BBQ Chicken Grain Bowl (Printable)
Smoky grilled chicken over whole grains with fresh veggies, avocado, and tangy barbecue glaze for a satisfying meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup barbecue sauce (use gluten-free brand if needed)
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Grains
06 - 2 cups cooked brown rice, quinoa, or farro
→ Vegetables & Toppings
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup canned corn, drained (or grilled corn kernels cut from the cob)
09 - 1 large avocado, sliced
10 - 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
11 - 1/2 cup scallions, thinly sliced
12 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
→ Optional Garnishes
13 - Lime wedges, for serving
14 - Extra barbecue sauce, for drizzling
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper.
02 - Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side. During the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, baste generously with barbecue sauce until the chicken is cooked through and has a glossy, caramelized glaze. Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
03 - Divide the cooked grains evenly among 4 bowls, creating a foundation layer in each.
04 - Top each bowl with the sliced barbecue chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, corn, avocado slices, shredded purple cabbage, and thinly sliced scallions.
05 - Sprinkle fresh cilantro over each bowl. Add lime wedges on the side and drizzle with extra barbecue sauce if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The smoky glazed chicken paired with cool avocado and crunchy cabbage is the kind of contrast that keeps every bite interesting.
- It assembles fast and reheats beautifully so you can prep components ahead and throw bowls together all week long.
02 -
- Adding barbecue sauce too early on the grill causes burning because the sugars caramelize fast so wait until the final minutes.
- Resting the chicken is not optional and skipping it means all those juices end up on your cutting board instead of in the bowl.
03 -
- Warm the grains slightly before building bowls because cold rice underneath hot chicken creates an odd temperature clash nobody enjoys.
- Quick pickled red onions tucked in as an extra topping will become the thing everyone asks about.