These buffalo chicken rice bowls are full of fresh veggies, crispy buffalo chicken, and topped with a creamy ranch dressing. Nutritious, easy, AND packed with flavor!
It's time for another 30 minute balanced meal! If you loved my buffalo chicken spaghetti squash casserole, this one's for you.
I've been making these buffalo chicken rice bowls all week and knew I had to share. It's one of those meals that literally everyone agrees on, making it a serious repeat recipe in my house. Not only is it full of fresh ingredients, flavor, and the crispiest air fryer buffalo chicken tenders, but it's super customizable so you can make it exactly to your preference.
I also get asked a lot about balanced meals, so let's break this one down! These buffalo chicken rice bowls make the perfect balanced meal because we've got carbohydrates and fibre from the rice and veggies, protein from the chicken, and healthy fats from the amazing creamy ranch dressing. That's right: ranch can be part of a healthy diet! And no, I'm not talking about the low calorie version.
The other thing I love about this recipe is how meal prep friendly it is. Prep all your ingredients at once, and you've got lunches ready for the whole week. It's that easy!
Ingredients
- Rice
- Buffalo chicken
- Romaine lettuce
- Cherry tomatoes
- Feta cheese or blue cheese
- Green onions
- Celery
- Carrots
Instructions
Cook rice according to package instructions. Prep and cook a batch of my buffalo chicken tenders
To assemble your bowls add a layer of rice to each bowl, add a handful (about 1 cup) of romaine lettuce and top with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, green onions, celery and carrots.
Finish with buffalo chicken tenders and drizzle with creamy ranch dressing.
Substitutions and Variations
To make vegetarian: Swap out the buffalo chicken for this air fryer buffalo tofu.
To make gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
To make dairy-free: Use a dairy-free ranch sauce (I like Primal Kitchen) and omit the feta (or swap for a dairy-free cheddar).
Feel like I missed a topping you love? Don’t worry, the great thing about bowls like this is you can add whatever ingredients that sound good to you. Let your taste buds and kitchen inventory guide you!
I also understand that not everyone has time to make my buffalo chicken tenders from scratch. Make this recipe even easier for yourself by using store-bough chicken tenders, or coating grilled chicken in buffalo sauce.
Equipment
- Rice cooker or pot
Storage
These buffalo chicken rice bowls are best kept with all ingredients stored separately. Keep the dressing and all fresh ingredients in their own containers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
If you're making these bowls for a meal prep, just prep all ingredients ahead of time and assemble the bowls morning-of for an easy packed lunch!
Top Tip
I like making bowls like this for a fun "self-assemble" family meal to switch things up. To do this, simply prep all your toppings and let each person build their own bowl. This way, everyone has their meal the exact way they like it!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make your own by combining the following: salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley and dill. Alternatively, you can also purchase pre-mixed ranch seasoning at the grocery store! Trader Joe's, Hidden Valley, and Club House all make a product like this.
I love switching up this recipe by adding the ingredients to a tortilla for the BEST buffalo chicken wrap.
It depends what your definition of healthy is! I don't think there's anything wrong with store-bought ranch, but I like making my own at home so I can add some Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
More Easy Meal Ideas
If you're a fan of rice bowls, try out these other fun recipes on the blog!
- Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowls
- Simple Turkey Burrito Bowls
- Easy Big Mac in a Bowl
- Easy Shrimp with Mango Salsa Bowls
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these buffalo chicken rice bowls, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice dry
- 1 batch of buffalo chicken tenders
- 4 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled (or blue cheese)
- ¼ cup green onions diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 cup carrots shredded
Creamy Ranch Dressing
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon ranch seasoning powder
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package instructions. Prep and cook a batch of my buffalo chicken tenders.
- To assemble your bowls add a layer of rice to each bowl, add a handful (about 1 cup) of romaine lettuce and top with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, green onions, celery and carrots. Finish with buffalo chicken tenders and drizzle with creamy ranch dressing.
Meg says
I didn't fully read the recipe in advance (oops!) so we ended up just grilling chicken that had been marinated in hot sauce and followed the rest of the recipe as is. It was SO good and the rice helps me feel full long after dinner.
A says
Delicious and versatile recipe! I used chicken tenders, chickpeas, salad, cauliflower rice, diced tomatoes, avocado and roasted butternut squash. It was filling and really tasty. Perfect for when you have an abundance of veggies that need using up.