Copycat Cava Bowls with Grilled Chicken

When you’re craving that Mediterranean flavor but don’t want takeout, it’s time to make these delicious bowls. Copycat Cava Bowls with Grilled Chicken can be made with your favorite customizable ingredients like rice, mixed greens, hummus, black beans, corn salsa, and more.

These bowls are family-friendly and so simple to customize that is what we love about them. We like to set out all the ingredients and let each family member or friend build their own bowl. The chicken is simple to marinate and prep the night before, and the remaining ingredients can also be prepped ahead or purchased pre-made.

What is a Copycat Cava Bowl with Grilled Chicken?

A Copycat Cava Bowl with Grilled Chicken is a homemade version of the popular Mediterranean restaurant grain bowl. It features lemon-herb marinated chicken over a base of rice, greens, and fresh toppings. It’s a highly customizable, nutrient-dense meal that is savory and bright, plus entirely kid-friendly. This particular chicken is non-spicy.

Why you’ll love these CopyCat Cava Bowls

• Naturally gluten-free!
• Use pantry ingredients to make the chicken.
• Ready in just about 30 minutes or less.
• Restaurant quality without the cost.
• Family-friendly, set it up as a DIY “bowl bar” and let everyone customize their own bowls.

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken Thighs – Use for the base of the chicken; use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. These are juicier and more tender than chicken breast.
• Olive oil – Used to marinate the chicken.
• Lemon Juice – A natural tenderizer and infuses the meat with fresh flavor.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic creates a savory foundation for the chicken.
• Spice Blend (Paprika, Cumin, Coriander) – This trio gives the chicken its golden color and deep Mediterranean flavor without adding heat.
• Dried Oregano – Adds the earthy Greek flavor to the chicken.
• Additional Toppings – Bowls can be built with Jasmine Rice, Mixed Greens, Diced Tomatoes with Cucumbers, Crumbled Feta Cheese, Black Beans, Avocado, Hummus, and Cucumber-Dill Tzatziki Sauce. Any other ingredients that you prefer can also be used like Greek Olives, Pickles Onions, and more!

How to Make Copycat Cava Bowls with Grilled Chicken

1. Place the chicken in a Ziploc bag, add the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano, coriander, salt, and pepper. Completely coat the chicken with the marinade, seal the bag, and place in pan. Let this marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Once marinated, grill the chicken (15-20 minutes at 450°F), air fry (15 minutes at 390°F), or sear in a skillet (6-8 minutes on each side) until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F.
3. Once the chicken is fully cooked, let it rest for 5 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces.
4. Layer your bowls with your favorite ingredients such as mixed greens or rice, chicken, vegetables, and hummus. Top the bowl with the tzatziki sauce.

Tips for the Best Copycat Cava Bowls

• Let the chicken fully marinate, the longer the better!
• Always let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to lock in the juicy flavor.
• Use pre-made items to speed up prep, and cook the jasmine rice while the chicken is cooking.
• The best sauce in our opinion is Cucumber-Dill Tzatziki Sauce, which is typically found in the dip section at the local grocery store.
• This is naturally gluten-free, but always check all ingredients before serving to be sure that there is no cross-contamination.

Variations and Substitutions

• Mix up the chicken thighs and use steak or chicken breast instead. If you want a vegetarian alternative, use roasted chickpeas.
• Use quinoa, brown rice, or cauliflower rice instead of jasmine rice.
• Add heat with sriracha or cayenne pepper. This chicken is mild with no heat to it when made as written.
• For dairy-free, use hummus and omit the cheese and tzatziki sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to serve with Copycat Cava Bowls

Cucumber Tomato Salad (Slice cucumbers and tomatoes and mix with olive oil.)

Roasted Chickpeas

Air Fried Pita Chips

Falafels

Pita Bread

Storage Tips

Store the cooked rice and chicken separately in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. When ready to heat, heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warm. It’s best to store all toppings separately until you are ready to build the bowls.

Copycat Cava Bowls with Grilled Chicken are one of my daughter’s favorite meals to make. She loves to get in the kitchen and help with these; she prefers to have her bowl with greens, while I prefer rice. That is what makes this meal fun because it’s entirely customizable!