Grilled Chicken Broccoli Bowls (Printable)
Grilled chicken, crisp broccoli and rice drizzled with a creamy garlic sauce for a hearty, quick dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ Vegetables
06 - 2 cups broccoli florets
07 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
08 - 1/2 small red onion, sliced
→ Grains
09 - 2 cups cooked rice (white, brown, or cauliflower rice for low-carb)
→ Creamy Garlic Sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
11 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnishes
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
18 - Lemon wedges
# Steps:
01 - Bring grill or grill pan to medium-high temperature.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Grill each side for 5 to 6 minutes until thoroughly cooked. Verify internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
03 - Steam or blanch broccoli florets for 3 to 4 minutes, until just tender. Set aside.
04 - Sauté sliced bell pepper and red onion in a medium skillet over medium-high heat with a small amount of olive oil for 4 to 5 minutes, until softened.
05 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk in Parmesan cheese and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes until sauce thickens. Add lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Remove from heat.
06 - Distribute cooked rice among four serving bowls. Top with grilled chicken slices, broccoli, sautéed peppers, and onions. Drizzle with creamy garlic sauce.
07 - Finish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges, if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy garlic sauce clings perfectly to everything and never feels heavy—like a secret chef trick for ordinary weeknights.
- This bowl is endlessly flexible for busy, picky, or health-conscious eaters, which is why it’s solved so many mealtime moods for me.
02 -
- If you skip resting the chicken, it will lose all its juiciness onto the cutting board—lesson learned after my first attempt.
- Broccoli gets unpleasantly mushy fast if overcooked, so set a timer and check for that green pop.
03 -
- Slicing the chicken against the grain makes every bite unbelievably tender.
- Stir a pinch of red pepper flakes into the garlic sauce if you want a little heat—it’s a game changer.