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    Home » Recipes » Meal Prep

    Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls

    Published: Jul 25, 2017 Modified: Mar 18, 2020 by Karen Kelly This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls are a healthy and nutritious plan ahead meal for summer. Loaded with grilled vegetables and honey garlic marinated chicken, you will look forward to eating these all week.  {gluten free}

    This post has been sponsored by Rubbermaid BRILLIANCE™.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

    Healthy meal prep grilled chicken grain bowls in white bowl

    Have you tried meal prepping yet?  I know it can be hard to get organized and motivated to do a bunch of cooking in one day but it is the single best way to stay on track.  Imagine opening your fridge and seeing healthy, delicious meals already prepared. It's especially easy in the summer because there are fresh seasonal goodies everywhere and they are easy to prep!

    How dreamy would this be... HELLO, lunch!

    Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls in rubbermaid containers

    Why not start by meal prepping these simple Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls? Starting with lunches is a good way to get your feet wet, then when you get the hang of it you can move on to breakfast. It makes your week go so much smoother and healthier, I promise you'll be motivated to continue doing it.

    Rubbermaid clear containers

    Meal prepping all starts with the right containers.  I love these Rubbermaid Brilliance containers for storing my prep ahead meals.  The containers are BPA free and 100% leak-proof.  If you have ever spilled in your fridge, you know how important this is.

    I love that they have easy locking lids and a modular design so they fit together nicely when I stack them. Because they are clear, I can quickly see what is in them without taking everything out of my refrigerator. Organized fridge - yes!

    You can even microwave in these babies!  All you have to do is unlatch them and they vent through the holes.  How cool is that?

    When you are finished using them, they are easy to clean by putting in the dishwasher.  Stain and odor resistant too!

    Seriously, I have tried a lot of containers and these are my favorite.  Check them out at your local Target.

    Rubbermaind clear containers

    What is a grain bowl?

    A grain bowl is simply a bowl full of protein, grains, veggies, and toppings like nuts, cheese or dressing.  They are a super easy way to combine textures, colors, and flavors to make a healthy dish that tastes great.  They have been part of my diet for years now and I'm still in love with them.  They are also called Buddha bowls, macro bowls, and sunshine bowls.  I don't always prep them ahead...sometimes I throw them together at the last minute with leftover rice or quinoa, protein and whatever balsamic dressing I have in the pantry.

    Prep the Chicken

    The first thing you have to do is prep the chicken.  I have said this a million times but always trim the fat and pound them out.  Place the chicken breasts in between two sheets of waxed paper and pound them out until they about ½ inch thick.  This way they cook faster and more evenly on the grill.  Place the chicken breasts into the Rubbermaid container.

    Prepare the Marinade

    Next whisk up the marinade.  This is the only marinade you'll ever need for chicken.  Combine olive oil, tamari, garlic, grainy mustard and lemon juice.  Whisk it well and pour over the chicken.  Place the container in the fridge and marinate for at least four hours or overnight.

    chicken in marinade

    Grill the Chicken

    Preheat the grill to medium-high (10 minutes) and oil the grates by putting some olive oil on a paper towel and rubbing on with tongs. Make sure your grates are clean  Place chicken on the grill and cook for about 8-10 minutes per side.  Brush on a bit of the reserved marinade toward the end of cooking time.  Do not move them around.  Afterward, put them on a plate covered with foil and let them sit for a few minutes before slicing. If you are using these for meal prep do not slice them because they will dry out.

    roasted vegetables in a clear container

    Grill the Vegetables

    Slice your zucchini, peppers and red onions.  Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Place on the medium-high grill and cook for about 12-15 minutes.  You can also use a grill basket and chop the vegetables smaller.  Once you get a little char on the outside you can turn the temperature down so they cook on the inside.

    Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls with vegetables

    Now to assemble those Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls.

    I always have cooked quinoa as my preferred grain in the fridge but you can also use rice, cauliflower rice, barley, couscous, pasta, noodles, or spiralized vegetables as your base.

    • quinoa in the bottom (½ - 1 cup)
    • lots of chopped roasted vegetables
    • 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced or not
    • top with a bit of feta cheese and fresh basil
    • you can drizzle a bit of the reserved (clean) marinade or your favorite balsamic dressing (I love Tessamae's)

    Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls in clear container with lid

    How good does that feel?  Head on over to your local Target and look for these Rubbermaid Brilliance containers in the housewares section!

    Healthy meal prep grilled chicken grain bowls

    Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls

    Meal Prep Grilled Chicken Grain Bowls are a healthy and nutritious plan ahead meal for summer. Loaded with grilled vegetables and honey garlic marinated chicken, you will be glad to eat these all week.  {gluten free}
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 16 minutes
    Total Time: 31 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 392kcal

    Ingredients

    • 6 boneless skinless chicken breast, pounded to ½ inch
    • 2 cups cooked quinoa
    • 2 zucchini, sliced
    • 1 red onion, sliced
    • 2 bell peppers, sliced
    • 1 tablespoon finely crumbled feta (optional)
    • ¼ avocado (optional)
    • 2 tablespoon roughly chopped basil (optional)

    Marinade

    • ¾ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup tamari (or soy sauce)
    • 2-3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 3 teaspoon grainy mustard
    • 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
    • 2 tablespoon honey
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    • Trim the chicken of fat and pound to about ½ inch thickness.  
    • Prepare marinade by whisking all marinade ingredients together.  Reserve ¼ cup of marinade for drizzling on finished grain bowls. Put chicken and marinade into a Rubbermaid Brilliance container and marinate for at least four hours or overnight. 
    • When ready to grill, preheat grill to medium-high heat.  Grease the clean grates with a paper towel dipped in olive oil.  Cook chicken for about 8-10 minutes per side or until meat thermometer registers 165 degrees F. Put on a plate and cover with foil.  Let chicken rest a few minutes before slicing.
    • Drizzle vegetables with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.  Cook over medium-high heat for about 12-15 minutes or until cooked through.  
    • Assemble the grain bowls.  Put ½ - 1 cup of cooked quinoa in bottom of container.  Add roasted vegetables and one chicken breast on top.  Drizzle with a bit of remaining (clean) reserved marinade and top with feta and fresh basil.  They are also delicious with balsamic dressing.  
    • Store in fridge for the week. Add sliced avocado right before serving. 

    Notes

    WW Smart Points - 12

    Nutrition

    Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 649mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1075IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @seasonal_cravings or tag #seasonal_cravings and I will repost on my stories.
     

    About Karen Kelly

    Hi, I'm Karen Kelly a certified health coach, freelance food writer, and blogger. At Seasonal Cravings, you will find wholesome gluten-free recipes and healthy lifestyle tips.

    Reader Interactions

    If you make this recipe, be sure to tag #seasonal_cravings on Instagram.  Please leave a comment below and rate the recipe. Thanks so much!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. sue | theviewfromgreatisland

      July 26, 2017 at 9:29 am

      I love this new Rubbermaid product, I just picked some up the other day, what beautiful stuff! Your chicken is pretty nice, too 🙂 I love the shot of the marinating chicken, gorgeous!

      Reply
    2. Annie @ Annie's Noms

      July 27, 2017 at 9:16 am

      These containers are brilliant! I have quite a few plastic containers, many missing lids, some quite old and drab. I really should treat myself to some fancy new ones! I also love this chicken dish, it looks so tasty and love that it can be prepped ahead of time!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        July 28, 2017 at 9:30 pm

        Annie you will love these Rubbermaid containers. They are really high quality!

        Reply
    3. Christine

      July 27, 2017 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      I try my best to meal prep for weeknight dinners. Thanks for the tips. I like having good containers too. Actually I'm obsessed with them. 😆

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        July 27, 2017 at 7:22 pm

        These containers are the bomb, Christine!

        Reply
    4. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

      July 27, 2017 at 9:25 am

      I have to get into meal prep more often Karen. You're inspiring me with this post. These bowls sound like something I'd love!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        July 27, 2017 at 7:21 pm

        Thanks Mary Ann! More meal prep = more beach time!

        Reply
    5. Jeni @ Coquette Kitchen

      July 27, 2017 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      This new rubbermaid product is calling to me. My husband and I are both going to need lunches this fall, and these are portion perfect. Grain bowls are also a brilliant idea. I like to use farro for grain bowls a lot!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        July 27, 2017 at 6:50 pm

        Yes, I love these Rubbermaid containers!

        Reply
    6. Julia @ Happy Foods Tube

      July 27, 2017 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      I haven't tried meal prepping yet but planning on trying! Love these bowls! Such a delicious dish!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        July 27, 2017 at 6:49 pm

        You will love it Julia!

        Reply
    7. Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry

      July 27, 2017 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      This looks delicious and so healthy. Love prepping food in advance so you are not tempted by high fat foods

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        July 27, 2017 at 6:48 pm

        Me too! Wish I would do it every week!

        Reply

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    Hello!

    I'm Karen Kelly a food and travel writer, health coach and recipe creator. At Seasonal Cravings you will find quick, healthy recipes and the best travel tips!

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