Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Bowl (Copycat)

Name: Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Bowl (Copycat)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp dijon mustard; 3 tbsp whole grain mustard; 3 tbsp hot honey (or 3 tbsp regular honey + 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes); 2 cloves garlic (grated); 1 tsp smoked paprika; ½ tsp salt; 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1 cup quinoa (rinsed); 2 cups water or bone broth; ½ tsp turmeric; ½ tsp salt (reduce to ¼ tsp if using broth); 1½ lbs sweet potatoes (about 2 medium, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes); ½ tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; ½ tsp cumin; ½ tsp salt; 2 cups shredded cabbage (mix of green and red); 2 tbsp lime juice; ½ tsp salt; 3 shallots (thinly sliced into rings); ¼ cup olive oil or neutral oil; pinch of salt

I absolutely love the Sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl, but for nearly 900 calories and $15, it’s just not going to make it into my weekly rotation.

Luckily for me, it’s super easy to make, and I’ve created a super close copycat recipe here that you can make in the oven or air fryer in under 45 minutes, for a fraction of the cost. And to make things even better, this version has just over 600 calories per serving and 44g of protein. Not to mention the 11g of fiber.

A bed of golden quinoa, seasoned roasted sweet potatoes, fresh lime cabbage slaw, and hot honey chicken, topped with a drizzleable hot honey mustard sauce and crispy fried shallots.

So if you were secretly fighting a Sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl addiction like I was, this just might be the answer to your prayers.

If you love this recipe, try my Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Bowl. Same idea, slightly different flavor profile, and one I keep coming back to.

Sweetgreen hot honey chicken bowl with quinoa, sweet potatoes, cabbage slaw, and crispy shallots

What’s in Sweetgreen’s Hot Honey Chicken Bowl?

While I was developing this recipe, I wanted to keep it super close to the original Sweetgreen bowl. So I looked at their menu and actually went through the trouble of looking at every single ingredient they use in every single component of the bowl. From there, I worked backwards and made a couple simple shortcuts so that it doesn’t require 59 ingredients, but you still get all the flavors that you love.

Sweetgreen’s version runs $15.25 and comes in at 845 calories, 49g protein, 66g carbs, and 38g fat. My copycat version comes in at 610 calories and 44g protein per serving, for a fraction of the cost.

Here’s what’s in it:

Golden turmeric quinoa (optionally cooked in bone broth for extra protein and collagen)
Spiced roasted sweet potatoes with smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder
Simple lime-dressed cabbage slaw with red and green cabbage
Hot honey chicken thighs marinated in the hot honey mustard sauce
Crispy fried shallots (homemade, store-bought, or skip it altogether)
Drizzleable hot honey mustard sauce made with dijon, whole grain mustard, hot honey, garlic, and smoked paprika (because without that sauce, it just wouldn’t be the same).

Close-up of caramelized hot honey chicken on a bowl with quinoa and slaw

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Recipe

44g of protein per serving. Mostly thanks to the chicken, but the quinoa gives a good bonus too. If you cook it in bone broth, not only will it be higher in protein, but you also get extra collagen and gut health benefits.
One sauce, two important jobs. You make the hot honey mustard sauce once and split it into two portions. One becomes a sauce you can serve it with, and the other is the marinade for the chicken.
Ready in 45 minutes. Or even less if you use an air fryer. Cook the sweet potatoes and roast the chicken while the quinoa cooks on the stove. Everything else preps in under five minutes while those cook.
Oven or air fryer instructions. I’ve included both. My personal preference is the air fryer, but if you don’t have one, the oven works really well too.
Meal prep friendly. All these components make for great meal prep. Prep it once and enjoy it 4 times throughout the week.
A fraction of the price. Even if you splurge for all the best ingredients, organic produce and pasture-raised chicken, it will be soooo much cheaper.

If you want like your dinners in a bowl, my Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bowl is another one that hits every single time.

Key Ingredients

All you really need is chicken thighs, mustard, hot honey, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and a few pantry spices. The rest is extra.

Chicken thighs. The protein hero of this dish. Sweetgreen uses blackened chicken thighs. I take mine one step further and go for a hot honey mustard marinade that caramelizes in the oven or air fryer for an even better result. You’re going to have to trust me on this one.
Hot honey mustard sauce. I’ve kept this one super close to the original. Half gets used as a sauce, half as a marinade. You get sweetness from the honey, heat from the chili, and the grated garlic is for the garlic girls out there.
Golden quinoa. Cook your quinoa in bone broth with a little bit of turmeric and salt. It adds a nice subtle earthy note and a pop of color, plus the added health benefits. If you’re feeling lazy, you can also swap this for microwavable quinoa or rice.
Roasted sweet potatoes. An essential component of this dish. Simply toss them in olive oil and a couple of simple spices and bake or air fry them until golden.
Cabbage slaw. I kept this close to the original recipe with a mix of green and red cabbage, finely shredded and tossed with a little lime juice and salt. This adds the acidity and veggie crunch that this bowl really needs.
Crispy shallots. Totally up to you if you want to make them at home, buy them, or skip them altogether. But they’re a great little topping you can throw on top for extra flavor (in my opinion, this bowl doesn’t really need it).

How To Make It

This bowl has several components, but I’ve made it my mission to make this as simple as humanly possible while keeping the OG flavors intact.

Seasoned roasted sweet potato cubes in an air fryer basket

Cook the sweet potatoes
Toss your cubed sweet potatoes in olive oil and some simple spices. Cook them in the oven or air fryer until golden and crispy on the edges.

Chicken thighs marinating in hot honey mustard sauce with tongs

Make the hot honey mustard sauce
Whisk together two types of mustard, hot honey, grated garlic, smoked paprika, and salt. Set half aside to serve with later, and then toss the chicken thighs in the remaining sauce.

Golden turmeric quinoa in a saucepan with a red spoon

Cook the quinoa
Add the rinsed quinoa to water or bone broth with some turmeric and salt and boil. Then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, keep covered, and then fluff with a fork.

Caramelized hot honey chicken thighs in an air fryer basket

Cook the chicken
Use an oven or air fryer to cook the chicken thighs until golden and crispy around the edges. Don’t forget to let them rest for five minutes before you dice em up.

Red and green cabbage slaw tossed with lime juice and tongs

Toss the slaw
Shred cabbage then toss with lime juice and salt. Set aside.

Sweetgreen copycat chicken bowl with hot honey mustard sauce on the side

Assemble the bowls
Scoop the quinoa into bowls and top with all of your ingredients: roasted sweet potatoes, diced chicken, and cabbage slaw. Drizzle on the reserved hot honey mustard sauce and top with crispy shallots.

To make the crispy shallots at home: Add thinly sliced shallots and neutral oil to a cold skillet. Warm to medium-low and let them fry slowly, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until golden. They go from golden to burnt fast, so watch them closely. Transfer to a paper towel with a slotted spoon and sprinkle with salt.

Variations

Swap the grain: Rice, farro, or couscous all work if quinoa is not your jam. The golden color comes from turmeric, which you can add to any grain.
Swap the protein: This sauce works on salmon, shrimp, or extra-firm tofu. Just keep an eye on cook time since those all cook faster than chicken thighs.
Less heat: Use regular honey instead of hot honey and skip the red pepper flakes entirely for a kid-friendly version.
More crunch: Add toasted almonds or pumpkin seeds alongside the crispy shallots.

Victoria’s Tips

Flip the chicken. Even browning on both sides is what gets you that caramelization from the mustard glaze. If you’re feeling fancy, you can also brush them with a bit of extra sauce in the final minute or two for an extra glossy result.
Cut your sweet potatoes to a consistent 3/4-inch cube so they cook evenly. That’ size hits the sweet spot between crispy edges and creamy centers.
The slaw gets better as it sits. If you want the lime to soften the cabbage a bit, make it first and let it hang out while everything else cooks.

Storage & Meal Prep

Store everything separately in the fridge for up to 4 days. The sauce keeps for up to a week.

Reheat the chicken and sweet potatoes in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3 to 4 minutes to bring the crispiness back, or use a microwave if that’s what you’ve got.

The slaw and sauce are best cold. Assemble fresh each day.

My High-Protein Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl is another copycat recipe I love. Tastes just like Chipotle, but waaayy healthier.

FAQ

What is in Sweetgreen’s hot honey chicken bowl?

Sweetgreen’s Hot Honey Chicken bowl has blackened chicken, warm roasted sweet potatoes, cabbage slaw, crispy onions, golden quinoa, and hot honey mustard sauce. My recipe has all the same components and flavors, but slightly simplified.

Can I use regular honey instead of hot honey?

Totally! Use the same amount of regular honey and add 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce. You get the same sweet-heat balance. Add more flakes if you want it spicier. Or if you don’t like heat, leave them out altogether.

Is this recipe good for meal prep?

Very. All components store separately in the fridge for up to 4 days. The sauce keeps for up to a week. Reheat the chicken and sweet potatoes in the air fryer or microwave and assemble fresh each day.

What can I use instead of quinoa?

White rice, brown rice, farro, or couscous all work. The golden color comes from turmeric, so you can add it to any grain.