Homemade Cava Bowls with Harissa Honey Chicken

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This homemade Cava bowl with harissa honey chicken is packed with fresh, Mediterranean flavors. Now you can build your own Cava bowls at home!

Jump to:

Why You’ll Love These Copycat Cava Bowls
Ingredient Notes
Equipment You’ll Need
Step by Step Directions
Tips & Variations
FAQ
Homemade Cava Bowl with Harissa Honey Chicken

Why You’ll Love These Copycat Cava Bowls

If you are a fan of Mediterranean food, you're sure to enjoy this Cava-inspired Greek bowl! Cava is a casual restaurant that many people refer to as a Mediterranean version of Chipotle. They have several grain bowl/rice bowls that you can customize to create your favorite combo. It's a quick and tasty Mediterranean-inspired restaurant!
We have tried to keep this recipe simple so that you don't have to worry about preparing too many components at one time.
One of our favorite things about these Cava-style bowls is that they are easily customizable to your preferences simply by mixing up the toppings you choose.
This recipe is a great option for meal prep! You can easily store each component and assemble during the week or divide out individual portions that are ready to go the next time you eat it.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed for homemade cava bowl.

For the chicken:
- Chicken breast - we like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this delicious bowl. You can use frozen chicken, but be sure to thaw it safely beforehand. We recommend taking the chicken out of the freezer and putting it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Alternatively, you can put the chicken in a Ziploc bag and soak it in cool water.
- Honey, harissa, fresh lemon juice, salt, and minced garlic - these are the ingredients you will need to create the harissa honey chicken marinade. If you aren't familiar with harissa paste, it is a hot chili paste with a bold flavor that originated in Tunisia, North Africa. The chilis are typically combined with olive oil, spices, and sometimes garlic to create more of a sauce. There are a lot of varieties of harissa, ranging from pastes to sauces with differing levels of heat (mild or hot). Make sure to choose one based on the heat your taste buds can handle! A typical grocery store will often have one of these varieties on hand, such as Mina Harissa. Trader Joe's also has their own variety of harissa.
For the veggies:
- If this is your first time making quick-pickled veggies, no need to be intimidated! It is so simple and is a great way to provide fresh flavor to these Cava copycat bowls.
- Red onion and cucumber - we like to make quick-pickled veggies with red onions and cucumber. You can use a regular cucumber, an English cucumber or a Persian cucumber.
- Apple cider vinegar, water, salt, and sugar - these are the ingredients you need to soak the veggies in.
For assembling the bowls:
- Cooked rice - you will need 3-4 cups of cooked rice, depending on how much rice you like to have. We typically use jasmine rice, but you can use any rice you like, even brown rice to add some whole grains.
- Hummus - you can pick whichever flavor of hummus you like best! From original, to red pepper, to roasted garlic—you can't go wrong! Another great option is to make your own hummus at home using a food processor*.
Other optional toppings:
- We have tried to keep this recipe simple so that it doesn't feel like there are too many components to make. We think these mediterranean bowls are delicious with just the rice, chicken, pickled veggies, and hummus, but feel free to add other toppings in! Here are some ideas:
  - Grape tomatoes, corn, avocado, feta cheese, pita bread or pita chips, kalamata olives, baby spinach or spring mix, black lentils, sweet potatoes/white sweet potato, or fresh jalapeno.
  - Sauces: Tzatziki sauce, harissa vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette (or another favorite dressing).
  - You can also buy some of Cava's sauces/toppings, such as their crazy feta, at select Whole Foods stores.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Equipment You’ll Need

Cutting boards and knives
Two medium-sized bowls
Measuring cups and spoons
Rice cooker*, instant pot*, or pot
Air fryer* or non-stick pan
Meat thermometer*

Step by Step Directions

For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

A bowl with marinating honey harissa chicken.

Step 1: The first thing you will need to do is cut the chicken breast into small, bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken to a bowl. Add the honey, juice from half of a lemon, harissa, salt, and minced garlic. Mix well and set aside in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes.

Step 2: If you do not already have cooked rice on hand, begin with starting to cook the rice based on your preference for cooking method (rice cooker, instant pot, stovetop) and amount. We recommend having 3-4 cups of cooked rice for this recipe.

A container with sliced cucumbers and sliced red onions soaking to make a quick pickled veggie.

Step 3: Next, prepare the pickled veggies. Add the sliced red onion and cucumbers to a bowl. Next add the apple cider vinegar, water, salt, and sugar to the bowl. Mix well and set aside.

Harissa honey chicken in an air fryer basket.

Step 4: Next, either use the air fryer or a nonstick pan to cook the chicken. For the air fryer—preheat to 380 degrees. Spray the basket with olive oil spray to prevent sticking. Cook for 8-12 minutes, shaking the basket half way through, until the chicken reaches 165 degrees. For the pan, spray with nonstick spray and cook the chicken over medium heat for about 5-8 minutes or until it reaches 165 degrees.

Step 5: Assemble the bowls. Add rice, chicken, pickled veggies, hummus, and any other desired toppings.

Tips & Variations

If you want to make a meatless meal, try swapping the chicken with chickpeas. Marinate the chickpeas in the honey harissa sauce and roast them in an air fryer or oven to make them crispy.
The best part of this recipe (besides how tasty it is) is that it is so customizable. See the ingredients list above for a list of toppings and additions you can choose from to make this bowl your own!
Make your own pita chips at home using one of our favorite recipes!

An up close shot of the homemade Cava bowl.

FAQ

How should I store leftovers?

We recommend storing each component in separate containers in the refrigerator. Eat within 2-3 days.

Is this homemade Cava bowl (GF/DF/V/VG)?

Make it gluten-free: double-check that the harissa you use is gluten-free. Choose gluten-free toppings.
Make it dairy-free: this is already an easy dairy-free cava bowl, but make sure to choose dairy-free toppings.
Make it vegetarian: substitute the chicken for tofu, chickpeas, or falafel. Swap the honey for maple syrup.
Make it vegan: here are some vegan options! Simply substitute the chicken for tofu, chickpeas, or falafel. Swap the honey for maple syrup.

If you like this homemade Cava bowl, check out some of our other copycat recipes:

If you make this at-home Cava bowl, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!