Easy Hummus Chicken Bowls

Fresh, healthy & delicious! These hummus chicken bowls are the perfect weeknight meal! Piled high with spicy marinated chicken, creamy hummus & loads of veggies then served with warm pita bread.

Hellooo delicious! These hummus chicken bowls are basically everything I’ve been craving all piled into one beautifully balanced bowl. The flavors. The colors. The textures… it all just works!

These have been our go-to dinner over the past month and honestly, I can’t believe I wasn’t making them sooner! They’re ridiculously easy and simple yet full of so much flavor. (Plus I love their versatility – there’s soo many options for toppings and a variety to hummus to try. You can craft a completely different bowl every single time.)

These rice bowls were inspired by my very first Cava experience (which I’m a little embarrassed to admit was only a few months prior.🤭 ) I was hooked! If you know me, I’m usually a big Mexican food gal but I’ve been craving Mediterranean-inspired dishes ever since. What really sets these bowls apart is the spicy marinated chicken + creamy hummus combo. (That alone I could eat by the spoonful.) Add a handful of fresh crisp veggies, some feta cheese and warm fluffy pita bread and you’ve got one seriously addicting meal!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Chicken thighs: I love using boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. They’re incredibly tender and have loads those nooks and crannies to soak up the marinade. (Chicken breasts or tenderloins can be used instead.)

Lemons: You’ll be using the juice and zest from one lemon for the marinade.

Olive oil: An essential ingredient for any mariande recipe. This helps the spices adhere to the chicken while it marinates.

Garlic: No marinade is complete without garlic! You’ll need 5 minced garlic cloves for this recipe.

White rice: Steamed white rice makes the perfect nutrient-dense base for this bowl.

Cucumber: Use Persian or English cucumbers for the best results. They have fewer seeds than regular cucumbers and a smoother thinner skin making them much easier to eat.

Tomatoes: I love using cherry or grape tomatoes! They’re perfectly bite-size and always have the best flavor.

Pickled red onion: The secret ingredient in my opinion! They bring a tang and punchiness to the bowl that pairs beautifully with every ingredient!

Feta cheese: You’ll be finishing the bowl with crumbled feta cheese so feel free to use as little or as much as you want! (I always suggest buying a block of feta and crumbling it yourself. Block feta tends to have a creamier flavor and texture.)

Pita bread: Warm pita bread makes a fantastic vessel to scoop up all those yummy bits!

Seasonings: Smoked paprika, dried oregano, cumin, salt, cayenne and black pepper are needed for the chicken marinade.

How To Make Hummus Chicken Bowls

1. Marinate the chicken. Whisk the olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, dried oregano, cumin, salt, cayenne, black pepper, lemon juice and lemon zest together in a large mixing bowl. Add the chicken thighs and toss until they’re fully coated. Cover and marinate for 1 hour – overnight.

2. Cook the chicken. Grilling Method: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and brush the grates with olive oil. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Alternatively, you can use a grill pan on the stove.)

Baking method: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Place the chicken thighs in the dish and bake for 20-22 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Transfer the chicken to a tray once done and let it rest for 3-5 minutes before cuting into pieces.

3. Assemble & serve. Add your desired amount of rice to the bottom of a bowl. Top it with the diced chicken, a big spoonful of hummus, cucumber, tomatoes, pickled red onion and a sprinkle of feta cheese. Serve with warm pita bread on the side.

Variations

What I love most about these bowls (and why they’ve become so popular with my family) is how incredibly versatile they are. Their simplicity offers so much variety which really allows you to make these bowls your own. Keep them traditional with more Mediterranean-inspired ingredients or go for something new and exciting with a few of the substitutes listed below.

• Veggies: Bell pepper, zucchini, broccoli or corn would all be delicious replacements!
• Grains: Use brown rice, quinoa or couscous instead!
• Protein: Salmon and shrimp are my personal favorite. (You could also use ground beef, ground chicken or even steak.) Or keep it super simple and use diced rotisserie chicken instead.

Why you’ll love this chicken bowl recipe!

• Healthy & nutritious! Loaded with lean protein, veggies + nourishing grains – these bowls are the ultimate healthy weeknight dinner.
• Versatile! Easily use any ingredients you have on hand – switch up the veggies, grains or even the protein! They’d make a fantastic “clean-out-the-fridge” meal too!
• Ready in minutes! The hardest part is marinating the chicken (which isn’t a neccesity if you’re short on time.😉) Simply chop your favorite veggies and serve!

More bowl recipes you might like:

• Tzatziki Chicken Bowls with Cucumber Avocado Salad
• BBQ Salmon Bowls with Mango-Avocado Salsa
• Chili Lime Shrimp Bowls

[Made one of my recipes? Tag my Instagram @kalefornia_kravings & leave a review in the comments – I love seeing what you create!]