These Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls are about to become your new most-requested weeknight dinner! Between the juicy air fryer chicken, the sweet and savory sticky sauce, and the spicy mayo drizzle on top, these bowls seriously deliver on every level.
A Quick Look: Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls
- ✅ Recipe Name: Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls
- 🕒 Ready In: About 45 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 5
- 🍽 Calories: 858 per bowl
- 📋 Protein: 44g per bowl
- 🥬 Main Ingredients: Chicken breasts, rice, broccoli, soy sauce, honey, sriracha, spicy mayo
- 📖 Dietary Info: Dairy-free, nut-free
- 🥣 Best For: Weeknight dinner, meal prep, family meals
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: That glossy sticky sauce + spicy mayo drizzle makes this chicken rice bowl absolutely irresistible!
Easy Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls
When it comes to preparing dinner — especially on weeknights — easy recipes always win. This chicken rice bowl recipe is just that! It’s prepared in an air fryer, making it extra easy (not to mention delicious!).
These bowls are made with a base of rice, broccoli, and chicken. They’re topped with a homemade honey sticky sauce, followed by a three-ingredient spicy mayo. The double sauce situation makes them extra good, trust me! If you don’t want to make your own spicy mayo, you can use a store-bought version, that’s totally fine.
When all is said and done, the recipe yields 5 delicious protein-rich servings. It’s perfect for feeding the family or using as the week’s meal prep! And rf you love this kind of bowl situation, you’ll also want to check out my Sticky Salmon Rice Bowls and Ground Chicken Teriyaki Bowls, too!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love These Rice Bowls with Chicken
- That sticky sauce is everything. Sweet, savory, garlicky, and perfectly glossy, it coats every bite and you’ll want to put it on everything!
- Air fryer chicken in 12 minutes. Juicy, perfectly seasoned bite-sized pieces with almost zero effort.
- High-protein and super filling. Each bowl delivers 44g of protein! This is a meal that actually keeps you full.
- Built for meal prep. All components store well separately, making this a weekday lunch hero.
- Totally customizable. Swap the protein, load up on extra veggies, turn down the heat, you name it! These bowls work for everyone at the table.
Ingredients Needed
This sticky chicken rice bowl recipe consists of a few different sets of ingredients. We’ll start with those for the bowl base, followed by the sticky sauce and then the spicy mayo. You can use any vegetables you want!
Bowl Base
- Rice: White rice, brown rice, or long grain would be perfect here, or feel free to sub in quinoa!
- Broccoli: Then, include some veggie goodness with 2 small heads of chopped broccoli.
- Chicken: For the chicken, you’ll need 3 large chicken breasts. If you prefer, you can use chicken thighs!
- Olive oil: Olive oil will be used to help the seasonings stick to the chicken.
- Seasonings: To add flavor, we’ll use the following seasonings: salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and oregano.
Sticky Sauce
- Soy sauce: To use as the base of the sticky sauce!
- Honey: For a dash of sweet flavor, and that sticky consistency.
- Rice vinegar: Rice vinegar is a must in sticky sauce, to balance out all the flavors!
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is best if you have it!
- Sriracha: Heat things up a bit by adding 2 tbsp of sriracha, but adjust that to your personal taste.
- Sesame oil: Sesame oil adds a lovely nutty flavor!
- Ground ginger: Adds a fresh zing of flavor.
- Arrowroot powder: Finish off the sticky sauce by mixing 2 tsp of arrowroot powder with 2 tbsp of water. This is going to create a slurry that will thicken up the sauce. For an arrowroot powder substitute, you can use cornstarch.
Spicy Mayo
- Mayo: To create the spicy mayo, we’ll begin with 1/2 cup of… you guessed it… mayo!
- Sriracha: Then, add spicy flavor with 1 tbsp of sriracha.
- Water: 2-3 tbsp of water will help the spicy mayo reach the perfect consistency.
Topping
- Sesame seeds: Finish off the chicken rice bowls by adding sesame seeds on top!
- Avocado: Add some creamy avocado on top for some healthy fat!
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap the protein. Tofu, shrimp, or ground chicken all work beautifully with this sticky sauce.
- Go lower carb. Use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice for a lighter base.
- Add more veggies. Snap peas, red onion, shredded purple cabbage, matchstick carrots, cucumber, scallions, or mushrooms are all delicious here.
- Adjust the heat. Reduce the sriracha in both the sauce and the mayo for a milder, more family-friendly version.
- Make it gluten-free. Swap soy sauce for coconut aminos and you’re good to go.
How to Make Sticky Chicken and Rice Bowls
Step 1: Prep. Cook rice according to the package directions, and steam the broccoli in the microwave. While those are cooking, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and oregano.
Step 2: Season and air fry the chicken. Lay flat in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 12 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Step 3: Make the sticky sauce. While the chicken cooks, add soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, sriracha, sesame oil, and ground ginger to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then stir in the arrowroot slurry. Let boil for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and turned glossy.
Step 4: Assemble the bowls. Layer rice, broccoli, and chicken into bowls. Pour the sticky sauce generously on top. Whisk together the spicy mayo ingredients and drizzle over everything. Finish with sesame seeds, avocado, and any other toppings you love.
Erin’s Expert Recipe Tips
- Cut the chicken small. Bite-sized pieces cook faster and more evenly in the air fryer, and you get more sticky sauce coverage on every single piece.
- Don’t rush the sauce. Let it boil for the full 4 to 5 minutes after adding the arrowroot slurry! This is what gives it that gorgeous, thick, sticky texture. It will thicken more as it cools too.
- Make the spicy mayo drizzle-thin. Add enough water so it drizzles easily from a spoon. If it’s too thick, just add another splash of water.
- Taste and adjust the heat. The sriracha level is totally up to you! Start with less and add more to your preference.
- Storing: Transfer all components to airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days. Store the sauce separately if possible so the rice doesn’t get soggy, then reheat and assemble fresh when ready to eat.
- Serve it with: Asian Chicken Crunch Salad, Moroccan Couscous Salad, or Roasted Garlic Potatoes!
Frequently Asked Questions
A chicken rice bowl typically starts with a base of rice topped with seasoned chicken, your favorite veggies, and a flavorful sauce. In this case, a honey soy sticky sauce with a spicy mayo drizzle that takes everything to the next level! From there, you can customize with toppings like avocado, sesame seeds, scallions, or whatever sounds good to you!
Absolutely! Bake the chicken at 400°F for about 20 minutes, or cook it in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through. The air fryer just speeds things up.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Looking for some more easy weeknight dinners? Try one of these!
- Lemon Cauliflower Pasta with Grilled Chicken
- Easy Chicken Provencal
- Thai Inspired Chicken Meatball Soup
- Honey Glazed Salmon Bites
- Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe (Stovetop or Crockpot)
All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn
If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!
Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls
Ingredients
Method
- Cook rice according to package.
- Steam broccoli in microwave or on stove top until fork tender. Set aside.
- Cut chicken up into small bitesized pieces.
- Toss chicken with oil and all spices. Lay flat in air fryer and cook in preheated air fryer at 400F to 12 minutes or until chicken is 160F internally.
- While chicken is cooking, add soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, sriracha, sesame oil, and ground ginger to a sauce pot. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, add arrowroot slurry. Let boil 4-5 minutes or until sauce has thickened greatly.
- Prepare bowls by layering rice, broccoli, chicken, and covering in sauce. Mix together spicy mayo ingredients and drizzle on top. Top with sesame seeds.
Nutrition
Notes
- Cut the chicken into small, bite-sized pieces before air frying. This helps everything cook evenly and makes it easier to load up your bowls — plus it gets more of that sticky sauce on every single bite.
- Don’t rush the sauce. After adding the arrowroot slurry, let the sauce boil for a full 4-5 minutes until it has greatly thickened. That’s what gives it that gorgeous, glossy sticky texture.
- Make it your own! This recipe is super flexible so feel free to swap in tofu or shrimp, add extra veggies like snap peas or red onion, or use cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option. The sticky sauce makes everything taste amazing.
Carrie J says
So good and quick to make! Made for lunch today, my husband and I loved it.
Erin says
Hi Carrie, so glad you both loved them!!
Georgia says
This recipe is awesome! I’m so glad we tried it and will become a staple!! The sticky sauce will definitely be used for a ton of dishes moving forward.
Erin says
Hi Georgia, so happy you loved it so much! 🙂
Max says
Unbelievably good! My partner has already requested a repeat 😂
Erin says
Hi Max, so happy they were a hit! 🙂
Lindsey says
Love this bowl so much! It’s on rotation for my house! Delish
Erin says
Hi Lindsey, so glad you loved them!!
Diana says
The sticky sauce is best sauce for meats and fish. I use it for everything. So easy, quick, and versatile. My family loves this whole meal
Erin says
Hi Diana, so happy they’re a big hit!!
Sarah says
I really enjoyed this recipe. Only two changes I would make – slightly less Sriracha (just a little too spicy in the sticky sauce for me), and a little less smoked paprika. The Smokey overpowered the chicken a bit. Would definitely make again!
Erin says
Hi Sarah, so glad you liked it and can make it your own next time! 🙂
Marta says
I have made this at least 5 times already. I add match stick carrots and shredded purple Cabbage for some additional veggies. I think it tastes as good as a bowl you’d get in a restaurant. Highly recommend.
Erin says
Hi Marta, so happy you love them and great ideas! 🙂
Mary says
Delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Erin says
Hi Mary, so happy you liked them! 🙂
Julia says
So good!! Perfect for when you’re craving takeout but want to be healthier— and it’s easy!
Erin says
Hi Julia, so glad you love them! 🙂
Paula says
This was restaurant quality! So good! Next time I make it I’ll decrease the amount of Sriracha in both the sauce and the topping because well, we’re anglo, and we don’t have the spice tolerance others do. Still, fantastic recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Erin says
Hi Paula, so happy you loved them!! 🙂
Allison Malcolm says
This ended up being a pantry/freezer meal for us bc it included ingredients we always have. Used thighs bc that’s what we had, baked the chicken bc I didn’t have an air fryer. Used ginger powder instead of ginger bc that’s what I had. Used frozen mixed veg bc it’s what we had. Still came out delicious; I credit the generous amount of sticky sauce!
Erin says
Hi Allison, so happy you love it so much!! 🙂
Michele says
Made this tonight, added delicate squash, sweet potato and red pepper. I like that it’s a dish that is easy adaptable to whatever a person has in their fridge. I doubled the dry ingredients as we like our chicken really coated with spices.
Erin says
Hi Michele, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
shawnna tuccille says
amazing dish………. followed the recipe w/ a few additions to make it a little more personal…….. my family was impressed and cleaned their plates 🤭 not a rice grain left in any bowl 😊🫶🏻
Erin says
Hi Shawnna, so glad you loved them and made them your own!!
Mary says
My whole family loves this recipe. It’s a keeper!
Erin says
Hi Mary, so happy they were a hit!! 🙂
Megan says
We love sticky chicken rice bowls! We often add mushrooms and zuchinni. So yummy!
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you love them so much and great additions!!
Stephanie says
So good!
Erin says
Hi Stephanie, so glad you liked them! 🙂
Lona says
This was so good!! I baked the chicken in the oven and roasted the broccoli. I also added some sautéed peppers and onions. My husband said ‘this is restaurant quality.’ 😂
Erin says
Hi Lona, so happy you both loved them and made them your own! 🙂