Irresistibly Sweet Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe

Sticky chicken rice bowls represent a delightful fusion of textures and flavors that dance across your palate with remarkable intensity.

Home cooks adore this versatile dish for its incredible simplicity and crowd-pleasing potential.

Tender meat nestled atop fluffy grains creates a harmonious blend that satisfies deep comfort food cravings.

Aromatic seasonings elevate ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal that feels both familiar and exciting.

The combination of savory proteins and perfectly cooked rice generates a culinary experience that transcends basic weeknight dinners.

Balanced nutrition meets irresistible taste in this crowd-pleasing recipe that promises to become a household favorite.

Why Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls Are Packed with Flavor and Easy to Love

• Rapid Flavor Explosion: This recipe delivers a mouthwatering combination of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors that dance across your taste buds with each bite.
• Smart Cooking Technique: Air frying the chicken creates a perfectly crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender, cutting down on traditional frying oil and preparation time.
• Customizable Comfort Bowl: The versatile recipe allows easy modifications for dietary preferences, letting home cooks swap ingredients or adjust spice levels to suit their personal taste.
• Nutritious One-Pot Wonder: Packed with protein from chicken, fiber from broccoli, and complex carbohydrates from rice, this meal provides a balanced and satisfying nutritional profile in a single convenient bowl.

Everything You Need for That Sticky-Sweet Chicken

• Rice: Fluffy base for the bowl, long-grain white rice works best.
• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that absorbs seasonings well, choose fresh and boneless.
• Broccoli: Fresh green vegetable adding nutrition and color, select crisp and bright green florets.

• Olive Oil: Helps coat chicken and enhance flavor, extra virgin preferred.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential basic seasonings for balanced taste.
• Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika, Onion Powder, Oregano: Spice mix for deep chicken flavor, use fresh ground spices for best results.

• Soy Sauce: Provides umami and saltiness, low-sodium option recommended.
• Honey: Adds sweetness and helps create sticky sauce texture.
• Rice Vinegar: Brings tangy balance to the sauce.
• Garlic: Adds aromatic depth, fresh minced is preferable.
• Sriracha: Adds heat and complexity, adjust to personal spice tolerance.
• Sesame Oil: Provides nutty undertone, use sparingly.
• Ground Ginger: Adds warm spice note, fresh grated works wonderfully.
• Arrowroot: Thickens sauce naturally, cornstarch can be substituted.
• Mayonnaise: Base for creamy spicy drizzle, choose full-fat version.
• Sesame Seeds: Crunchy garnish with nutty flavor, white seeds preferred.
• Water: Helps adjust sauce and mayo consistency.

How to Build the Perfect Chicken Rice Bowl

Step 1: Prepare the Rice

Cook rice according to package instructions. Set aside and keep warm.

Step 2: Prepare the Broccoli

• Chop broccoli into bite-sized florets
• Steam in microwave or on stovetop until tender
• Set aside

Step 3: Season and Prep the Chicken

• Olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Chili powder
• Smoked paprika
• Onion powder
• Dried oregano

Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. Toss chicken with all seasoning ingredients until evenly coated.

Step 4: Air Fry the Chicken

Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer. Cook for 12-15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).

Step 5: Create Sticky Sauce

• Soy sauce
• Honey
• Rice vinegar
• Minced garlic
• Sriracha
• Sesame oil
• Ground ginger
• Arrowroot powder mixed with water (slurry)

Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepot. Bring to boil, add arrowroot slurry. Continue boiling for 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens.

Step 6: Whip Up Spicy Mayo

• Mayonnaise
• Sriracha
• Water

Mix ingredients until smooth and creamy.

Step 7: Assemble the Bowls

• Cooked rice
• Steamed broccoli
• Air-fried chicken

Pour sticky sauce generously over the top. Drizzle spicy mayo and sprinkle sesame seeds.

Serve hot and enjoy your flavor-packed sticky chicken rice bowl!

Tips for Saucy, Juicy Chicken with Just the Right Texture

• Maximize Chicken Flavor: Marinate chicken for 30 minutes before cooking to enhance depth and tenderness.
• Perfect Air Fryer Technique: Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer without overcrowding to ensure even, crispy cooking.
• Sauce Consistency Hack: Whisk arrowroot slurry thoroughly to prevent lumps and achieve a silky, glossy sauce texture.
• Temperature Control Tip: Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes after air frying to lock in juices and maintain optimal moisture.
• Balanced Bowl Assembly: Layer ingredients strategically, starting with rice, then broccoli, chicken, and drizzle sauce to create visual appeal and flavor distribution.

Reheat and Store Bowls Without Losing Flavor

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping chicken and rice separate to maintain texture and prevent sogginess.
• Shelf Life: Consume refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days for optimal freshness and food safety, checking for any unusual odors or discoloration before reheating.
• Reheating: Warm chicken and rice separately in the microwave, adding a splash of water to prevent dryness, and stir midway through heating to ensure even temperature distribution.

What to Pair with Chicken Bowls for a Full Meal

• Sip and Savor Sake Pairing: A crisp, cold junmai sake complements the sticky chicken's sweet and spicy profile, cutting through the richness while enhancing the dish's complex flavors.
• Brighten with Bright White Wine: A zesty Riesling or Gewürztraminer offers a refreshing counterpoint to the sticky sauce, its slight sweetness and acidity balancing the chicken's bold seasonings.
• Cool Down with Citrus Mocktail: Create a sparkling lemon-ginger mocktail that mirrors the dish's Asian-inspired elements, providing a tangy and light refreshment that cleanses the palate between bites.
• Crunch with Asian-Inspired Slaw: Prepare a quick cucumber and cabbage slaw with rice vinegar dressing to add a crisp texture and bright acidity that perfectly cuts through the sticky chicken's richness.

Ways to Customize Your Sticky Chicken Bowl

• Korean-Inspired Bowl: Replace chili powder with gochugaru, swap sriracha for gochujang, and add kimchi as a topping for an authentic Korean flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Fusion Bowl: Substitute oregano with za'atar, use Greek yogurt instead of spicy mayo, and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the top for a Mediterranean touch.
• Teriyaki Chicken Variation: Swap the sticky sauce ingredients for a homemade teriyaki sauce using soy sauce, mirin, sake, and brown sugar. Add roasted pineapple chunks for a sweet contrast.
• Spicy Peanut Chicken Bowl: Create a peanut sauce using peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, and chili oil. Garnish with chopped cilantro and crushed peanuts for extra crunch and flavor.

Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe

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4.8 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sticky chicken rice bowls deliver a perfect harmony of sweet, savory flavors from Asian cuisine. Tender marinated chicken nestled over fluffy rice creates a comforting meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 large chicken breasts
• 2 cups uncooked rice
• 2 small heads broccoli, chopped

Spice and Seasoning Blend:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Sauce and Condiments:

• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons sriracha
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder
• 2 tablespoons water
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• 2–3 tablespoons water
• Sesame seeds (for topping)

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Instructions

1. Prepare fluffy rice according to package directions, ensuring each grain is perfectly cooked and separated.
2. Trim and chop broccoli into bite-sized florets, then steam until vibrant green and tender with a slight crunch.
3. Slice chicken breasts into uniform, bite-sized pieces, creating consistent cooking potential.
4. Create a robust spice blend by massaging olive oil and dry seasonings directly onto chicken, ensuring complete and even coating.
5. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C), arranging seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer without overcrowding to guarantee crispy exterior.
6. Cook chicken for approximately 12 minutes, rotating midway, until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) and exterior develops a golden-brown crust.
7. Simultaneously craft sticky sauce by combining soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, sriracha, sesame oil, and ground ginger in a saucepot.
8. Bring sauce mixture to a rolling boil, then introduce arrowroot slurry to create a glossy, thickened consistency that clings beautifully to ingredients.
9. Construct rice bowls by creating a foundation of fluffy rice, then strategically layering steamed broccoli and perfectly cooked chicken.
10. Generously drizzle sticky sauce over the composed bowl, allowing it to cascade and infuse each component with rich, complex flavors.
11. Whisk spicy mayo ingredients until smooth, creating a creamy, zesty condiment with a slight kick.
12. Finish by decoratively drizzling spicy mayo across the bowl and garnishing with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for added texture and visual appeal.

Notes

• Prep Ahead: Marinate chicken in spices up to 24 hours before cooking to enhance flavor depth and save time during meal preparation.
• Cooking Hack: Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure chicken reaches perfect safe internal temperature without overcooking.
• Sauce Tip: Whisk arrowroot slurry thoroughly to prevent lumps and achieve smooth, glossy sauce consistency.
• Customization Option: Swap broccoli with other quick-cooking vegetables like snow peas or bell peppers for variety.
• Meal Prep Friendly: Store components separately in airtight containers and assemble just before eating to maintain optimal texture and crispness.
• Spice Control: Adjust sriracha quantity in mayo and sauce to personalize heat level according to personal preference.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Air Frying
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 700
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 1200 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 80 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg