 - 1 cup brown rice, quinoa, or farro (uncooked)
09 - 2 1/2 cups water or broth
→ Vegetables & Toppings
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1 large avocado, diced
12 - 1 cup shredded carrots
13 - 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
14 - 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta
15 - 1/4 cup chopped green onions
16 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
→ Dressing
17 - 1/4 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
18 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Rinse grains under cold water. Combine with water or broth in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer according to package directions until tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Preheat oven to 400°F or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat until lightly smoking.
03 - Pat chicken breasts dry and coat evenly with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Grill or bake for 6 to 7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, and honey until smooth. Toss the sliced chicken in the sauce until evenly coated.
05 - Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the avocado, shred the carrots, and thinly slice the cucumber. Set aside in separate piles or bowls for easy assembly.
06 - Divide the cooked grains among 4 bowls. Arrange buffalo chicken, prepared vegetables, crumbled cheese, and green onions over the grains in each bowl.
07 - Drizzle ranch or blue cheese dressing over each bowl and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice if desired. Garnish with cilantro or parsley and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The buffalo sauce clings to every slice of chicken and soaks into the grains below, making each forkful taste like you put in way more effort than twenty minutes of actual work.
- It is one of those rare bowls that actually reheats well the next day, so making extra is never a mistake.
02 -
- If you toss the avocado in a tiny squeeze of lemon juice right after dicing, it stays green instead of browning by the time you sit down to eat.
- Resting the chicken before slicing is the difference between juicy pieces and a dry, stringy disappointment that no amount of sauce can fix.
03 -
- Warm the buffalo sauce slightly before tossing the chicken in it, because cold sauce straight from the fridge causes the butter to seize into tiny unappetizing clumps.
- Cooking the grains in broth instead of water is a small change that makes a noticeable difference in the final flavor of every single bite.