Hot Honey Chicken Bowl – Sweetgreen Dupe That Saves You Money

Sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl lovers, this one’s for you. That crave-worthy combo of blackened chicken, sweet roasted potatoes, crunchy slaw, and fiery-sweet dressing doesn’t need to cost $15 a pop. I recreated the full experience at home flavor, texture, satisfaction without the takeout markup. This version is just as vibrant, perfect for meal prep, and totally doable on a weeknight.

If you’re after something similar but slightly different in spice and layering, I also have a hot honey chicken rice bowl that brings the heat in a simpler, rice-forward way.

Why I Made This Bowl

I wanted to make this sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl not just because it tastes amazing but because I believe comfort food can still be fresh, colorful, and good for you. After trying it a few times, I started thinking: Why not build it from scratch at home?

That’s how this recipe came to life in my kitchen on a quiet Texas afternoon with sweet potatoes roasting in the oven and quinoa simmering gently on the stove. I played with a few different spice blends for the chicken, tested the balance of sweet to tang in the hot honey dressing, and made sure the slaw kept its crunch for days in the fridge.

The final sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl dupe hits all the right notes: smoky heat, natural sweetness, creaminess from the slaw, and a little zip from vinegar and lime. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and high in protein. It’s the kind of meal you can eat for lunch three days straight and still look forward to.

I’ll also be sharing a Baja hot honey chicken bowl variation soon, so stay tuned if you’re into bold Southwest flavors with a citrusy edge.

This homemade sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl is more than just a dupe it’s a flavorful, nourishing, affordable win. Let’s dive into the ingredients next.

Hot Honey Chicken Bowl – Sweetgreen Dupe That Saves You Money

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• Author: Mouny
• Total Time: 90 minutes
• Yield: 6 bowls
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

A delicious homemade Sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl dupe, featuring blackened chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, tangy slaw, and a fiery-sweet hot honey dressing. Perfect for meal prep, gluten-free, and bursting with flavor.

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Ingredients

For the Chicken:

2 pounds chicken breast or thighs

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon black pepper

½ heaping teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon coriander

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

For the Sweet Potatoes:

1 pound sweet potatoes

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon nutritional yeast

For the Quinoa:

1 ½ cups quinoa, rinsed

3 cups vegetable or chicken broth

For the Slaw:

4 cups cabbage

1 ½ cups shredded carrot

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon dried parsley

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Juice of ½ lime

For the Hot Honey Dressing:

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup dijon mustard

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

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Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and all spices. Chill for 30 minutes to 2 hours.

2. Chop sweet potatoes, toss with oil and seasonings. Roast at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway.

3. Cook quinoa in broth until fluffy. Set aside.

4. Combine slaw ingredients in a bowl, toss well, and chill.

5. Grill or pan-sear chicken until blackened and fully cooked. Let rest, then slice or cube.

6. Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth.

7. Assemble bowls with quinoa base, chicken, sweet potatoes, slaw, and drizzle with dressing. Top with crispy shallots if desired.

Notes

Store components separately in the fridge up to 5 days.

Use crispy shallots for extra crunch (optional).

Swap quinoa with brown rice or couscous if desired.

Gluten-free and protein-rich.

• Prep Time: 60 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Comfort in a Bowl
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Inside the Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Bowl

To recreate the sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl at home, you need a few core elements: blackened chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, slaw, and that irresistible hot honey dressing. Below, I’ll walk you through the essential ingredients and easy substitutions so you can make it your own.

Bold Protein Base: Blackened Chicken

Chicken thighs or breasts both work well here. I like thighs for flavor, but breasts stay lean. The marinade is key olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a spice blend of chili powder, cumin, coriander, and red pepper flakes. Let it rest for at least 30 minutes (2–3 hours is best) to soak in all that flavor.

Substitution Tip: Try tofu, shrimp, or even grilled halloumi if you’re going meatless. Just keep the spice rub the same.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Natural Sweetness + Texture

Chop your sweet potatoes into small chunks, toss with olive oil and seasoning (onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and nutritional yeast), then roast at 400°F until crispy and golden.

Substitution Tip: Butternut squash or carrots are great stand-ins, especially during fall.

Wholesome Grain: Fluffy Quinoa

Cook quinoa in vegetable or chicken broth to infuse more flavor. This makes up the hearty base of your sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl and holds up well in the fridge for meal prep.

Substitution Tip: Brown rice, couscous, or farro all work if you’re out of quinoa.

Crispy, Tangy Slaw

The slaw brings crunch and contrast. Use cabbage and carrots dressed in a light mayo, mustard, and apple cider vinegar mix. It balances the spice beautifully.

Don’t Forget the Dressing

The star of the show: homemade hot honey dressing. Olive oil, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, and honey with red pepper flakes. Sweet, fiery, and ready in minutes.

Up next: Let’s cook everything step-by-step and talk meal prep tips plus, I’ll show you where to work in the healthy hot honey chicken bowl recipe for a lighter twist.

How to Cook the Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Bowl at Home

Step-by-step: cook, layer, and build your bowl

Making your own sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s how I do it:

1. Marinate the chicken. Mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and all your spices in a bowl. Add the chicken and coat thoroughly. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
2. Roast the sweet potatoes. Toss chopped sweet potatoes with olive oil, chili powder, onion and garlic powder, and roast at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, flipping once halfway.
3. Cook the quinoa. Rinse it first, then cook with chicken or veggie broth. Fluff and set aside.
4. Make the slaw. Toss cabbage, carrots, mayo, mustard, vinegar, and lime juice in a bowl. Chill until serving.
5. Grill or pan-sear the chicken. Use high heat and cook each side for 6–8 minutes until blackened. Rest the chicken, then cube it.
6. Whisk the hot honey dressing. Just mix everything in a bowl done in a minute.
7. Assemble. Start with quinoa, add chicken, sweet potatoes, slaw, and finish with dressing and crispy shallots if you like.

That’s it simple, satisfying, and done in under 90 minutes. It’s a full meal with bold flavor and balanced nutrition.

Make-ahead and storage tips for busy weeks

This recipe was designed with meal prep in mind. It stores beautifully, which is great if you’re prepping weekday lunches or dinners ahead of time.

• Store each component separately in airtight containers: chicken, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and slaw. Keep the dressing in a small jar to avoid soggy bowls.
• Reheat chicken and potatoes in the microwave or a skillet. The slaw stays crunchy for up to 5 days.
• You can assemble the full bowl the night before, just keep the dressing and crispy shallots separate until serving.

Bonus tip: Once I even used the leftover sweet potatoes and slaw to top a wrap for lunch. It worked surprisingly well with a little extra hot honey on top.

For another hearty, make-ahead-friendly meal with deep flavor, try this Popcorn Chicken Bowls with Yogurt Ranch it’s one of my go-to cold weather comfort recipes.

Why This Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Bowl Works Every Time

This sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl isn’t just a pretty meal it’s balanced, flavorful, and adaptable to whatever you’ve got on hand. It delivers on nutrition, flavor layering, and that satisfying “dig-in” factor that makes it perfect for both weekday lunches and easy dinners.

Each bowl gives you a great mix of lean protein, healthy fats, fiber, and slow carbs. It’s also naturally gluten-free and easily dairy-free if you swap out the slaw mayo or skip the crispy shallots.

Here’s a quick nutrition snapshot (per serving):

Want to cut calories or carbs?
Try these swaps:

• Sub cauliflower rice for quinoa
• Skip or reduce the honey in the dressing
• Use grilled veggies instead of sweet potatoes

Want it spicier?
Add more red pepper flakes or a dash of sriracha to the hot honey mix.

I love this recipe not just because it saves me money compared to takeout but because I know exactly what’s going into my food. And if you’re craving something with a bolder Southwestern twist, keep an eye out for my Baja hot honey chicken bowl that one’s coming soon and brings smoky citrus flavor to the mix.

Final Thoughts on the Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Bowl

If you’ve made it this far, you know this Sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl is more than just a copycat it’s a recipe you’ll return to. It hits all the right notes: sweet, spicy, filling, and fresh. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or just want to save money without sacrificing flavor, this bowl delivers.

What I love most about this Sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl is how customizable it is from protein swaps to grain bases. You can easily tailor it to your preferences and dietary needs.

And if you’re craving comfort in another form, my creamy pumpkin chicken skillet bowl is a cozy favorite that never disappoints.

Looking for more sweet inspiration?

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FAQ about Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Bowl