Chicken Rice Bowl

Ingredients

• 1.25 lbChicken breast$6.80
• 4 cupscooked rice$2.40
• 1Cucumber$1.20
• 1 cupYogurt sauce$2.40
• 1 tbspOlive oil$0.23
• 1 tspPaprika$0.14
• 1 tspSalt—
• 1/2 tspBlack pepper$0.07
• Total for 4 servings$13.24

Most of the cost is chicken breast ($6.80) and cooked rice ($2.40). With oil, spices and staples already at home, the shop drops to about $10.47. Prices are estimated for the amount used, at average US grocery prices (November 2026).

Steps

1. Season both sides of the chicken breast evenly with the paprika, black pepper, and half the salt.
2. Thinly slice the cucumber into rounds.
3. Warm the cooked rice in a covered saucepan with 2 tablespoons of water over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once, until steaming hot.
4. While the rice cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add the chicken breast and cook for 6 to 8 minutes per side until deeply browned and an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) with no pink remaining.
5. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice across the grain into thin strips; remove the rice from the heat and fluff with a fork.
6. Portion the warm fluffed rice evenly among four individual dinner bowls.
7. Arrange the sliced chicken and cucumber over each bed of rice, drizzle evenly with the yogurt sauce, and serve warm.