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sticky chicken bowls - featured image

Sticky Chicken Bowls: Best Budget Meal Prep Swap


  • Author: jonathan_morgan
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A budget-friendly, sticky-sweet chicken bowl recipe that is perfect for meal prep. Juicy chicken breasts are marinated in a homemade soy-ginger sauce and served over rice with steamed vegetables.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 cup white or brown rice, uncooked
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 medium carrot, sliced thin
  • 2 stalks green onions, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cooking oil (for skillet)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken breasts dry and cut into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl.
  2. Whisk together soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Pour over chicken and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 15 minutes (or up to 1 hour in fridge).
  3. Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Cook according to package directions and keep warm.
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 teaspoon of oil. Add chicken pieces in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
  5. In the same pan, add broccoli and carrots with a splash of water. Cover and steam for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
  6. Pour the reserved marinade into the pan with the vegetables. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss everything to coat in the sticky sauce. Remove from heat.
  8. Divide rice among bowls, top with chicken and vegetable mixture, and garnish with green onions.

Notes

Do not reuse raw marinade as a sauce unless boiled first to kill bacteria. Cut chicken and vegetables into uniform sizes for even cooking. If the sauce gets too thick, add a tablespoon of water. Rice does not freeze well; freeze chicken and sauce separately.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 12
  • Sodium: 600
  • Fat: 10
  • Saturated Fat: 2
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 4
  • Protein: 35

Keywords: sticky chicken, meal prep, budget meals, chicken bowls, healthy dinner, quick meals, soy ginger chicken