These Buffalo Chicken Bowls are loaded with tons of flavor and are easy enough for a weeknight, but special enough for a weekend meal! Seasoned chicken is pan seared, tossed in buffalo sauce, and served on a bed of rice with fresh veggies and a drool-worthy ranch dressing made healthier with Greek yogurt! It's full of nutrition and easy to customize. I hope you enjoy! 😊
As a dietitian, some of my favorite & easy meal prep recipes are bowl-style meals like a Southwest Chicken Bowl, Street Corn Rice Bowl, or Greek Meatball Bowl, and this easy Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowl is my new favorite!
It took several recipe tests to get these buffalo bowls right because I really wanted to provide a healthy option that's as easy as possible and doesn't require you to turn on the oven. I'm so excited to be sharing the final version with you and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
More Healthy Bowl Recipes
- Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowls with Elote Dressing
- Sweetgreen Copycat Hot Honey Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes
- Greek Chicken Meatball Bowls with Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Glow Bowl Recipe with Chickpeas & Yogurt Tahini Sauce
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
- Smoked Paprika Salmon Rice Bowl
- Burger Bowls with Special Sauce
- Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowls
- Spring Roll in a Bowl with Peanut Sauce
- Ground Turkey Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Savory Breakfast Bowls, High Protein & Gluten-Free
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This easy buffalo chicken bowl recipe is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the recipe card for the measurements.
Buffalo Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken - I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. Either one will work, but just note that chicken thighs will take slightly longer to cook.
- Spice Blend - this recipe calls for garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper to season the chicken.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - olive oil adds moisture and prevents the chicken from drying out. It also adds heart-healthy fats that support brain health and hormone health. Avocado oil works here too.
- Buffalo Sauce - the chicken is tossed in spicy buffalo sauce after it's cooked to add delicious flavor that pairs great with the other components of the bowl. I use Primal Kitchen Buffalo Sauce for this recipe.
- Fresh Lemon Juice - fresh squeezed lemon juice brightens up the flavor of this dish. You can substitute with lime juice if you prefer!
Healthy Homemade Ranch Ingredients
- Greek Yogurt - typically, ranch dressing is made using mayonnaise and sour cream. In this recipe, I use Greek yogurt to lighten it up a bit while still providing the creamy consistency and tangy flavor. You can replace Greek yogurt with whipped cottage cheese if you don't like Greek yogurt.
- Mayonnaise - just a little bit of mayo goes a long way. If you prefer, you can cut out the mayo altogether and use extra Greek yogurt.
- Fresh Lemon Juice - this brightens up the dressing and adds so much flavor!
- Water - to thin it out to the consistency you prefer.
- Seasonings - this is what really takes this homemade ranch over the top is all the delicious seasonings - garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, dried chives, dried parsley, and kosher salt!
For Assembling
- Rice - use your favorite rice or a whole grain like quinoa for the base. I use white rice, but brown rice or cauliflower rice work. Sweet potatoes are another great option if you want to skip the rice.
- Greens - I like to use crisp romaine lettuce, but you could use a different green like spinach or even a bag of cabbage slaw mix. If you don't like lots of veggies feel free to leave the greens out.
- Toppings - I use sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, pickled onions, feta cheese and avocado for my toppings. Some other great options are green onions, red onion, bell peppers, matchstick carrots, or blue cheese crumbles.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Bowls
Below are the instructions for how to make this quick dinner with photos I hope are helpful. Check the recipe card for the full directions.
- Step 1: Prep the chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the seasonings. Give it a toss until the chicken is coated.
- Step 2: Make the rice: cook rice according to the instructions on the package. Let it cool about 5-10 minutes and fluff it. If you want more flavor, add some lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt & black pepper. Mix to combine.
- Step 4: Cook the chicken: heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add remaining olive oil and heat until it shimmers. Add the seasoned cubed chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, undisturbed. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165℉ (75°C).
Step 5: Remove the chicken from the skillet and toss it in a bowl with the buffalo sauce. Squeeze lemon on top. Prep the toppings: cut the toppings you will be using. I cut my cherry tomatoes in half, slice the cucumber, dice the avocado, and chop the romaine lettuce.
Step 6: Assemble the bowls - Add the romaine (optional), cooked rice, chicken and toppings to a bowl.. Pour the ranch dressing over everything.
Hint: serve this recipe family style and let everyone choose as much of each component as they want!
Dietitian Tip
Making recipes like these healthy Buffalo chicken bowls is a great option to get in lean proteins and tons of fresh veggies while leaving room for customization for the entire family. Everyone can pick & choose what they want! If you meal prep an option like this in advance, you'll likely to have enough for a couple of dinners or at least for dinner and lunch the next day.
Variations
The great thing about this Buffalo Chicken Rice bowl recipe is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas but feel free to get creative.
- Shortcut - use shredded chicken you have some leftover or shredded rotisserie chicken and toss it in the buffalo sauce if you want to save some time.
- Blue Cheese Dressing - if you're a blue cheese lover, skip the ranch and use your favorite blue cheese dressing.
- Low Carb - if you are following a low carb eating pattern, either serve yourself a smaller portion of the rice. Or instead of regular rice, you can use cauliflower rice for this recipe.
- Added Fiber - add black beans, cabbage slaw, or roasted cauliflower to add more fiber!
- Buffalo Chicken Wraps - skip the rice and turn the buffalo chicken and ranch dressing into a wrap with spinach and tomatoes.
Equipment
You'll need a saucepan to cook your rice and a deep skillet to cook the chicken. I use my Caraway skillet which is a non-toxic PFOA and PTFE-free saute pan for the chicken.
Storage for Buffalo Chicken Bowls
*I suggest storing the individual components of this recipe separately.
- Storage for Chicken - store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Storage for Rice - store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- Storage for Ranch Dressing- store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days
Expert Tips
- Cut the chicken into similarly sized pieces to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Be careful when adding the chicken to the hot oil because it may splatter!
- Be sure to use a buffalo sauce you like the taste of! If you're sensitive to spicy food, start with less buffalo sauce and add more to taste.
- Rinse the rice under cold water in a mesh strainer before cooking. This helps get rid of some of the starch and will prevent the rice from becoming gummy while it cooks.
- Don't remove the lid from the pot while the rice cooks! It will release some of the steam.
- After the rice is done, remove the pot from the heat and let it stand for 5-10 minutes, covered, before removing the lid.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich option. The chicken provides high-quality lean protein, iron, and vitamins B6 & B12. The vegetables provide important nutrients including antioxidants, dietary fiber for a healthy gut, and vitamin C. The rice provides carbs which are your body's preferred energy source! And the Ranch Dressing is made with Greek yogurt which provides protein, calcium, and vitamin D.
Add the chicken when the olive oil is shimmering. You can also test to see if the pan is hot enough by adding a drop of water. If the water evaporates, the pan is hot enough.
The best way to tell that your chicken is done is to check it with an instant-read meat thermometer. The chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165℉ (75°C).
I like to use jasmine rice for this recipe because it cooks quickly and is fluffy and a little bit sticky. But you can use your favorite rice! Long-grain white rice works great because it's fluffy and will absorb the flavors well similar to Jasmine rice. Brown rice is a higher fiber option, but takes longer to cook.
I love Primal Kitchen Brand and get their Original Buffalo Sauce but any buffalo sauce will work!
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Buffalo Chicken Bowls:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls with Ranch (Healthy)
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken Ingredients
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or boneless, skinless chicken thighs)
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (1 tablespoon for marinading + 1 tablespoon for cooking)
- 1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce (I use Primal Kitchen brand Original Buffalo Sauce)
- squeeze fresh lemon juice
Homemade Ranch Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (optional)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice (about ½ a large lemon)
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
- 2-4 tablespoon water (to thin it out to desired consistency)
For Assembling Bowls
- 3 cups rice, cooked (1 cup uncooked, ~½ c cooked rice per serving)
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, optional (~½ c per serving))
- cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled onions, feta cheese (optional toppings)
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the seasonings. Give it a toss until the chicken is coated.
- Make the rice: cook rice according to the instructions on the package. Let it cool about 5-10 minutes and fluff it. If you want more flavor, add some lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt & black pepper. Mix to combine.
- Cook the chicken: heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil and heat until it shimmers. Add the seasoned cubed chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, undisturbed. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165℉ (75°C). Remove the chicken from the skillet and toss it in a bowl with the buffalo sauce. Squeeze the lemon on top.
- Prep the toppings: cut the toppings you will be using. I cut my cherry tomatoes in half, slice the cucumber, dice the avocado, and chop the romaine lettuce.
- Assemble the bowls - Add the romaine (optional), cooked rice, chicken and toppings to a bowl.. Pour the ranch dressing over everything.
- Hint: serve this recipe family style and let everyone choose as much of each component as they want!
Notes
- Cut the chicken into similarly sized pieces to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Be careful when adding the chicken to the hot oil because it may splatter!B
- e sure to use a buffalo sauce you like the taste of!
- If you're sensitive to spicy food, start with less buffalo sauce and add more to taste.
- Rinse the rice under cold water in a mesh strainer before cooking. This helps get rid of some of the starch and will prevent the rice from becoming gummy while it cooks.
- Don't remove the lid from the pot while the rice cooks! It will release some of the steam.
- After the rice is done, remove the pot from the heat and let it stand for 5-10 minutes, covered, before removing the lid.
- Storage for Chicken - store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Storage for Rice - store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- Storage for Ranch Dressing- store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days
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