Chimichurri Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Herb-marinated chicken over rice with fresh vegetables and zesty sauce

# What you'll need:

→ Chimichurri Marinade & Sauce

01 - 1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
02 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried)
05 - 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
08 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Chicken

10 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, approximately 1.5 pounds
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Bowl Assembly

13 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
15 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
16 - 1 avocado, sliced
17 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
18 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped for garnish
19 - Lime wedges for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine parsley, cilantro, minced garlic, oregano, olive oil, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly to combine. Measure and reserve 1/3 cup of mixture for serving sauce.
02 - Place chicken breasts in a resealable bag or shallow dish. Pour remaining chimichurri mixture over chicken, ensuring complete coating. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for enhanced flavor development.
03 - Preheat grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat approximately 5 minutes before cooking.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry. Season both sides with additional salt and pepper. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Transfer to a clean plate and rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
05 - Divide cooked rice equally among four serving bowls. Top each with sliced chicken, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, avocado slices, and red onion.
06 - Drizzle reserved chimichurri sauce over each bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chicken stays impossibly juicy because the chimichurri marinade works like a flavor insurance policy, keeping everything tender while it cooks.
  • You can prep the marinade the night before and feel like you have your life together when dinner rolls around.
  • Those fresh herbs taste like something you'd get at a proper restaurant, except you made it in your own kitchen for a fraction of the price.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting step for the chicken—those five minutes matter more than you'd think, and skipping them means dry, stringy chicken no matter how juicy the marinade was.
  • If your avocado isn't ripe yet, bury it in rice the night before and it'll soften up, but if it's too soft already, slice it anyway because imperfect avocado tastes the same as perfect avocado.
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts are thick, gently pound them to even thickness before marinating so they cook at the same rate and nothing ends up dry while other pieces are still cold inside.
  • The reserved chimichurri stays fresher and more vibrant if you squeeze a bit of lime into it and keep it separate, tasting like the herbs just came off the plant.
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