Description
A fresh, vibrant, and satisfying meal that combines warm rice with tender shredded chicken, crisp vegetables, and a creamy tangy dressing. This quick dinner comes together in about 20 minutes and is perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup uncooked Jasmine or short-grain white rice
- 1.5 cups water or broth
- 2–3 stalks celery, diced finely
- 1/4 small red onion, finely minced
- 3 cups cooked chicken (rotisserie, leftover roast, or poached), shredded
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (start with 1/3 cup)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- Optional: Grapes, apples, pecans, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, or shredded carrots
Instructions
- Rinse 1 cup of rice under cold water until clear. Combine with 1.5 cups water or broth in a rice cooker or saucepan.
- Cook rice: In a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Prepare chicken: Shred rotisserie chicken or boil raw breasts for 10-12 minutes until cooked through, then shred. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Chop vegetables: Dice celery and red onion into small pieces. Add to the bowl with the chicken.
- Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, dried dill, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Combine: Pour dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture. Gently fold until evenly coated.
- Assemble: Divide warm rice among four serving bowls. Top generously with the chicken salad mixture. Garnish with extra dill or pepper if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
Rinse rice to prevent clumping. If meal prepping, store rice and chicken salad separately to prevent sogginess. The flavors improve after a day in the fridge. Do not freeze the mayo-based dressing as it may separate.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: chicken salad, rice bowl, weeknight dinner, quick meals, meal prep, healthy dinner, easy recipes, rotisserie chicken