Description
This delicious Chipotle Chicken Bowl is a flavorful and balanced meal featuring tender grilled chicken breasts marinated in smoky chipotle spices, served over fluffy lime cilantro rice with fresh vegetables, black beans, corn, and a creamy chipotle sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep, this recipe combines smoky, spicy, tangy, and fresh elements to create a satisfying and colorful bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chipotle seasoning or chipotle powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (optional, for extra flavor)
Rice
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (or brown rice for a healthier option)
- 2 cups water or chicken broth (for extra flavor)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional, for garnish)
Bowl Toppings
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, or use a dairy-free option)
- ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Lime wedges (optional, for serving)
Chipotle Sauce
- 3 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo sauce (or more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, chipotle seasoning (or chipotle powder), garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper to create the marinade.
- Apply the Marinade: Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken breasts thoroughly and allow them to marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
- Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear, removing excess starch for fluffy rice.
- Cook the Rice: In a medium saucepan, bring the water or chicken broth to a boil. Add the rice and salt, cover with a lid, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer for about 15-18 minutes or until the rice is tender and all liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff and Season the Rice: Remove from heat, fluff the rice with a fork, then stir in olive oil, lime juice, and chopped cilantro for enhanced flavor and freshness.
- Grill the Chicken: Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken breasts for approximately 6-7 minutes per side, ensuring they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and are completely cooked through.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Resting helps retain juices and makes slicing easier. Then slice the chicken thinly.
- Prepare the Chipotle Sauce: In a small bowl, combine sour cream or Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chipotle in adobo sauce, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the Bowls: In individual serving bowls, layer the cooked lime cilantro rice, sliced grilled chicken, corn kernels, black beans, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and avocado slices.
- Add Sauce and Garnishes: Drizzle each bowl with the prepared chipotle sauce and top with shredded cheddar cheese, additional sour cream if desired, and sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.
- Serve: Serve the chipotle chicken bowls with lime wedges on the side for an extra zesty finish and enjoy your vibrant and flavorful meal!
Notes
- You can substitute brown rice for white rice for a healthier, higher-fiber option, adjusting cooking time accordingly.
- For a vegan version, replace chicken with grilled tofu or tempeh and use a dairy-free sauce alternative.
- Adjust chipotle seasoning and chipotle in adobo sauce quantities according to your spice preference.
- Leftover grilled chicken and rice can be refrigerated for up to 3 days for easy meal prepping.
- You can use canned black beans and corn to save time, just be sure to drain and rinse them well to reduce sodium.
- Adding fresh lime juice at different stages enhances the fresh and tangy flavor profile of this dish.
