Barbecue Chicken Grain Bowl (Print View)
Smoky grilled chicken over whole grains with fresh vegetables, avocado, and tangy barbecue glaze for a satisfying weeknight meal.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup barbecue sauce (use gluten-free 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
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
13 - Lime wedges, for serving
14 - Extra barbecue sauce, for drizzling
# How-To Steps:
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 - Grill the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes per side, basting generously with barbecue sauce during the final 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the exterior is nicely glazed. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
03 - Divide the cooked grains evenly among 4 bowls, creating a foundation for each serving.
04 - Top each bowl with the sliced barbecue chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, drained corn, avocado slices, shredded purple cabbage, and thinly sliced scallions.
05 - Sprinkle each bowl with fresh cilantro leaves. Add lime wedges on the side and drizzle with extra barbecue sauce if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The contrast between saucy glazed chicken and cool crunchy vegetables is genuinely addictive and keeps every bite interesting.
- It comes together in under an hour with ingredients you probably already have floating around your kitchen.
02 -
- If you baste too early the sugars in the barbecue sauce will burn before the chicken cooks through so wait until those final minutes.
- Resting the chicken is not optional because slicing too soon means losing all those juices onto your cutting board instead of into your bowl.
03 -
- Cook a double batch of grains on Sunday and you are halfway to this meal every night of the week without thinking about it.
- The best barbecue sauce for this is one you would happily eat with a spoon so taste it before you commit to the whole cup.