Name: Wholesome Mediterranean Chicken and Chickpea Power Bowl Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts cut into inch sized cubes; 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed; 6 garlic cloves; 1/4 cup avocado oil; 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning; 2 tsp dill; 1 tsp paprika; salt+pepper; 1 1/2 cups uncooked brown rice prepared; Tzatziki Dressing; 1 cup greek yogurt; 2 tbsp mayonaise *optional(can just add extra greek yogurt); 1 shallot roughly chopped; 4 cloves garlic; 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin; 1 cucumber medium sized, seeds removed; 1 lemon juiced; 1 tbsp dill; 2 tsp salt (adjust to taste preference); 1/2 tsp pepper; Protein Bowl Toppings; cherry tomatoes sliced in half; cucumbers sliced or chopped; leafy greens romaine, spinach, or kale (washed and chopped); black olives; bell pepper chopped or sliced thinly; red onion chopped or sliced thinly; avocado cubed or sliced; feta cheese crumbled

Description

Embark on a culinary journey with this vibrant Mediterranean Chicken and Chickpea Power Bowl. Packed with nourishing ingredients and bursting with fresh flavors, this bowl is as delightful to look at as it is to eat. It’s a complete meal that’s both satisfying and incredibly wholesome, perfect for a light lunch or a hearty dinner. Imagine a beautiful mosaic of tender seasoned chicken, plump chickpeas, fluffy quinoa, and crisp, refreshing vegetables, all brought together with a zesty lemon-herb dressing.

Ingredients

Scale

4 chicken breasts cut into inch sized cubes
1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
6 garlic cloves
1/4 cup avocado oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tsp dill
1 tsp paprika
salt+pepper
1 1/2 cups uncooked brown rice prepared
Tzatziki Dressing
1 cup greek yogurt
2 tbsp mayonaise *optional(can just add extra greek yogurt)
1 shallot roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
1 cucumber medium sized, seeds removed
1 lemon juiced
1 tbsp dill
2 tsp salt (adjust to taste preference)
1/2 tsp pepper
Protein Bowl Toppings
cherry tomatoes sliced in half
cucumbers sliced or chopped
leafy greens romaine, spinach, or kale (washed and chopped)
black olives
bell pepper chopped or sliced thinly
red onion chopped or sliced thinly
avocado cubed or sliced
feta cheese crumbled
extra lemon sliced, for juicing with meal

Instructions

Tzatziki Dressing
Combine all dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt or Greek yogurt if desired.

Chicken and Chickpeas
Place chicken cubes in a bowl. Add avocado oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, dill, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to coat the chicken evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat a pan with avocado oil. Add the marinated chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes. When the chicken is almost cooked through, add the chickpeas to the pan, stir, and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked.

Protein Bowl Assembly
Prepare the brown rice according to package directions. Place the cooked brown rice in the bottom of a bowl. Add the chicken and chickpea mixture, your chosen vegetable toppings, and drizzle generously with the tzatziki dressing.

Notes

When preparing the chicken, ensure your skillet is well preheated. This promotes good searing and even cooking, giving you that lovely golden-brown crust.

If your skillet is too crowded when cooking the chicken, it will steam rather than sear. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to achieve the best results.
Rinse your quinoa before cooking to remove any saponins, which can give it a bitter taste. Cook it with the correct liquid-to-grain ratio for fluffy, separated grains.

Vigorously whisking the dressing ingredients will help them emulsify, creating a beautiful dressing that coats the ingredients wonderfully.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean