Buffalo Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Tender spiced chicken over fresh vegetables with creamy ranch and blue cheese crumbles.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Buffalo Sauce

08 - 1/3 cup hot sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 teaspoon honey

→ Vegetables

11 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice, warm
12 - 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
13 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - 1 cup shredded carrots
15 - 1/2 cup sliced cucumber
16 - 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

→ Toppings

17 - 1/3 cup ranch dressing
18 - 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, toss chicken pieces with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
03 - While the chicken cooks, whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, and honey in a small bowl until well combined.
04 - Remove cooked chicken from heat and toss thoroughly with the buffalo sauce to coat completely.
05 - Divide warm rice among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, and red onion.
06 - Spoon the buffalo chicken over the vegetables in each bowl. Drizzle with ranch dressing and sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles.
07 - Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like buffalo wings night without the mess or the deep fryer taking up half your kitchen.
  • Everything comes together in 35 minutes, making it perfect for those days when hunger hits but time is short.
  • The contrast between the spicy chicken and cool, crisp vegetables keeps each bite interesting and balanced.
02 -
  • Don't skip seasoning the chicken before it hits the pan because the spice crust is what keeps it interesting and prevents it from tasting one-dimensional once the sauce goes on.
  • The honey in the buffalo sauce makes a real difference even though it seems optional, balancing the heat so the dish appeals to more people and tastes more complex.
03 -
  • Don't crowd the pan when you're searing the chicken or it will steam instead of brown, so work in batches if you need to and your chicken will have that restaurant quality exterior.
  • Use buttermilk ranch if you can find it because the tanginess echoes the hot sauce and makes the whole bowl taste more intentional and cohesive.
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