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turmeric black pepper chicken with broccoli and rice in a white bowl

Turmeric Black Pepper Chicken Bowl

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces
  • ½ cup flour
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp salt
Sauce
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 –2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 –1½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt
Flavor Boosters for Sauce (Optional but Highly Recommended)
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • squeeze of lemon juice
For Cooking
  • 1 –2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil

Method
 

Coat the Chicken
  1. In a bowl combine:
  2. flour
  3. turmeric
  4. salt
  5. Toss chicken pieces in the mixture until lightly coated.
  6. Cook the chicken
  7. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  8. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook about 4–5 minutes per side until golden and mostly cooked through.
  9. Transfer to a plate.
Make the sauce
  1. In the same pan whisk together:
  2. water
  3. maple syrup
  4. black pepper
  5. salt
  6. garlic powder (if using)
  7. soy sauce (if using)
  8. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Finish the Dish
  1. Return the chicken to the skillet.
  2. Let everything simmer 3–5 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and coats the chicken.
  3. Finish with a small squeeze of lemon if using.

Notes

Variations

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how flexible it is.

Add Vegetables

Stir in vegetables during the final simmer:
• broccoli
• snap peas
• green beans
• bell peppers
This turns it into a full skillet dinner.

Make It Spicy

If your family likes a little heat, add:
• ¼–½ tsp red pepper flakes
• or a drizzle of chili crisp at the end.

Use Chicken Thighs

Boneless skinless thighs make the dish slightly richer and extra juicy.

Make It Gluten Free

Replace the flour with:
• cornstarch
• gluten-free flour blend
The sauce will still thicken nicely.