Taste the Mediterranean in Every Bite: Crispy Rice Chicken Bowl

On January 27, 2025, let's dig into this amazing Mediterranean crispy rice chicken bowl. It's got a rating of 4.5 and is full of Greek flavors.

Dish Overview

This bowl combines seasoned chicken, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, banana peppers, and cucumber. It's dressed with a red - wine vinaigrette and topped with crunchy oven - crisped rice.

Preparation Details

• Prep Time: 25 minutes

• Cook Time: 50 minutes

• Total Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

• Servings: 4

Ingredients

• Original recipe (yields 4 servings): You can make half the recipe (1/2x) if you want.

Chicken

• 1 1/4 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 - inch pieces

• 4 tablespoons of olive oil (divided), plus extra for frying the chicken

• 2 teaspoons of Greek seasoning (divided)

• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika

• 2 cloves of minced garlic

• 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

Dressing

• 1/4 cup of olive oil

• 1 tablespoon of red - wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon of banana pepper brine

• 2 teaspoons of honey

• 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

• 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper

• 1/4 cup of water

Rice Bowls

• 3 cups of cooled, cooked rice

• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce

• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes

• 1 cup of sliced, quartered English cucumber

• 1/2 cup of thinly sliced red onion

• 1/2 cup of banana pepper rings

• 1/2 cup of chopped flat - leaf parsley

• 1/2 cup of Kalamata olives

• 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet lightly or line it with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, mix the chicken, 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 teaspoon of Greek seasoning, paprika, garlic, and salt. Stir well and set aside.

3. For the dressing, whisk together olive oil, red - wine vinegar, pepper brine, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Set it aside when well - combined.

4. Combine the cooked rice, soy sauce, the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of Greek seasoning in a bowl. Spread the rice on the prepared baking sheet.

5. Bake the rice in the preheated oven until it's crispy and lightly browned, about 40 minutes.

6. Meanwhile, heat a bit of oil in a skillet over medium - high heat. Add the chicken and cook without stirring until it's browned on one side and easy to remove from the pan, about 3 to 4 minutes. Then keep cooking and stirring until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and browned all over, about 4 more minutes. Add water to the skillet and stir until the bottom is deglazed. Take it off the heat.

7. To serve, divide the chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, banana peppers, parsley, and olives among 4 bowls. Top with crispy rice and feta cheese evenly, and drizzle with the dressing.

Nutrition Facts

• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 - calorie diet. Your daily values may vary depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information isn't available for all ingredients. The amounts are based on available nutrient data. (-) Information isn't currently available for this nutrient. If you're on a medically restrictive diet, consult your doctor or dietitian before making this recipe for yourself.