Chicken Bowl: the staple is increasing on menus

Pair American consumers’ favorite protein with one of their top grab-and-go formats and you have a winning dish with a world of flavor possibilities.

Some key trends in bowls right now include the addition of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, in which chicken, or other protein, is paired with everything from couscous or cauliflower rice as a base to za’atar or shawarma seasoning.

Bowls are also completely customizable to specific diets, like the popular keto, making them a key addition for health-conscious consumers.

Operators that offer bowls are adding more of them to their menus as well, now with an average of more than five bowls per menu, up from less than three a decade ago.

Market research firm Datassential reports that chicken bowls are found on 3.7% of U.S. menus, up 51% over the past four years.

Read on to see more details about the chicken bowl trend and learn how one restaurant is using it on its menu.