Spicy Chicken Burrito Bowl (Printable Version)

Flavorful Tex-Mex bowl with spicy grilled chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and fresh salsa. Easy, satisfying, and naturally gluten-free.

# What You 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, frozen, or canned and drained

→ 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

# How To Make:

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, preferably longer.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs 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 and let stand covered 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 marks. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - Heat black beans and corn together in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
05 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with sliced chicken, black beans, corn, and salsa. Add avocado slices and cheese if desired. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like your favorite Tex-Mex restaurant but costs a fraction of the price and you control the heat level.
  • Everything cooks in under 45 minutes, and you can prep the chicken ahead if life gets busy.
  • Each bowl is customizable, so picky eaters and spice lovers can both sit down happy at the same table.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the rice, or you'll end up with gummy, sticky grains instead of fluffy perfection.
  • Let the chicken rest after grilling, cutting it too soon releases all the juices onto your cutting board instead of keeping them inside the meat.
  • If your grill pan isn't hot enough, the chicken will steam instead of char, and you'll miss out on that smoky crust.
03 -
  • Press the chicken breasts flat with your palm before marinating so they cook evenly and quickly.
  • Taste your salsa before serving, if it's too acidic, a pinch of sugar or honey will balance it out.
  • Always have extra lime wedges on hand, that final squeeze of citrus is what makes the whole bowl sing.
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