Spicy Chicken Burrito Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant Tex-Mex bowl with spicy grilled chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and zesty salsa. A satisfying, easy meal ready in 45 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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, 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

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and lime juice. Add chicken breasts and toss to coat thoroughly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes.
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 or 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, or until cooked through with charred marks. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - Warm black beans and corn in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated 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 Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under half an hour, leaving you time to actually sit down and enjoy dinner.
  • The spice blend on the chicken builds layers of flavor without any fancy ingredients or techniques.
  • You can prep the components ahead and assemble bowls throughout the week for grab and go lunches.
  • Its endlessly adaptable, so you can swap toppings based on what you have or what sounds good that day.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, or it will turn out gummy and sticky instead of light and fluffy.
  • Let the chicken rest after grilling so the juices redistribute, otherwise they'll run out the moment you slice and leave the meat dry.
  • Taste your salsa before adding it, some store bought varieties are very salty and you may want to adjust the seasoning elsewhere.
03 -
  • Marinate the chicken in the morning or the night before so the spices really penetrate the meat and the flavors deepen.
  • Char the corn in a dry skillet for a few minutes before adding it to the bowl, it adds a smoky sweetness that's impossible to resist.
  • Use a rice cooker if you have one, it frees up a burner and guarantees perfectly fluffy rice every time.
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