Harvest Bowl with Chicken (Printer-friendly)

Hearty bowl featuring roasted chicken, wild rice, sweet potatoes, kale, apples, almonds, and creamy goat cheese with balsamic dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Grains

05 - 1 cup uncooked wild rice
06 - 2 cups water or chicken broth

→ Vegetables & Fruit

07 - 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 4 cups chopped kale, stems removed
12 - 1 medium apple, cored and diced (Honeycrisp or Fuji recommended)

→ Toppings

13 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds (toasted if desired)
14 - 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese

→ Balsamic Dressing

15 - 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
16 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
17 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
18 - 1 teaspoon honey
19 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
20 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss diced sweet potato with 1 tablespoon olive oil, smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread on half of the baking sheet.
03 - Rub chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Place on the other half of the baking sheet.
04 - Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping sweet potatoes halfway through, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and sweet potatoes are tender. Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
05 - Rinse wild rice under cold water. Combine rice with water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes until tender. Drain any excess liquid.
06 - Whisk together balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
07 - Massage chopped kale with a drizzle of dressing and a pinch of salt for 1 to 2 minutes until tender and wilted.
08 - Start each bowl with a bed of massaged kale. Layer wild rice, roasted sweet potatoes, sliced chicken, diced apple, sliced almonds, and crumbled goat cheese. Drizzle generously with remaining balsamic dressing.
09 - Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like comfort and health decided to become friends instead of enemies.
  • Everything cooks at once on one sheet pan, which means you're not juggling five burners and losing your mind.
  • You can eat it warm or pack it for lunch, and it somehow tastes even better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip the kale massage step—it's not precious or unnecessary, it's the difference between chewy leaves and ones that actually taste good.
  • The dressing is the glue holding this whole thing together, so make it taste amazing instead of just functional.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the night before so the garlic has time to mellow and the flavors have time to become friends.
  • Toast your almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for about three minutes, shaking constantly—they'll smell incredible and taste even better.
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