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Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls

Name: Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds chicken breast; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 cup bbq sauce; 1/4 cup honey; 1 cup long grain rice; 1 cup black beans (drained and rinsed); 1 cup corn ((canned or frozen)); 1 head romaine lettuce (chopped); ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese; ¼ cup pickled onions (see note); ¼ cup chopped cilantro; ¼ ranch dressing

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Author:

Kimber Matherne

Updated:

June 30, 2025

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This Honey BBQ Chicken Bowl is full of saucy, sweet bites of chicken, served over crisp lettuce and tender rice, then topped with veggies and a drizzle of ranch dressing. This chicken rice bowl is easy to make, absolutely delicious, and is perfect for meal prep!

Top view of honey bbq chicken in a white bowl on a whitewashed wood background.

Table of contents

I love a good chicken and rice bowl! I’ve shared several of them, including a chicken rice bowl with a southwest spin with these Southwest Chicken Bowls, and a more spicy version in these Chili Crunch Chicken Bowls. My Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowl is a fave, too.

This time, I wanted to share a chicken rice bowl recipe using the most delicious chicken bites – honey BBQ chicken. They’re seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, then sauteed quickly to sear the outside while sealing in the juiciness. The best part, though, is the sauce! Honey plus barbecue sauce is pure magic.

This Honey BBQ Chicken tastes incredible with tender rice, crisp romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, and pickled onion. A generous pour of ranch dressing gives BBQ chicken bowl a cool, creamy finish. This might be my favorite of all my chicken rice bowls!

Why I LOVE this recipe!

Lean and healthy option – With loads of protein thanks to the chicken and beans, plus fiber due to veggies, this Honey BBQ Chicken Bowl is a healthier lunch or dinner option.
Great for meal prep – Just prepare the individual components and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble your bowls. I like to put them together except for the lettuce and ranch, storing that separately, then it’s perfect for on-the-go meals. Just add the lettuce and dressing when you’re ready to eat and enjoy!
So easy to make – All you need are a few ingredients and 20 minutes prep time to make this honey BBQ chicken recipe.

Recipe Notes

This Honey BBQ Chicken recipe is as simple as promised! Just 20 minutes for a family friendly meal.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Honey BBQ Chicken to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients + Substitutions

For the Honey BBQ Chicken:

Chicken – You’ll need two pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into roughly 1-inch pieces.
Olive oil – For sauteing the chicken.
Seasonings – Salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder add extra flavor to the chicken bites.
BBQ sauce – Grab your favorite brand at the store or make your own homemade BBQ sauce (it’s easy!)
Honey – Transforms the BBQ sauce into a sweet and sticky glaze. So good!

For the bowls:

Rice – I like to use long-grain rice for this chicken and rice bowl.
Black beans – You’ll need one cup of black beans, drained and rinsed.
Corn – One cup of corn kernels; you can use frozen thawed corn or drained canned corn.
Romaine lettuce – Chopped into bite-size pieces.
Cheddar cheese – Use mild, medium, or sharp; whichever is your favorite.
Pickled onions – I love pickled red onions on this BBQ chicken rice bowl, but if you don’t have any, sliced scallions or even crispy fried onions are great.
Cilantro – For garnish with a Mexican spin. If you have any cilantro haters, you can leave it off or substitute parsley.
Ranch dressing – Grab a bottle at the store or in the refrigerated case in your local produce section. You can also make your own homemade ranch dressing, which is so delicious!

Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

Spicy Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls– Opt for spicy BBQ sauce and hot honey. And add hot pickled jalapenos to the bowls, too. Finish with jalapeno ranch dressing.
Lower-Carb BBQ Chicken Bowl– Swap the rice for cauliflower rice for a chicken and rice bowl that’s lower in carbohydrates.
Honey BBQ Steak Bowl– Swap in chunks of ribeye steak for the chicken for a red meat version of this bowl.

Recipe Step by Step

I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Honey BBQ Chicken.

Step 1 for Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls - making the honey BBQ chicken.

Saute the chicken in a large skillet. Add the honey BBQ sauce.

Step 2 for making Honey BBQ chicken bowls - add lettuce, beans, and rice to the bowl. The text reads, "Honey BBQ Chicken Bowl"

Prepare the bowl by adding rice, lettuce, and beans.

Step 3 for making honey BBQ chicken bowls - add honey BBQ chicken to the bowls.

Top with corn and warm chicken.

Step 4 of honey BBQ chicken bowls; top view of completed bowl with all of the toppings.

Garnish with cheese, pickled onions, cilantro, and ranch.

Recipe Tips

Freeze the chicken for a few minutes – A 15-minute visit to the freezer helps to firm up the chicken so that it’s easier to cut into chunks.
Meal prep it – Chop veggies, cook the chicken, cook the rice, and make the sauce/dressing ahead of time. Store separately in the refrigerator and your Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls will be a cinch to make!

Recipe Short Cuts

If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!

Buy pre-chopped veggies – You can find chopped lettuce and other vegetables in the produce section of most well-stocked supermarkets.
Pick up shredded cheese – Buy already-shredded cheese to save yourself grating time (and less dishes to scrub!)
Prep ahead – Cut up your chicken ahead of time for super convenient prep.

Honey BBQ Chicken Bowl in a white ceramic bowl.

What to Serve with Honey BBQ Chicken

Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of honey and BBQ sauce, it will pair well with many of your favorite BBQ side dishes.

Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.

Side Dish Ideas

Honey BBQ Chicken Leftovers

If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.

To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:

in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
in the freezer up to a month

Leftover Recipes

Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!

Honey BBQ Chicken Wrap– Roll up leftovers in a large flour tortilla for a delicious wrap.
Honey BBQ Chicken Salad– Double up on the lettuce and leave out the rice for a hearty salad.

Recipe FAQ’s

Is honey BBQ just honey and BBQ sauce?

Basically, yes! Sometimes there are a few other seasonings thrown into the mix but the simple mix of honey and BBQ sauce is so good. I like to go with 4 parts BBQ sauce to 1 part honey.

Can I use maple syrup instead of honey in BBQ sauce?

Yes, pure maple syrup is a similar consistency that adds sweetness and creates a sauce that glazes chicken well. I suggest Grade A maple syrup, which has milder maple taste than Grade B does.