If you love healthy meals that don’t taste healthy, these Grilled Chicken & Broccoli Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce are about to become a staple in your weekly rotation. This bowl has everything: smoky grilled chicken, vibrant broccoli, a satisfying base like rice or quinoa, and a silky, luxurious garlic sauce that brings the entire dish together.

It’s the perfect balance of clean eating and comfort food. The chicken is marinated and grilled until juicy and flavorful. The broccoli adds freshness and crunch. And then the creamy garlic sauce — rich, velvety, and aromatic — drapes beautifully over everything, turning a simple bowl into a crave-worthy meal.

The best part? This recipe is incredibly versatile and meal-prep friendly. You can customize the base, adjust the spice level, swap proteins, or roast instead of steam. It’s a wholesome, balanced bowl that never gets boring.

Why You’ll Love These Chicken & Broccoli Bowls

✔ Healthy but tastes indulgent

The creamy garlic sauce adds richness without making the dish heavy.

✔ Perfect meal prep

Stays fresh for days and reheats beautifully.

✔ Customizable

Choose rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice — whatever you like.

✔ Protein-packed & nutritious

Grilled chicken + broccoli = balanced, satisfying meal.

✔ Quick weeknight dinner

Ready in 30–35 minutes.

Ingredients

For the Grilled Chicken

• 1.5 lbs chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp dried parsley
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Juice of ½ lemon

For the Broccoli

• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Optional: garlic powder or lemon juice

For the Creamy Garlic Sauce

• 3 tbsp butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 ¾ cups chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream or milk
• Salt & pepper to taste
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan (optional but amazing)

For the Bowls

• 3 cups cooked rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
• Fresh parsley
• Extra lemon wedges
• Cracked pepper

Instructions

1. Prep the chicken marinade

Mix olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, parsley, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Coat chicken and marinate 10–20 minutes.

2. Grill the chicken

Cook chicken on a grill or grill pan for 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Let rest, then slice.

3. Cook the broccoli

Steam or roast broccoli until bright green and tender. Season lightly.

4. Make the creamy garlic sauce

Melt butter in a skillet. Add garlic and cook 30–60 seconds. Stir in flour to make a roux. Slowly whisk in broth and cream until smooth and thickened. Add Parmesan if using. Season to taste.

5. Assemble bowls

Add rice to bowls, top with grilled chicken and broccoli, then drizzle with creamy garlic sauce.

6. Garnish

Finish with parsley, cracked pepper, or lemon juice.

Grilled Chicken & Broccoli Bowls with Creamy Garlic Sauce

Juicy grilled chicken and tender broccoli served over rice and topped with a silky, flavorful creamy garlic sauce.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4 bowls

Course: Dinner, Healthy

Cuisine: American

Calories: 540

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Grilled Chicken

• 1.5 lbs chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 0.5 tsp onion powder
• 0.5 tsp dried parsley
• salt and pepper to taste
• 0.5 lemon juiced

Broccoli

• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Creamy Garlic Sauce

• 3 tbsp butter
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1.75 cups chicken broth
• 0.5 cup heavy cream or milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese optional

Bowl Base

• 3 cups cooked rice or quinoa / cauliflower rice

Garnish

• parsley chopped

Equipment

• Grill or grill pan
• Skillet
• Cutting board
• Rice cooker or pot

Method

 

1. Mix olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, parsley, lemon, salt, and pepper to make a marinade.
2. Coat chicken in marinade and let sit for 10–20 minutes.
3. Grill chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
4. Steam or roast broccoli until tender and bright green.
5. In a skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant.
6. Whisk in flour to form a roux.
7. Slowly add broth and cream, whisking until smooth.
8. Simmer until thickened and season with salt, pepper, and Parmesan if using.
9. Assemble bowls with rice, grilled chicken, broccoli, and creamy garlic sauce.

Notes

Roast broccoli for deeper flavor.

Tips for Perfect Bowls

⭐ Don’t overcook the chicken

Grilled until just done = juicy every time.

⭐ Add Parmesan

It gives the sauce silky thickness and deep flavor.

⭐ Roast broccoli for extra flavor

Roasted broccoli adds a delicious char.

⭐ Make extra sauce

You will definitely want leftovers.

⭐ Great for meal prep

Store components separately for best texture.

Variations

• Spicy Garlic Sauce Bowl

Add red pepper flakes or cayenne.

• Honey Garlic Chicken Bowl

Add 1–2 tsp honey to the chicken marinade.

• Low-Carb Version

Serve with cauliflower rice or zoodles.

• Greek Version

Swap sauce for tzatziki and add cucumbers.

• Vegetarian Version

Swap chicken for tofu or chickpeas.

Serving Suggestions

• Lemon rice
• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Cauliflower rice
• Roasted vegetables
• Garlic naan or pita

Storage & Reheating

Fridge:

Keeps 3–4 days.

Reheat:

Heat chicken and rice gently; add a splash of broth to loosen the sauce.

Short Summary

Juicy grilled chicken, fresh broccoli, and a creamy garlic sauce come together to create a healthy, satisfying, and incredibly flavorful bowl perfect for meal prep or easy dinners.