Honey Lime Chicken Avocado Rice Stack (Printable)
Tender honey-lime chicken layered with creamy avocado and fluffy rice for a fresh, zesty meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken & Marinade
01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tbsp honey
03 - Juice and zest of 2 limes
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Rice
09 - 1 1/4 cups jasmine or basmati rice
10 - 2 cups water or chicken broth
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Avocado Layer
12 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
13 - Juice of 1 lime
14 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ To Serve
16 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
17 - Cherry tomatoes, sliced
18 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
19 - Lime wedges
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together honey, lime juice and zest, olive oil, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Coat chicken breasts in the marinade and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a saucepan, combine rice, water or broth, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Gently toss diced avocado with lime juice, chopped cilantro, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
04 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
05 - Layer rice at the base, top with avocado mixture, then slices of chicken. Sprinkle red onion, cherry tomatoes, and fresh cilantro or parsley on top. Serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The honey and lime create this incredible sticky glaze that makes ordinary chicken feel like something you would order at a restaurant
- Its one of those meals that looks impressive stacked up but comes together in under an hour on a weeknight
02 -
- Letting the chicken rest after cooking is absolutely crucial or all those juices will run out onto the cutting board instead of staying in the meat
- The honey in the marinade can burn quickly over high heat, so watch your pan and adjust temperature if needed
03 -
- Pat the chicken dry before removing it from the marinade so it sears instead of steams in the pan
- Add a pinch of cayenne to the avocado mixture if you want to balance the honey with some heat