Why I Started Making Chicken Sushi Bowls in My Pajamas at 2 AM

Late-night experimentation

So, I was lounging around, watching the flickering light of my fridge. No real plan—just hungry, brain half-asleep. That’s when I found the leftover chicken and a half-open bag of sushi rice. The smell was weird—something smoky, almost toasted, mixed with cold chicken skin. I thought, maybe I can make a sushi bowl—something unplanned, raw eating meets leftover magic.

No fancy ingredients, no Instagram filter prep. Just grabbing things I already had. The rice still warm from yesterday, chicken cold but still flavorful, soy sauce, a sprinkle of sesame. It felt like a small rebellion against my own lazy weekend. And honestly, it’s cool how such a tiny change—adding cooked chicken—made sushi less precious, more practical and kind of perfect when you’re not in a cooking mood but still want something fresh in your mouth.

Leftover Chicken Sushi Bowl

This dish is a casual sushi-inspired bowl that combines leftover cooked chicken, warm sushi rice, soy sauce, and sesame seeds. The ingredients are assembled to create a cold, flavorful mixture with contrasting textures of soft rice and tender chicken, topped with seasonings for a quick, unpretentious meal.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 2

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: fusion

Calories: 350

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup sushi rice warm from previous day
• 1/2 cup cooked chicken cold, shredded or chopped
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce or to taste
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds to sprinkle on top

Equipment

• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon or chopsticks

Method

 

1. Chop or shred the leftover cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces using a chef’s knife on the cutting board.
   1/2 cup cooked chicken
2. Measure out one cup of warm sushi rice and transfer it into a mixing bowl.
   1 cup sushi rice
3. Add the shredded chicken to the bowl of rice.
   1/2 cup cooked chicken
4. Drizzle two tablespoons of soy sauce over the mixture and gently stir with a spoon or chopsticks until evenly combined.
   2 tablespoons soy sauce
5. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top for garnish and added flavor.
   1 teaspoon sesame seeds
6. Serve immediately, displaying a colorful bowl with specks of sesame and a glossy finish from the soy sauce.

Sometimes I think cooking is just about how weird you’re willing to get after dark. No plans, no rules. Just whatever happens to be in the fridge and the craving that won’t quit. These bowls remind me that food doesn’t always have to be complicated to be good. Sometimes, it’s just about making do and surprising yourself in your pajamas.