Spicy Chicken Burrito Bowl (Printable)

Flavorful Tex-Mex bowl with spicy grilled chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and fresh salsa. Gluten-free and ready in 45 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tsp chili powder
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
10 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
11 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Rice

12 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
13 - 2 cups water
14 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Beans & Corn

15 - 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 1 cup sweet corn kernels, fresh or frozen

→ Salsa & Toppings

17 - 1 cup fresh tomato salsa
18 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
19 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, optional
20 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
21 - Lime wedges for serving

# Method:

01 - In a large bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and lime juice. Add chicken breasts and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or longer for enhanced flavor.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until clear. Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt to a boil in a saucepan. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
03 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill marinated chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until cooked through with charred edges. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - Heat black beans and corn in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
05 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with sliced chicken, warm black beans, corn, and salsa. Add avocado slices and cheese if desired. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under 45 minutes, leaving you time to actually sit down and eat.
  • You can prep the chicken marinade in the morning and let it work its magic all day.
  • Each bowl feels custom because everyone piles on exactly what they want.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the flavors have mingled overnight.
02 -
  • Don't skip resting the chicken after grilling, those five minutes let the juices redistribute so every slice stays moist.
  • If your skillet isn't hot enough, the chicken will steam instead of sear and you'll miss that smoky crust.
  • Rinsing the rice is the difference between fluffy grains and a sticky clump, it only takes a minute.
  • Taste your chili powder before adding it, some are mild and some will light you up.
03 -
  • Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before marinating so they cook at the same rate and stay tender.
  • Let the grill pan preheat for a full five minutes, that's how you get the kind of char that adds real flavor.
  • If you're meal prepping, keep the avocado and lime separate until serving so nothing turns brown or soggy.
  • A little squeeze of lime right before you dig in wakes up every ingredient and ties the whole bowl together.
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