Recipes

Greek Chicken and Rice Bowl

Name: Greek Chicken and Rice Bowl
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken breast; ½ tsp marjoram; 1 tsp Garlic powder; 1 tsp Onion Powder; ½ tsp Oregano; ½ tsp Thyme; Pinch of Sea Salt and Ground Pepper for the chicken; ½ cup brown rice; 1 cup chicken broth (or water or half broth/half water); 1 cup of onion diced; 2 cloves of garlic; 1-2 cups fresh spinach; 1 tsp Dill; 1 tsp cumin; 1 Lemon (2-3 tbsp lemon juice); Toppings: Put what you love! I choose...; Cucumber; Tomato; Black Olives; Green Olives; Red Bell Pepper; Garbanzo Beans; Feta cheese

By: Sally Twellman

(Published in June 2015; Updated March 2026)

Bowls of all kinds are having a major moment right now, and honestly, I am so here for it. Taco bowls, burrito bowls, noodle bowls… the concept is just genius. Take a bunch of things you love, things that go together, pile them on a bed of greens, and boom: a healthy, delicious, completely customizable meal that feels fancy but takes almost no effort. Let me show you my version!

My Greek Chicken and Rice Bowl is made up of simply seasoned baked chicken and lemony dill brown rice, served on a bed of fresh baby spinach and loaded with all the toppings that make Greek food so irresistible: diced cucumbers, garbanzo beans, olives, tomatoes, red bell pepper, and feta cheese. (I would have added pepperoncini peppers if I’d had some on hand… next time!)

Why I Love This Bowl So Much

Can I just say, Greek food is severely underrated in the “weeknight dinner” conversation? People default to tacos or pasta, and I get it, but Greek flavors are just as easy and so much more interesting to me. The combination of bright lemon, earthy herbs, briny olives, and creamy feta hits every single flavor note. Salty, tangy, fresh, savory. It is all there in one bowl.

And the bowl format itself is what makes this recipe so practical. Everything comes together in under an hour, and you can absolutely prep components ahead of time and just assemble when you are ready to eat. I have made the rice and chicken on a Sunday and built bowls throughout the week for easy lunches. Meal prep win! Get some Glass containers, fill’em up and you have grab-able lunches all week!)

The Greek Spice Blend

First, I mix up my Greek spice blend: marjoram, garlic powder, basil, oregano, onion powder, and thyme. This little mix is the secret weapon of the whole dish. It smells incredible and it makes your kitchen smell like a Mediterranean dream while the chicken is baking. I season about 1 lb of chicken breast with the spice mix plus some coarse sea salt and pepper, then bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

You can also use this spice blend on roasted vegetables, toss it into a salad dressing, or sprinkle it on hummus. Just saying, it is worth making a little extra and keeping it in a jar.

The Lemony Dill Brown Rice

While the chicken is in the oven, I start the rice. Sauté some diced onion in a little olive oil first, then add about 1/2 cup brown rice (I made a double batch here because I was bringing some to a friend!), a pinch of salt and pepper, and a splash of cumin. I love using chicken broth in place of water for extra flavor, so I do half broth, half water. Add the zest of one lemon, stir everything together, then tuck in a big handful of fresh spinach and let it cook down. Cover and let it simmer for 35 to 40 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Finish with the juice from that same lemon and give it a good toss.

The lemon here is not optional, friends. It is everything. It brightens up the whole bowl and makes the rice taste fresh and alive rather than just… rice.

Build Your Bowl

I start with about 1/3 cup of rice, then add a layer of lettuce or spinach, then add and 1/2 cup of chicken. From there, pile on whatever you love: cucumbers, red bell pepper, olives, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, feta. There is no wrong answer here. This is your bowl and you get to make it exactly the way you want it.

The garbanzo beans are a personal favorite addition because they add a little extra plant-based protein and fiber, which makes the bowl even more filling and satisfying. If you are not a feta person (first of all, are you okay?), goat cheese or other shredded cheese works beautifully here too.

Enjoy!

p.s. This is such a great dish for a dinner party because everyone gets to build their own bowl exactly the way they like it. It is basically a Greek food bar, and people love it.