Pesto Chicken Bowl (Printable Version)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

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

→ Rice

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

# How to Make It:

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 development.
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. Set aside until ready to assemble bowls.
05 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and greens. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
06 - Serve immediately. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chicken soaks up that basil pesto like it's been waiting its whole life for this flavor partnership.
  • Everything comes together in less than 45 minutes, yet tastes like you spent hours fussing in the kitchen.
  • It's naturally flexible—swap vegetables based on what's in your crisper drawer without losing the magic.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice; it's the difference between fluffy grains and a starchy paste that makes you question your cooking.
  • The pesto is concentrated, so a little goes a long way—you can always add more but you can't take it back.
  • Marinate longer than 15 minutes if possible; the flavors need time to convince the chicken they belong together.
03 -
  • If you're making pesto from scratch with fresh basil, pulse everything quickly so it stays bright green instead of turning dark and bruised—overworking it changes the whole flavor profile.
  • Let marinated chicken sit out for 10 minutes before cooking so it cooks more evenly and doesn't seize up in the pan.
Go Back