Glazed Chicken & Avocado Salsa Rice Bowl

Serves: 4
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 25–30 minutes
Total: ~55 minutes

1. Chicken

Ingredients

• 1½ lb (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1½ tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp cumin
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

2. Rice

• 1½ cups (300 g) long-grain white rice
• 2¼ cups chicken broth or water
• 1 tbsp butter or olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

3. Avocado layer

• 2 large ripe avocados, diced
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

4. Fresh tomato salsa

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ cup finely diced red onion
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 small jalapeño, finely diced (optional)
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp olive oil
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper

5. Finishing glaze

For the shiny, caramelized chicken appearance:

• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp lime juice
• ½ tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp butter

 Instructions

Step 1 — Marinate the chicken

Mix olive oil, honey, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Coat the chicken thoroughly and let it marinate for 20–30 minutes. If refrigerated longer, you can marinate for up to about 8 hours.

Step 2 — Cook the rice

1. Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear.
2. Add rice, broth/water, butter, and salt to a saucepan.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Reduce to low, cover, and cook 15 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and leave covered for 10 minutes.
6. Fluff with a fork.
7. Mix in lime juice and cilantro.

Step 3 — Make the salsa

Combine tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Let it sit for 10 minutes so the flavors develop.

Step 4 — Prepare the avocado

Gently toss diced avocado with lime juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro.

Don’t overmix—you want visible chunks like in the photo.

Step 5 — Cook the chicken

Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat.

Add the chicken and cook approximately:

• Chicken thighs: 5–7 minutes per side
• Chicken breasts: 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness

Brush with the finishing glaze during the final couple of minutes.

The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.

Let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thick strips.

Step 6 — Assemble like the picture

For the tall presentation:

1. Put a round mold or small bowl on the plate.
2. Pack approximately 1–1¼ cups cooked rice into the bottom.
3. Add about ½ cup avocado.
4. Arrange sliced glazed chicken on top.
5. Spoon the fresh tomato salsa over the chicken.
6. Sprinkle with extra cilantro.
7. Add halved cherry tomatoes around the plate.
8. Drizzle a little of the remaining chicken glaze around the base.

For the restaurant-style appearance, slice the chicken into 5–6 thick pieces and fan them slightly across the top.

Optional spicy sauce

Mix:

• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp hot sauce
• ½ tsp honey
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika
• Pinch of salt

Drizzle lightly over the chicken and avocado.

 Allergens / Nut information

Nuts: None in the recipe as written.
Peanuts: None.
Dairy: Butter is optional; omit it for dairy-free.
Gluten: Use gluten-free tamari instead of regular soy sauce if needed.
Egg: None unless you use the optional mayo sauce.
Soy: Present in regular soy sauce.

Always check the labels of packaged ingredients if you’re cooking for someone with a serious allergy.

Approximate nutrition

Per serving, assuming 4 servings and including chicken, rice, avocado, salsa, and glaze:

• Calories: ~700–750 kcal
• Protein: ~45–50 g
• Carbohydrates: ~70–75 g
• Fat: ~25–30 g
• Fiber: ~8–10 g
• Sugar: ~10–14 g
• Sodium: ~900–1,200 mg

Values vary depending on the chicken cut, rice, soy sauce, avocado size, and exact amount of glaze used.

• Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.

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