Maple Dijon Chicken Bowls (Printable)

Savory chicken glazed in maple and Dijon, served atop roasted sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and brown or wild rice with crunchy toppings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
03 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Maple Dijon Glaze

05 - 0.25 cup pure maple syrup
06 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped

→ Roasted Vegetables

09 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 0.75-inch cubes
10 - 12 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved or quartered
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
13 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Rice Base

15 - 1 cup brown or wild rice, uncooked
16 - 2 cups water or broth
17 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Toppings

18 - 0.25 cup chopped pecans, toasted
19 - 0.25 cup dried cranberries
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Cook rice according to package instructions using water or broth and salt, approximately 40 minutes for brown rice.
02 - Toss sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Spread in single layer on baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until caramelized and tender.
03 - Pound chicken breasts to even thickness. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
04 - Whisk together maple syrup, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and rosemary in small bowl until combined.
05 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through, reaching internal temperature of 165°F. During final 2 minutes, brush both sides generously with maple Dijon glaze. Reserve remaining glaze for serving.
06 - Transfer chicken to plate and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
07 - Divide cooked rice among four bowls. Top with roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Add sliced chicken. Drizzle with remaining glaze. Garnish with pecans, cranberries, and parsley. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The maple Dijon glaze is tangy and sweet without being cloying, and it actually makes weeknight cooking feel fancy.
  • Everything can be prepped separately and assembled in minutes, which means you can meal prep like a person with their life together.
  • Those roasted Brussels sprouts get crispy and caramelized in a way that even people who claim to dislike them will quietly eat half your bowl.
02 -
  • Don't skip pounding the chicken to even thickness—I learned this the hard way when I ended up with one side golden and crispy and the other side pale and slightly rubbery.
  • The glaze needs those final two minutes of direct heat on the chicken to actually caramelize; if you add it too early, it just steams off and you lose all that magic.
03 -
  • Use broth instead of water for your rice—it's a small change that makes the whole bowl taste more developed and intentional.
  • Don't skip the resting period for the chicken; it's only five minutes, but it keeps everything juicy instead of drying out under the glaze.
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