Description
Hearty chicken and sweet potato rice bowl delivers a perfect balance of savory proteins and comforting starches. Wholesome ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a nourishing meal that satisfies hunger and delights senses with each delectable bite you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Starches:
- 1 cup cooked brown rice (or white rice, if preferred)
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
Seasonings and Flavoring:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F and prepare a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Chop sweet potatoes into uniform cubes, ensuring even cooking and caramelization.
- Toss sweet potato pieces with olive oil and seasonings, using hands to distribute spices thoroughly and create a glossy, well-coated surface.
- Arrange sweet potato cubes in a single layer on the baking sheet, preventing overcrowding which can lead to steaming instead of roasting.
- Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, rotating the baking sheet midway to promote even browning and prevent burning.
- While sweet potatoes are roasting, prepare chicken by seasoning with complementary spices like paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook chicken in a separate skillet over medium-high heat, ensuring each piece develops a golden-brown exterior and reaches a safe internal temperature.
- Simultaneously, prepare rice according to package instructions, fluffing with a fork after cooking to create a light, airy texture.
- Assemble rice bowls by layering fluffy rice as the base, topping with roasted sweet potato cubes and perfectly cooked chicken.
- Optionally garnish with fresh herbs like cilantro or green onions for added brightness and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Choose firm, bright orange sweet potatoes for the best roasting results and maximum flavor development.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure crispy exterior and deep flavor penetration when cooking.
- Swap chicken for tofu or chickpeas to create a delicious vegetarian version of this hearty rice bowl.
- Consider adding a sprinkle of fresh herbs like cilantro or green onions for an extra burst of freshness and color at serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg