Name: Meal Prep Halal Cart Chicken over Rice
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 12 oz chicken breast; 1 tsp olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, very finely minced; Juice of 1 ½ lemon; 3 tbsp nonfat greek yogurt or plain yogurt; 1 tsp ground coriander; 3 tbsp dried oregano; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp red chili powder; 1/2 tsp cumin powder; 1/2 tsp garam masala or allspice; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp turmeric; 1 cup long grain basmati rice (the rice is white until you add turmeric); 2 cup water; 1 tsp butter; Salt, a sprinkle; ⅜ tsp turmeric; ¾ tsp cumin powder; 4 tbsp light mayo; 8 tbsp nonfat greek yogurt; 2-3 tsp lemon juice; ¾ tsp vinegar, optional; ¾ tsp black pepper; ⅜ tsp sugar; ⅜ tsp salt; Splash of water, as needed

★★★★★ 2 REVIEWS / 5 AVERAGE

Jump To Recipe

Meal prep just got a lot more fun with this Halal Cart Style flavorful, marinated chicken over fluffy yellow rice topped with the famous, creamy white sauce – all made from scratch! It’s under 500 calories and got 34 grams of protein! If you’re not into meal prep, try out this single serve version or this vegan version!

Why are Halal Carts Popular in NYC?

Those of us who have visited New York know how popular street food halal carts are. For those of you who don’t know… let me fill you in. Halal carts in New York are like cheesesteaks in Philly. They are a staple in the streets of the Big Apple. Lots of us are daydreaming about the fluffy rice and perfectly seasoned chicken coated in the delicious white sauce just reading this (aka me).

So how did this cuisine become so popular on the streets of NYC? As a matter of fact, halal carts are a more recent addition to the streets of New York. During the latter end of the 20th century, Egyptian immigrants opened these halal carts with the intention of appealing to cab drivers that needed quick meals while on the job. These businesses attracted a much larger audience and BOOM, here we are with halal carts providing other street food vendors with some tough competition!

Marinating the Chicken

This is a key step in the rich medley of flavors for this recipe. Marinating, even for just a little bit, infuses the flavors into the chicken allowing for a deeper taste. This will allow the texture to remain juicy while it cooks. The best part is how simple ingredients will enhance the flavor! You’ll want these key ingredients in your marinade:

Minced garlic
Lemon Juice
Greek Yogurt
Tons of spices!

Why Meal Planning Works

It’s been a long day at work. You come home to an almost empty fridge, starving, with no idea what you’re gonna have for dinner. You throw some scraps together and call it a night. Or you just order something and have it delivered because you have zero motivation to cook. By spending a little bit of time per week getting organized and planning out your weekly menu you can better manage your nutrition, time, and money because let’s face it, take-out isn’t getting any cheaper.

When meal planning, say that you are “choosing” to do so rather than saying you “have to”. This positive mindset has been proven to provide you with more motivation and you will have a better overall meal-prepping experience. By planning meals, you are choosing to take control of your meals, your health and ingredients going into your body.

Testimonials

This recipe is a scaled up, meal prep version of my original Single Serve Chicken Over Rice! If you haven’t checked out the original recipe, here’s what people have had to say about it :

“I enjoyed every single bite of the Halal Chicken Cart! It tastes almost like the same thing. Definitely adding to my monthly rotation of meals that I cook! The sauce is so simple, yet there’s an explosion in your mouth. Very easy to make, so everyone should give it a try!” – Sohaib (★★★★★)
“Such a tasty recipe, whist being so simple to make. The recipe was so easy to follow and it didn’t take too much effort. I make this really often now – especially for lunches – as it’s good/easy to prep beforehand (ie make the marinade the night before).” – Daisy (★★★★★)
“I made this for my parents and they were so impressed!! It was my first time ever making rice. Keeping this for future meals” – Alana (★★★★★)
“This is the best version of Halal Chicken over rice! Never thought yellow rice can be this simple yet so delish! This has been a regular in the household since I came across your recipe! Cant wait to try your other recipes.” – Danika