If dinner needs to be easy, filling, and something everyone actually wants to eat, this chicken and rice bowl with sesame dressing and broccoli delivers every time. It's one of those meals that feels fancy, but is actually super easy to make. With big flavor, minimal fuss, and a drizzle of roasted sesame dressing that deserves its own fan club. This is the kind of meal you'll crave on repeat.
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If you want to meal prep ahead or have a delicious meal, this chicken and rice bowl is literally perfect. Learn how to cook perfectly fluffy brown rice, master tender velvet chicken, roast broccoli until it's golden and crisp, and whip up a creamy roasted sesame dressing from scratch that pairs perfectly. You can even take it one step further and season the chicken with Cajun spice or toast your own sesame seeds for extra flavor!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's a full meal in one bowl. Protein, check. Grains, check. And veggies, check. A dinner win in my books!
- That sesame dressing? Creamy, nutty, and completely addictive. Don't skip the sesame dressing. For even more big flavor, add a drizzle of my homemade eel sauce!
- This chicken and rice bowl is excellent for meal prep and leftovers. Plus, it's easy to customize with what you have on hand!
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Brown Rice - Can be easily substituted for white rice, quinoa, or pasta.
- Chicken - Personally, I love using velvet chicken for this rice bowl. Although roast chicken, crispy tofu, or easy air-fried salmon can be used. Or if you're short on time, pick up a rotisserie chicken on the way home!
- Veggies - Use any veggies you have on hand, fresh or roasted will work. Using a mix of fresh and roasted veggies is good for texture and flavor.
- Roasted Sesame Sauce - This sauce is literally perfect for these rice bowls. Although you can use something like honey garlic sauce, teriyaki sauce, or even garlic parmesan sauce if you'd rather.
- Goat Cheese - Feta is another option that works well for this recipe.
A full list of ingredients with quantities can be found on the recipe card below.
Easy Variations
- Honey Garlic Salmon - Instead of chicken, use this crispy honey garlic salmon instead.
- Add Shrimp - Add juicy garlic butter shrimp or grilled shrimp skewers.
- More Vegetables - Add shredded carrots, garlic kalettes, or crispy roasted cauliflower.
- Make It Spicy - Make it spicy by adding crispy chili oil or sriracha.
If you love rice bowls, make sure to try my Chipotle burrito bowls and my easy sushi bowls, too!
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How To Make Chicken and Rice Bowls
Step 1
To start, you'll need to prepare these four recipes:
After everything is prepared, all you have to do is layer it on a plate or in a bowl.
Start with brown rice on the bottom, top with roasted broccoli, fresh cucumber, chicken, and goat cheese.
Step 2
Finish the chicken rice bowls by adding the finishing touches. Drizzle with sesame sauce and green onions. Serve immediately.
Step 3
To make these chicken and rice bowls for meal prep. Complete step 1, and build your bowl in a Tupperware or meal prep container. Store the sauce on the side and add it after heating, right before serving.
Expert Tips For Best Results
- Don't overcook the chicken. That's why I like to use the technique of velveting, which keeps it tender and juicy.
- Roast the broccoli to take it from boring to tender, caramelized, and crispy. This gives the rice bowl an extra element of texture.
- Don't skip the sesame sauce. It is the shining star of this rice bowl and tastes so, so delicious!
How To Store Leftovers
To store leftovers, keep the sauce, goat cheese, and any fresh veggies on the side. Store it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, fry it in a frying pan or reheat it in the microwave, adding the cheese, veggies and sauce right before serving. These rice bowls can be eaten cold, as long as all of the components (like the chicken) have been fully cooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are perfect for make-ahead and meal prep! Store the sauce, cheese, and any fresh vegetables separately if you plan to reheat the bowls, adding these components right before serving.
Velveting is a technique used to tenderize the meat, and it coats the chicken in a light marinade that locks in moisture, resulting in tender, juicy chicken pieces.
Roast it at a high temperature and avoid overcrowding the pan so it caramelizes instead of steaming.
My creamy sesame sauce adds richness and nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with both chicken and vegetables.
Absolutely! White rice works just as well, plus it cooks faster than brown rice.
More Easy Weeknight Meals
Looking for more easy weeknight meal recipes like this? Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Chicken and Rice Bowl with Sesame Dressing and Broccoli
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Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
For the Brown Rice
- 1 ½ cups Brown Rice
- 3 cups Water
For the Chicken
- 2 large Chicken Breasts sliced
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Avocado Oil
For the Roasted Broccoli
- 650 grams Broccoli Florets
- 2 Tablespoons Avocado Oil
- Salt & Pepper to taste
For the Sesame Dressing
- ¾ cup Kewpie Mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 teaspoon Tahini
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
More Toppings
- 1 large Cucumber diced
- ¾ cup Goat Cheese crumbled
- 3 Green Onions diced (optional for topping)
- Toasted Sesame Seeds (optional for topping)
Instructions
Cook the Brown Rice
- Add the brown rice and water to a pot, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until all of the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Let it sit covered until ready to serve. 👉 See full brown rice guide for detailed instructions
Cook the Chicken
- Toss the sliced chicken with the cornstarch, soy sauce, baking soda and pepper. Let marinate for 10-15 minutes and then cook in a hot pan with avocado oil until fully cooked and tender. 👉 See full velveting chicken tutorial
Roast the Broccoli
- Toss the broccoli with oil, salt and pepper. Spread onto a baking sheet and roast at 425°F for 7-10 minutes until tender and lightly charred. 👉 See full roasted broccoli recipe
Make the Sesame Dressing
- Whisk together all of the ingredients for the sesame dressing until smooth and pourable. 👉 See full sesame dressing recipe
Assemble the Rice Bowls
- Divide the rice evenly between bowls. Top with roasted broccoli, diced cucumber, cooked chicken, and goat cheese. Drizzle generously with roasted sesame dressing. Garnish with the optional green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
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Notes
- Brown Rice: Easily substitute for white rice, quinoa or pasta.
- Chicken: Any style of chicken can be used, like roasted chicken, rotisserie or baked. Other proteins like steak, salmon, or shrimp are also good options.
- Veggies: Use what you have on hand, fresh or roasted veggies work wonderfully.
- Sauce: The roasted sesame sauce is the star of this dish. But if you'd like other options, honey garlic sauce, teriyaki sauce, or buffalo sauce will work perfectly.
- Goat Cheese: Feta is another option that works well in this recipe.
- Add Spice: To make these chicken bowls spicy, top with crispy chili oil, sriracha or hot sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container with the fresh veggies, sauce and cheese on the side. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in a frying pan or microwave and add the fresh veggies, sauce, and cheese right before serving.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
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