Description
A no-fuss, customizable Mexican-inspired bowl featuring marinated chicken, fluffy rice, and vibrant toppings for a portable, weeknight-friendly meal. Skip the tortilla for a lighter version that’s bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon ground chili pepper
½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup drained/canned corn
1 cup drained/canned black beans
1 medium avocado
½ cup sour cream or crema
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
½ cup chopped tomato
½ cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons white vinegar
4 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
Combine chicken breasts, olive oil, paprika, cumin, chili pepper, kosher salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Marinate for 20 minutes.
Cook chicken in a preheated skillet over medium-high heat until golden and crisp (30 minutes total for marinade and cooking).
Simmer rice in salted water until tender. Drain and fluff with a fork.
Chop lettuce, tomato, and onion. Dice and zest avocado.
In a separate bowl, mix white vinegar and lime juice. Adjust to taste.
Assemble bowls with rice, marinated chicken, lettuce, corn, beans, avocado, sour cream/crema, cheese, cilantro, and lime dressing.
Chill leftovers or freeze individual portions for later use.
Notes
Use chicken tenderloin for quicker cooking
Swap olive oil with avocado oil for higher smoke point
Opt for brown rice (cooking time: ~40 minutes)
Replace romaine with baby spinach for softer texture
Substitute black beans with pinto beans
For dairy-free: use coconut yogurt instead of sour cream
Replace Cheddar with queso fresco for authenticity
Cilantro works best when freshly chopped
Add canned diced tomatoes for extra moisture
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Easy Chicken Recipes
- Method: Stir Fry
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 180mg