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20 Minute Miso Sesame Chicken Bowls. These are practically effortless, flavorful bowls that make the perfect quick lunch or dinner. Roasted chicken layered over white rice with arugula, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and lots of fresh cilantro. Everything gets tossed in a creamy homemade miso dressing – the secret sauce.
The dressing is what really makes it: white miso, fresh ginger, lemon, lime, toasted sesame oil, and sesame seeds for that nutty, tangy flavor. I always serve extra on the side, plus some crispy fried wonton chips for crunch. That’s it. So simple, nothing fancy—but totally satisfying.
Whenever I’m in New York or Miami (or really, anywhere lately), there’s always a Pura Vida or Sweetgreen nearby. I’ve never eaten at Sweetgreen, but in Miami we love Pura Vida. My mom and Asher always get the açaí bowls, but last time, we ordered Oslo their spicy tuna bowl—he loved it. Kind of funny, but he’s obsessed with raw tuna as long as it’s soaked in soy sauce.
All their bowls and dressings got me thinking.
So I created my own version—something Pura Vida–inspired, but with a miso twist. I’m really into miso right now, and Asher is too—she’s been making her own ramen broth! I wanted something you could prep quickly and feel good eating.
What I love about bowls like this is how customizable they are. You can swap the dressing, use two (I do!), or mix and match the toppings. They’re fun and stress-free.
Perfect for meal-prepped work lunches or quick weeknight dinners. Just whisk the dressing, assemble your bowl, and you’re set.
Here are the details
Ingredients – for the dressing
- white miso paste
- toasted sesame oil
- fresh ginger
- rice vinegar
- ponzo sauce
- lemon or lime juice – I actually use both
- toasted sesame seeds
- salt/pepper/chili flakes
Ingredients – for the bowl
- baby arugula
- green or purple cabbage – I use green
- Persian cucumbers
- cherry tomatoes
- rotisserie chicken
- cooked white rice
- cilantro or basil – I use both
- avocados
- wonton chips
Tools
To make these bowls, you don’t need much. A blender is helpful for the dressing, but not necessary. Other than that, you just need some bowls!
Steps
Step 1: Make the dressing
It’s easiest to blend the dressing using a blender, food processor, or handheld immersion blender. But if you don’t have one, no worries—you can absolutely whisk it together by hand.
You’ll need good-quality white miso paste (I usually get mine from Whole Foods), toasted sesame oil, fresh ginger, rice vinegar, ponzu sauce, and either lemon or lime juice—I like to use both. Then mix in toasted sesame seeds and a pinch of chili flakes for heat.
If you don’t have ponzu, just swap in tamari or soy sauce—it works great.
Step 2: Assemble the bowl
Layer up with arugula, shredded cabbage, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, steamed white rice, and roasted rotisserie chicken. Add avocado and a handful of fresh cilantro or basil—or both!
I love using arugula here—it’s nutrient-packed and holds up really well, especially if you’re prepping ahead.
Step 3: Dress the bowls
Now pour on lots of that miso dressing. This is where the magic happens!
Top each bowl with crispy wonton chips, if you have them, and enjoy right away. If your dressing is already made, this bowl comes together effortlessly—perfect for quick lunches or no-fuss dinners.
Meal Prep!
As you can probably guess, this is an ideal recipe for meal prep—and it’s fast too. There’s no actual cooking involved!
Make the dressing whenever you have five minutes to spare, then store it in the fridge. Pick up a rotisserie chicken (I like the ones from Whole Foods), and keep your favorite veggies and a few avocados on hand.
That’s it. Just assemble and enjoy all week long. Done and done.
Looking for other dinner ideas?
Crockpot White Chicken Chili Burrito Bowls
Red’s Favorite Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls
Skillet Chicken Adobo with Coconut Rice
30 Minute Pineapple Chicken with Coconut Rice
Weeknight Sesame Teriyaki Chicken with Ginger Rice
Sesame Ginger Orange Chicken Salad
Lastly, if you make this 20 Minute Miso Sesame Chicken Bowls, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
20 Minute Miso Sesame Chicken Bowls
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 308 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Sesame Miso Dressing
- 2 tablespoons white miso paste
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated/chopped ginger
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup ponzu sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, I like to use both
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- salt and chili flakes
The Bowl
- 4-6 cups baby arugula
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 4 Persian cucumbers
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 2-3 cups cooked white rice
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro/basil
- 1-2 avocados, sliced
- wonton chips, for serving
Instructions
- 1. To make the dressing, combine all ingredients except the sesame seeds, blend until smooth. Add the sesame seeds. Season with salt and chili flakes.2. To assemble, divide the arugula, cabbage, cucumbers, and tomatoes between bowls. Toss with miso dressing. Add rice, chicken, avocado, and cilantro/basil. 3. Serve with a lot of additional dressing on top. I like fried wonton chips on top too.
Notes
Crispy Wontons: Heat the avocado or olive oil in a skillet. Add wonton wraps or egg roll wraps and let cook for 1-2 minutes, until deeply golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels, then sprinkle with flaky salt and toasted sesame seeds.
This post was originally published on June 10, 2025
Made this tonight, and it’s definitely making many repeat appearances. Just the right bit of tang, and the veggies were so refreshing for a hot summer night. It was fast, did not make much mess, and I even appreciated that most of the dressing ingredients were 2T. When I am tired and in a hurry, that is really helpful. I could not find ponzu sauce, but google said I could sub half soy sauce and half lemon juice, so that is what I did.
Hi Terri,
Yay! Thank you so much for trying this dish and your comment, I’m so glad to hear it was a hit! Have the best week!
Okay so this isn’t normally the kind of meal I would go for, but I decided to try it. AMAZING. Like, so, so good! And super easy. And you could easily leave out the rice or sub cauliflower rice to make it pretty keto friendly!
Hey Taylor,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was enjoyed! Happy Summer!
My family loved this, especially the miso dressing. I didn’t add the wonton crisps, used brown rice, and added roasted broccoli and cauliflower. So good for summer.
Hey Jiji,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was a winner!
This was so delicious! I didn’t want to pick up a rotisserie chicken so I doubled the dressing and used it as a marinade for chicken thighs and it came out fantastic. 1000000/10!
Thanks so much, Nastassia!! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for making it!
This is absolutely delicious. I love how fresh it is, especially on a hot summer day.
Hey Dana,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was a hit! xx
I enjoyed the dish. Just some feedback – I made the dressing per the ingredients. I found it to be very astringent. The sour of the ponzu, vinegar, lime, and lemon were a bit much. I added 2 tbsp of honey, and voila, delicious. I would suggest doing that to cut the acidity.
Hey Martin,
Fantastic!! Love to hear this recipe was a winner, I appreciate you making it! Thanks for sharing your notes! xx
Is there a recipe for the rotisserie chicken you made? I would prefer to cook my own chicken.
Thanks!
Hey Dina,
You could follow this recipe:
https://fett-weg.today/magic-faux-tisserie-chicken/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
We all enjoyed this very much. I did double the dressing for next day leftovers!
Hey Elizabeth,
Happy Friday!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I’m so glad to hear it turned out nicely for you! xxT
Oh man, this bowl was packed with so much flavor! I really enjoyed it, especially how quickly it took to put together! Thank you!
Thanks so much, Nakisha!! Love to hear this recipe was a hit, I appreciate you giving it a try! xx
Very Good! Used leftover BBQ chicken and researched substitutions on the internet for the ingredients I didn’t have on hand. Thanks for the recipe!
Hey Leanne,
Yay! Love to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for giving it a go!🌼
The grocery stores in my area don’t carry white miso. Would regular (red) miso be ok?
Hey Christie,
Sure, that would also work nicely for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I love Pura Vida! You shared your Mom, Asher and Oslo’s favorites…wondering what is your go to order when you eat there?
Hey Bobbie,
I loved the tuna bowl! Thanks so much for asking:) xx
2 tbsp of sesame oil was a lot, is this the correct amount?
Hi Janey,
Yes, that is correct. So sorry to hear this recipe was not enjoyed. Thanks for giving it a try! xx
You mentioned your family’s orders at Pura Vida, but I’d love to hear what your go-to order is!
Hi Brenda,
I love to order the tuna bowl, it’s delicious! Have a great day! xx
When you eat salads yourself do you typically eat the large amounts of cilantro and basil you show in the pictures? I always thought of herbs as more of a topping rather than a base for a salad so just curious if this is something you actually recommend eating.
Hi Barbara,
I do, but everyone has their own preference so you should serve the herbs how you enjoy them:) I hope you love this recipe! xT
What did you order at Pure Vita?
Hey Patty,
I got the tuna bowl, so good!!