Description
This Mediterranean Chicken and Rice Bowl is bursting with juicy grilled chicken, fluffy rice, sweet bell peppers, tender zucchini, olives, and fresh herbs. An easy one-pan meal packed with bold Mediterranean flavors, perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings!
Ingredients
Chicken:
1.5 lbs chicken thighs or breasts (bone-in, skin-on or boneless)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp smoked or sweet paprika
½ tsp ground cumin
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
Vegetables:
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium zucchini, chopped
Rice:
1.5 cups long-grain rice (basmati or jasmine)
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Garnish:
Fresh parsley, chopped
Lemon wedges
Optional: pitted olives, crumbled feta cheese, cherry tomatoes
Instructions
Prep Ingredients:
Chop onion, bell peppers, zucchini, and garlic. Set aside.Season Chicken:
Rub chicken with oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.Sear Chicken:
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. Sear chicken 5–7 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.Sauté Veggies:
Add remaining olive oil if needed. Sauté onion and bell peppers for 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute.Toast Rice:
Stir in rice and cook 1–2 minutes.Add Broth:
Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits.Return Chicken & Zucchini:
Nestle chicken into rice. Add zucchini around chicken. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 25–30 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F and rice is tender.Finish & Serve:
Let rest 5 minutes. Fluff rice. Garnish with parsley, lemon wedges, and optional toppings.
Notes
Substitute vegetable broth and chickpeas for a vegetarian version.
Thighs stay juicier, but breasts work well for a lighter dish.
A squeeze of lemon before serving brightens the flavors beautifully.
For extra Mediterranean flair, top with olives, feta, or cherry tomatoes.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Main course
- Method: Stovetop / One Pan
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg