Homemade CAVA Bowl Recipe with Instant Pot Chicken
This recipe brings the delicious bowls from CAVA into a budget-friendly version you can make at home.
Servings 4 bowls
Calories 475kcal
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 500 g chicken breasts
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp zataar
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
For the bowls
- 1 cup dry basmati rice, cooked according to package directions (or 1 cup of another grain, cooked)
- 14-15 oz can lentils, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup black olives, halved
- 1/4 cup capers
- 1 large jalapeno, sliced
- 2 cups pickled vegetables of choice (pickled onions, pickled cabbage) (use our pickled onion recipe)
- 1 cup tomato salsa
- 1/2 cup tzatziki (use our easy Greek tzatziki recipe)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- fresh parsley and/or dill for garnish
Instructions
To make the instant pot chicken
- Mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and zataar and season the chicken breasts with the mixture. Set aside.
- Press the saute function and add the olive oil to the insert.
- Once warm, place the chicken breasts in and sear/cook for 3 minutes per side. Then add the diced onion and saute 4-5 minutes until softened.
- Add the juice from one lemon and the chicken broth and cook for a minute.
- Close the lid and make sure the vent is sealed.
- Press the manual/pressure cook button and set the time for 7 minutes.
- The Instant pot will come to pressure and then cook. When the cooking time is over, allow to naturally release steam for 10 minutes and then push the valve to release the rest of the steam. Then, remove the lid and remove the chicken and to a bowl or cutting board. Shred the chicken into small pieces and then add the chicken back to the pot to stir together with the sauce/onions.
- While the chicken is cooking, cook the rice or grain of choice according to packet directions.
Assemble the bowls
- Assemble the bowls by dividing the cooked rice, cooked shredded chicken, lentils, black olives, capers, jalapenos, and pickled vegetables.
- Add a scoop of tzatziki and crumbled feta cheese and tomato salsa between 4 bowls.
Video
Notes
- These bowls are very customizable! Add/delete toppings based on your personal tastes. Some other delicious topping ideas: greens of choice, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers.
- This recipe is delicious as meal prep lunches too!
Nutrition
Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.8g | Protein: 40.4g | Fat: 17.9g | Saturated Fat: 5.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8.5g | Cholesterol: 110.2mg | Sodium: 2365.6mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6.7g
