Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe

Ready for your new favorite weeknight dinner? This Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe brings together tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a luscious homemade garlic sauce for a hearty, soul-satisfying meal. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters or simply craving comfort food with bold flavor, this dish is sure to impress. The best part? It’s a total lifesaver when you want something homemade and delicious without any fuss.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Let’s talk about how incredibly simple yet essential each ingredient is in this Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe. Every single component plays a key role, either by adding flavor, providing the perfect texture, or making the whole bowl visually irresistible.

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts: The star of our bowl, they’re juicy, lean, and soak up all that dreamy garlic sauce.
• Long-grain white rice: Fluffy and reliable, this rice creates a cozy, neutral base that lets the other flavors shine.
• Fresh garlic: Don’t skimp here! The garlic is what brings our sauce to life with its punchy aroma.
• Heavy cream: Adds a luscious, silky texture to the sauce, making it perfectly rich and comforting.
• Low-sodium soy sauce: Just a splash gives the sauce depth and an irresistible umami finish.
• Vegetable oil: For cooking the chicken to golden perfection and bringing out the best in your garlic.

How to Make Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe

Step 1: Cook the Rice

Begin by rinsing your long-grain white rice under cold water—this helps remove excess starch for fluffier grains. Add the rice and 2 cups of water to a saucepan, bring it all to a boil, then drop the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 18 to 20 minutes until the water is fully absorbed. Don’t peek! Letting the rice steam undisturbed gives you that perfect, pillowy texture that’s so important for rice bowls.

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

Heat your vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high, and season your chicken breasts simply with salt and pepper. Sear them for 6 to 7 minutes per side, until they’re gorgeously golden and cooked through. The trick is not to fuss with them too much as they cook—a good sear means flavor. Once done, set them aside to rest (resist slicing; patience pays off with juicy chicken!).

Step 3: Make the Creamy Garlic Sauce

Lower the heat a notch, then toss in your chopped garlic right into the same skillet. Give it a minute or two to get fragrant, but don’t let it brown—burned garlic is never the goal. Pour in the heavy cream and soy sauce, then stir constantly for about 5 minutes until everything comes together into a decadent, slightly thickened sauce. The aroma alone is pure dinnertime magic.

Step 4: Finish the Chicken in the Sauce

Slice the rested chicken breasts and return them to the skillet. Make sure every piece is thoroughly coated in that creamy, garlicky goodness. Let everything warm together for another 2 to 3 minutes—this helps the flavors marry and makes for the most melt-in-your-mouth chicken.

Step 5: Build Your Bowls

Fluff your cooked rice and spoon it generously into bowls. Top with the creamy garlic chicken, scooping extra sauce over the top. Whether you get creative with garnishes or keep it classic, these bowls are ready to steal the show.

How to Serve Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe

Garnishes

The options for topping your Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe are endless! Brighten things up with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, toss on a few sliced green onions, or add a handful of thinly sliced radishes for crunch. For a hint of heat, a little chili crisp or red pepper flakes do wonders. The garnishes not only boost flavor but also make the dish pop on the table.

Side Dishes

If you want to round out the meal, try serving these bowls alongside a simple cucumber salad, steamed broccoli, or lightly sautéed greens. A plate of oven-roasted veggies or a crisp, citrusy slaw adds color and balances the richness of the creamy sauce. These sides complement the dish without stealing the spotlight.

Creative Ways to Present

For a fun presentation twist, try serving your Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe in wide, shallow bowls to show off all the lovely layers. Add toppings in little piles for a “build your own” vibe at the table, or let everyone assemble their own. You can even set up a colorful bowl bar for a casual dinner party—kids and adults alike will have a blast getting creative!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Any leftover Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe components can be cooled to room temperature, then stored in separate airtight containers for up to 3 days in the fridge. Keeping rice and chicken apart prevents the grains from soaking up too much sauce and getting mushy—plus, you can reheat just what you need!

Freezing

While the rice and cooked chicken freeze well for up to a month, creamy sauces tend to change texture after freezing. If you plan to freeze, store the rice and cooked chicken slices together, and make a fresh batch of sauce when you’re ready to enjoy another round of Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe.

Reheating

For best results, reheat chicken and rice gently in the microwave or in a covered skillet over low heat with a splash of extra cream or chicken stock to keep it moist and creamy. Add fresh sauce or a sprinkle of water if needed, and always reheat until piping hot throughout.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely! Chicken thighs are just as tasty (if not more), and they stay super juicy in this Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe. Adjust cooking time as needed—thighs may take a minute or two longer to cook through.

Is there a dairy-free alternative to heavy cream?

Coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk makes a fantastic substitute for heavy cream, delivering a rich, sauce-like consistency and a subtle sweetness that pairs wonderfully with garlic and soy sauce. Your Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe will still be deliciously creamy and satisfying.

Can I make this gluten-free?

To keep things gluten-free, simply swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos. Everything else in the Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe is naturally gluten-free, so it’s an easy adaptation.

What’s the best rice to use?

Long-grain white rice is classic for this recipe because it cooks up light and fluffy, but you can easily use brown rice, jasmine rice, or even cauliflower rice for a lower-carb alternative—the Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe is forgiving and flexible.

How can I add vegetables to the bowls?

Throw in sautéed peppers, broccoli florets, peas, or spinach either into the sauce or as an extra layer in the bowl. It’s an easy way to make the Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe even more colorful, nourishing, and weeknight-worthy.

Final Thoughts

Nothing beats a dish that’s both incredibly comforting and wonderfully simple, and the Easy Chicken & Rice Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe fits that bill perfectly. Invite it into your regular dinner rotation—the results are always delicious and sure to bring a smile to every face at your table!

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