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Chicken burrito bowls have become a new weeknight staple of ours. Seasoned chicken served over white rice with an array of toppings ranging from a simple homemade pico de gallo, chopped avocado (or fresh guac!), black beans and corn, and a simple creamy lime sauce.
The chicken (breast or thighs) consists of a blend of dry spices, oil, and fresh lime juice. I would consider this recipe to have a healthy dose of spices as written, however, you can easily adjust if you prefer less. It’s moreso just a mix of ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and fresh lime juice to pull it all together.
Every bite of these burrito bowls is packed with so much fresh flavor. The best part is so much of this recipe can be prepped ahead of time, leaving you with just the chicken and rice to cook before serving.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Protein options: you can swap chicken thighs for chicken breasts if you prefer leaner meat. Thighs will be more tender and flavorful, while breasts cook slightly faster.
- Rice variations: jasmine or basmati rice both work well. For a lower-carb option, try cauliflower rice or quinoa.
- Make it spicy: add a pinch of cayenne or a few dashes of hot sauce to the creamy lime sauce or chicken seasoning for extra heat.
- Beans and corn: rinsing canned beans and corn removes excess sodium and improves flavor.
- Dairy-free: sub plain unsweetened coconut yogurt or a dairy-free sour cream for the creamy lime sauce to keep it dairy-free.
Expert Tips
- Marinate for More Flavor: for deeper flavor, marinate the chicken in the seasoning and lime juice for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
- Perfect Rice: after cooking, fluff the rice with a fork and let it rest 5 minutes with the lid on—this helps prevent it from getting sticky. This dish goes well with cilantro lime rice as well!
- Avocado Freshness: if prepping ahead, toss chopped avocado with a little extra lime juice to prevent browning.
- Batch Cooking: double the chicken and toppings for easy lunches later in the week—just store rice, chicken, and toppings separately and reheat gently
- Meal prep friendly: All toppings and components can be prepped a day in advance and stored separately in airtight containers. Assemble just before serving.
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Chicken Burrito Bowls Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thigh (or breast), chopped
- 15- ounce can of corn, rinsed
- 15- ounce can low sodium black beans, rinsed
- 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice
- 1 avocado, pitted and chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Pico de gallo
- 2 roma tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 lime, juice squeezed
- Handful of fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Creamy lime sauce
- 2 heaping tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 lime, juice squeezed
- Splash of water, as needed
Chicken seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- pinch of garlic powder
- 1/2 lime, juice squeezed
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine pico de gallo ingredients in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix until well incorporated.
- Prep the creamy lime sauce in another small bowl. Add water, a small splash at a time, stirring until smooth, creamy, and thin enough to drizzle.
- Place beans and corn in a colander and rinse until the water runs clear. Place in a bowl and set aside. Steps 1-3 can be prepped in advance and kept cool in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
- Cook the rice according to the directions on the package.
- Meanwhile, combine chicken, lime juice, dry spices, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. Toss until chicken is evenly coated (this can also be prepped in advance and stored covered in the fridge to marinate for several hours if desired).
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Cook chicken until golden and fully cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Serve chicken over rice topped with black beans and corn, pico de gallo, chopped avocado or guacamole, and a drizzle of creamy lime sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
