Buffalo Chicken & Rice Lunch Bowls

You’ll learn to assemble lunch bowls quickly in the morning and keep them fresh until lunch with the tips in this post.

Filling Buffalo Rice Bowls for Teens

Lunch bowls like this that can keep my hungry teen full from lunch until the end of the day are like hitting the jackpot of meals. This rice bowl with chicken is a delicious, nutrient-packed one-bowl wonder complete with complex carbs, protein, veggies, and healthy fats. 

When I make these, I know my teens are getting a balanced, high-protein lunch that will also meet their energy needs -this is especially important for those of us who have kids who play sports.

What is in a High School Lunch Rice Bowl

As long as you have the ingredients needed to build a lunch bowl, you can make a healthy lunch better than the high school cafeteria real fast. You’ll need:

• Base: this recipe uses cooked rice, but other swaps that work include quinoa, farro, and even cauliflower rice, which is delicious.
• Veggies: thaw out some frozen veggies, use leftovers from dinner, or any fresh veggie you enjoy. As long as you have it prepped, it makes it convenient to add to this lunch.
• Protein: leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie are always convenient and often in my fridge; although steak, beans, tofu, or lentils also make great options. 
• Dressing: the sauce ties everything together and will give your power bowl its epic flavor! Try my homemade Ranch, Cilantro Lime, or the seriously amazing Avocado Lime Ranch.

How to Pack a Rice Bowl for Lunch

Whenever I make these buffalo chicken power bowls for dinner, they disappear fast! Here is what you need to know to keep them fresh until lunch at school:

1. Fill the container
   Select a sturdy lunch container with a tight-fitting lid large enough to fit all the ingredients. Bonus points if it has compartments!
2. Add Protein
   Flavor the chicken by mixing it with the Buffalo sauce in a small bowl before adding it to the container so every piece tastes great.
3. Toppings
   If enjoying the power bowl cold, layer all the toppings on top of the base. Otherwise, pack the cold items separately and add them on top at lunch if you have access to a microwave. You can also pack the rice and chicken hot inside a thermos container.
4. Dressing
   Always pack the dressing separately in a small lidded container to prevent the other ingredients from getting soggy. 
5. Pack it for school
   Keep this lunch bowl and any healthy sides in the fridge until it’s time to go. Then, pack it inside a lunch bag with an ice pack to keep everything fresh until lunch.  This is important to help regulate the temperature and keep it fresh until it is ready to eat.

Should You Eat Rice Bowls Hot or Cold?

The best part of rice bowls for school is that they can be enjoyed hot, packed inside a thermos or heated in a microwave, or cold straight out of the lunch bag. In the summer, my teens prefer it cold (or at room temperature), while in cold months, they enjoy a hot lunch for school.

High School Lunch Packing Tips

High schoolers tend to pack more food for school. Here are some tips that help keep lunches fresh and appealing after spending hours in a lunch bag:

Keep it Cool
No fridge, no problem. Add an ice pack to the lunch bag or a frozen water bottle to keep things chilled.

Add a Side Snack
Teens love snacks, like yogurt or granola bars, to help them keep going longer, especially if they have after-school practice.

More Teen Lunch Bowl Ideas

Lunch bowls like this one have become a favorite lunch idea with my teens because they can pack them themselves. Other favorites include the Chicken burrito bowl and the Mediterranean lunch bowl. They’re easy, healthy, and delicious!

Buffalo Chicken Lunch Bowls

Servings: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Make these buffalo chicken rice bowls for lunch and enjoy a healthy, protein-rich meal that can be enjoyed hot or cold.

5 from 6 votes

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Ingredients

• ½ cup cooked chicken, rotisserie or grilled
• 1 ½ tablespoons Buffalo sauce
• 1 cup cooked rice
• ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon blue cheese crumbles
• ¼ avocado, diced
• Ranch dressing

Instructions

Prep:

• Chop or shred the cooked chicken into small pieces and place them in a bowl. Add the Buffalo sauce and toss to coat the chicken with the sauce

To enjoy at home:

• Make a base of rice at the bottom of a bowl and top it with the Buffalo chicken. Warm it up in the microwave for about a minute, stopping to stir halfway through.
• Top with the cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, and diced avocado. Drizzle a little Ranch dressing over the top.

In a lunch box:

• Make a base of rice at the bottom of the lunch container). If have access to a microwave and plan on heating it up, pack the toppings separately; otherwise, enjoy it cold or at room temperature and top it with the cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, and avocado.
• Pack the Ranch dressing in a separate dressing container.

Equipment

101 Packed Lunches

Kids Lunch Box

Dips or Dressings

ice pack