Healthy BBQ Chicken Bowls

ByMadison Thurman
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Here we are again with another healthy purple rice bowl. I don’t think I can describe my obsession with this purple rice. There is something about the texture and flavor that is so unique and I love it. I also feel less guilty eating this than regular rice because of the antioxidants you get as an added bonus!

This bowl was also inspired by CoreLife Eatery. If you missed my healthy buffalo chicken bowl recipe, let me clue you in. CoreLife eatery was my obsession when I lived in Greenville, SC. They had purple rice in their bowls and it changed my life. I never even thought to make it at home, until I stumbled across this purple rice in the grocery store.

These Healthy BBQ Chicken Bowls are perfect for summer because they are refreshing yet filling at the same time. I find during the summer I crave fresh veggies, and chicken off of the grill. Did I possibly have flames shooting up out of my grill while making this chicken because my husband left me to my own devices when grilling this chicken??? No…that doesn’t sound like me…..

If you want to make this recipe EVEN simpler than it already is, opt for rotisserie chicken from the grocery and shred this on top. I used pinto beans here to mix things up, and I did an easy vinegar and oil dressing on the tomatoes and cucumbers. Again, if you want to simplify things even more just toss the tomatoes and cucumbers right on the bowl and it is still delicious! I used Sweet Baby Ray’s because it is my favorite, but a Carolina style BBQ sauce would be so good on this. Use your favorite BBQ sauce and enjoy!

BBQ chicken rice bowl with a side of cucumber tomato salad and shredded cheese.

Why You Should Make Healthy BBQ Chicken Bowls

  • Easy. This comes together so easily!
  • Meal Prep. This is perfect for meal prep! Double the recipe and pack it away for leftovers.
  • Family Friendly. This is great for families, it is easy, delicious, and everyone can add their fav toppings.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Chicken Thighs – I am always team chicken thigh, they are so much juicer in my opinion
  • Cheddar Cheese – everything needs cheese in my house
  • Pinto Beans – extra protein!
  • Purple Rice – Delicious and I can’t get enough
  • Cherry Tomatoes – burst of fresh flavor
  • Red Onion – I love an oniony bite to any recipe!
  • Cucumber – I love the fresh crunch these add to the bowl
  • Corn – because it can’t be BBQ without corn
  • BBQ Sauce – for tossing the chicken and drizzling on top
  • Ranch – optional, but sure isn’t optional on my bowl
A bowl of pinto beans, 2 cucumbers, a bowl of corn, a package of cherry tomatoes and some shredded cheese.
BBQ chicken rice bowl with a side of cucumber tomato salad and shredded cheese.

BBQ Chicken Bowl Tips

  • Get the rice going first. The purple rice does take longer than normal rice so prep this first!
  • Don’t overcook your chicken! A meat thermometer is your best friend. Pull those babies off the grill at 165 degrees Farenheit internal temp.

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How To Make Healthy BBQ Chicken Bowls

  1. Prep. Start by getting the rice going. Purple rice takes a while to cook so let is do it’s thing while you cook everything else.
  2. Veg. I like to make the cucumber tomato salad so that it has time to soak in the yummy dressing. The dressing step is optional, you can totally just chop the veggies and toss them on top of your bowl. Chop the tomatoes in half and slice the cucumbers. Dice the red onion and mix all three into a medium sized mixing bowl. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and oregano in a separate bowl and drizzle over the veggies. Mix and pop in the fridge to chill while we cook the chicken.
  3. Chicken. Grill the chicken or bake it however you prefer. I seasoned mine with seasoning salt and a little bit of pepper. Towards the end of grilling I brushed on some BBQ sauce. Cook chicken thighs until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees farenheit.
  4. Beans and corn. Drain and rinse the beans and corn. Heat beans and corn in the microwave or on the stovetop, however you prefer!
  5. Assemble! Once the rice is done and chicken is done, you are ready to assemble. In a bowl add in purple rice. Add in pinto beans, corn, prepped cucumber tomatoes salad, and cheddar cheese. Top with grilled BBQ chicken, extra BBQ sauce, and ranch of course! Enjoy!
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Recipe Variations

  • Regular rice. If you have white or brown rice, use this instead it will be great!
  • BBQ sauce. Try a carolina style BBQ sauce, or Japanese BBQ sauce.
  • Beans and cheese. Swap the pintos for black beans, and the cheese for whatever you have on hand.

More recipes like this:

BBQ chicken rice bowl with a side of cucumber tomato salad and shredded cheese.

Healthy BBQ Chicken Bowls

Easy weeknight meal! This is healthy and perfect for meal prepping. Enjoy!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup uncooked purple rice yields ~3 cups cooked
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs grilled
  • 8 oz cheddar cheese freshly grated
  • 1 15 oz can pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz canned corn drained and rinsed
  • 1 10 oz package cherry tomatoes halved
  • 4 persian cucumbers sliced
  • ½ red onion diced
  • 2 cups BBQ sauce for chicken and for drizzling
  • ranch dressing for drizzling
Optional Vinegar Dressing for Veggies
  • ⅛ cup avocado oil
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp oregano

Method
 

  1. Start by getting the rice going. Purple rice takes a while to cook so let is do it's thing while you cook everything else.
  2. I like to make the cucumber tomato salad so that it has time to soak in the yummy dressing. The dressing step is optional, you can totally just chop the veggies and toss them on top of your bowl. Chop the tomatoes in half and slice the cucumbers. Dice the red onion and mix all three into a medium sized mixing bowl. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and oregano in a separate bowl and drizzle over the veggies. Mix and pop in the fridge to chill while we cook the chicken.
  3. Grill the chicken or bake it however you prefer. I seasoned mine with seasoning salt and a little bit of pepper. Towards the end of grilling I brushed on some BBQ sauce. Cook chicken thighs until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees farenheit.
  4. Drain and rinse the beans and corn. Heat beans and corn in the microwave or on the stovetop, however you prefer!
  5. Once the rice is done and chicken is done, you are ready to assemble. In a bowl add in purple rice. Add in pinto beans, corn, prepped cucumber tomatoes salad, and cheddar cheese. Top with grilled BBQ chicken, extra BBQ sauce, and ranch of course! Enjoy!

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