Buddha Bowl with Chicken

This delicious healthy Chicken Buddha Bowl combines Thai grilled chicken, spinach, brown rice, bell peppers, tomatoes and avocado with a simple Greek yogurt dressing.  This easy to make recipe brings wholesome food together in a colorful tasty display.  There are no artificial ingredients or preservatives in this Chicken Buddha Bowl.

Okay so new year new you! I get totally get it.  November and December are loaded with high carbohydrate sugar laden foods that are scrumptious but after a while they take a toll on our bodies and our energy level.  This Thai Chicken Buddha Bowl will give your body the nutrition that it is longing for.

What is a Buddha Bowl?

Buddha bowls hit their highest popularity in 2017 with various bowls filled with a variety of vegetables and protein.  These bowls are also referred to as Hippie Bowls, Grain Bowls and Power Bowls.  Some believe that the perfect Buddha Bowl is a combination of grain, protein and vegetables drizzled with a complimentary sauce. While others believe that the key to a perfect Buddha Bowl is a variety of wholesome ingredient reflecting the colors of a rainbow.  After all haven’t the experts always told us eat a variety of fruits and vegetable of various colors? Still others believe that it is a nourishing meal with little bites of delicious food.

My definition of a Buddha bowl remains quite open ended. It qualifies as long as the ingredients are one hundred natural, complement each other, represent some of the colors of the rainbow and are served in a bowl.  Nutrition is the game here and Buddha Bowls can be served in endless combinations.

What protein is best for Buddha Bowls?

I personally think that chicken is best but eggs, shrimp, salmon, steak and tofu are also easy and delicious.  This Thai Chicken recipe can be grilled or skillet cooked.  It is delicious both ways!  Combine your favorite protein with brown rice, udon noodles and your favorite vegetables for a super healthy nutritious meal!

How do you make Chicken Buddha Bowls?

Prepping and cooking the ingredients for the bowls.

First mix up the marinade by combing garlic, sherry, chili paste (sambal oelek), rice vinegar, olive oil,  sesame oil, ginger, lime juice, brown sugar and honey in a large ziploc bag.  Add the chicken and let it marinate for about two hours.

Cut the bell peppers in half and cook the rice.  I like to use the brown basmati rice pouches that heat in the microwave.  Fire up the grill and cook the chicken breasts for about seven to eight minutes depending on the size of the breast.  Add the bell peppers the last couple of minutes of cooking. Remove from the heat and let cool.  Once cooled slice the chicken and bell peppers into bite size pieces.

In a small bowl mix the garlic, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lime juice, dill weed and black pepper.  Slice the tomatoes and avocados.  Please keep in mind that avocados can brown quickly so this should be done right before you are going to assemble your bowls.

Assembling the bowls.

Place about two cups of baby spinach in the base of a wide bowl.  Top with the warm cooked rice, bell peppers, avocado, tomatoes, and chicken. Add a couple of tablespoons of the Greek dressing and if desired a lime wedge.

What kinds of different Buddha bowls are there?

Oh heavens the ingredients for a Buddha Bowl are endless.  The contents of the bowl are really only limited by your imagination.

Protein

• eggs
• chicken breast or thighs
• lean steak
• ground turkey
• salmon
• tofu
• black beans
• chickpeas

Grains

• brown rice
• white rice
• udon noodles
• rice noodles
• quinoa

Vegetables

• spinach
• bell peppers
• brussels sprouts
• carrots
• sugar snap peas
• napa cabbage
• bok choy

Fruits

• tomatoes
• avocados

Nuts

• sliced almond
• pepitas
• sunflower seeds
• chopped pecans

As you can see there are many different combinations to suit your personal taste and dietary requirements.  You can drizzle the bowls with aioli, tzatziki, balsamic glaze, olive oil or your favorite creamy all natural salad dressing. These delicious Buddha Bowls are full of nutrition making it ideal for you and your family.

Other chicken recipes you will love!

Buddha Bowl with Chicken

This delicious Chicken Buddha Bowl combines Thai grilled chicken, spinach, brown rice, bell peppers, tomatoes, avocado with a simple Greek yogurt dressing.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: bowl

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 656kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

Thai Chicken Marinade

• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons sherry
• 2 tablespoons chili paste sambal oelek
• 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts 4

Bowl Contents

• 8 cups baby spinach
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 yellow pepper cut in half and seeded
• 1 orange or red bell pepper cut in half and seeded
• 2 cups grape tomatoes cut in half
• 1 avocado
• 4 lime wedges

Dressing

• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

Instructions

• Combine garlic, sherry, chili paste (sambal oelek), rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, ginger, lime juice, brown sugar and honey in a large Ziploc bag.  Add chicken; marinate for 2 hours.
• Preheat the grill and cook the chicken until done flipping halfway through; approximately 7-8 minutes.  When cooked through the chicken will register a temperature of 165 degrees. Add the peppers to the grill the last 2-3 minutes; flipping halfway through.  Loosely cover the chicken and peppers and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl mix the garlic, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lime juice, dill weed and black pepper.
• Cut the chicken and bell peppers into bite size pieces. Peel, remove seed and slice avocado. Place 2 cups of baby spinach in the base of each bowl.  Top with 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1/4 of the bell peppers, 1/2 cup tomatoes, 1/4 of the avocado, and 1 chicken breast . Add 2 tablespoons of the Greek dressing and 1 lime wedge.

Nutrition

Calories: 656kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 267mg | Potassium: 1718mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 7401IU | Vitamin C: 138mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 4mg

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