This Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl is a delicious copycat at-home version of the restaurant chain favorite, loaded with simple ingredients and made even more affordable. Skip waiting in line; this dinner comes together in 30 minutes and is easy for everyone to customize.
We're all fans of the popular Mexican food-inspired restaurant chain, Chipotle, but after the delivery fees, wait times and extra charges for add-on's, a fast dinner becomes more of a splurge, so I came up with this easy copcat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl recipe you can recreate right at home in no time, for a fraction of the cost, and tastes just as delicious.
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Using less than 10 simple ingredients, these Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls are packed with juicy marinated chicken, fluffy homemade cilantro-lime rice, seasoned black beans, and all of your favorite toppings for a fast, delicious meal that rivals the restaurant version. I love how customizable they are too, so everyone can build their bowl the way they'd like. Make these Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls to save time and money, and for an easy dinner the whole family can feel good about.
If you like this easy recipe, be sure to try some of our other delicious bowl ideas, like this flavor-packed Korean BBQ Pork Bowl and this easy Smoked Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ready in Under 30 Minutes - With a simple method, this recipe comes together quickly. There's only about 30 min of cooking time involved, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Easy To Customize - Mix and match your favorite flavors and ingredients. These bowls are super customizable and great for meal prep, too.
- More Affordable Than Takeout - With simple pantry staples and fridge ingredients, this recipe won't break the bank. It can cost $12-$15 per bowl at the restaurant chain, while the copycat at-home recipe only costs ¼ of that price per serving. And, you can enjoy it without even leaving the house!
ingredients
- Chicken: Lean and juicy boneless, skinless breasts work great. You can also use boneless thighs.
- Cilantro Lime Rice: The perfect bowl base with just the right amount of citrus.
- Black Beans: Creamy and protein-packed.
- Corn Salsa: For flavor, texture, and color.
- Monterey Jack Cheese: Freshly grate your own for the best results.
- Toppings: Build your bowl with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, your favorite salsa, cool sour cream, fresh cilantro, and guacamole.
How to make a Chipotle chicken burrito bowl
1. Prep and gather ingredients. Shred the cheese, warm the black beans.
2. Build the bowl. Layer rice, black beans, chicken, cheese, corn salsa, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro.
expert tips
- Pat the Chicken Dry - Do this before seasoning so the chicken can adhere the taco seasoning well.
- Use your Favorite Taco Seasoning - We like to sprinkle the chicken with it before we pop it into the air fryer to cook.
- If you're in a crunch for time, use store-bought swaps - Buy pico de gallo or guacamole, even pickled red onions, to keep this meal quick to prep.
- Leftover rotisserie chicken is delicious too - Shred the meat and toss with taco seasoning before warming in a skillet. It's a great way to use leftovers.
- Salt the Rice and Beans Separately - Taste and adjust each component on their own so everything is well-seasoned.
- Use a Meat Thermometer - This will give you the most accurate read and the juiciest, most perfectly cooked chicken. Pull it at 165°F, then let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Substitutions and variations
- Try Different Cuts of Chicken - Lean breast meat is delicious, but try extra juicy thighs for even more flavor. NOTE: Due to the cook time differences, boneless thighs will take less time to cook than breasts.
- Make It Dairy-Free - Skip the cheese and sour cream altogether, or swap in your preferred dairy-free alternative.
- Make It Low-Carb - Swap the rice for cauliflower rice for a lighter, lower-carb bowl.
- Go All Veggie Bowl - Make your bowl vegetarian - swap the chicken for sofritas-style crumbled tofu, sautéed bell peppers and onions, or extra beans.
- Make a Delicious Copycat Marinade - Made with chipotle in adobo, lime, and spices, whip up a sweet, spicy, and perfectly citrusy marinade that's almost identical to the restaurant version you love.
- Adjust Spice Level - Add hot sauce, pickled jalapenos, fresh jalapenos, or even chipotles in adobo for some more heat!
- Grill the Chicken - This will give the chicken that signature restaurant-style flavor. Just be sure to avoid overcrowding the pan; otherwise, the chicken will steam.
STorage
These bowls are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Ideally, store leftover components separately in airtight containers, then reheat the rice and chicken, and assemble fresh bowls with toppings before serving again.
This is a great meal-prep recipe. Make and prep the bowl ingredients in advance, then store in the fridge until you're ready to serve. Reheat the rice and chicken in the microwave, then assemble your bowls and layer with fresh toppings.
FAQs
Yes, you can use the oven if needed. We love the grill for that charred flavor, but you can get crispy, browned chicken in the oven, too. Cook at 375°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°, then set the chicken under the broiler for a few minutes until charred.
It can be as spicy or as mild as you'd like. To make it less spicy, simply add fewer chipotle peppers in adobo, or just use some of the sauce instead of the peppers themselves.
Definitely! Thighs are super juicy, extra flavorful, and almost impossible to overcook. Cook them until they reach 165°F, just like with chicken breasts.
What to Serve with Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Pair with tortilla chips, guacamole, or margaritas - For the perfect snackable side or sip.
- Turn leftovers into a burrito, quesadilla, or taco salad - For a brand new meal.
- Make a family-style topping bar - For easy-to-customize, build-your-own bowls.
More Easy Mexican-Inspired Recipes
Recipe
Chipotle Chicken Bowl
Equipment
- chef knife
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Chicken Breast Cooked (We cooked in air fryer using our taco seasoning)
- 4 cups Cilantro lime rice We used our recipe to make this
- 1 Can 15.5 ounce Black Beans
- 1 cup corn salsa mixture of corn, red onion, lime, salt
- 2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese Shredded
Optional Toppings
- lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, guacamole
Instructions
- Prep and gather ingredients - shred cheese, warm black beans,
- layer rice, black beans, chicken, cheese, corn salsa, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro,
Notes
- These bowls are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Ideally, store leftover components separately in airtight containers, then reheat the rice and chicken, and assemble fresh bowls with toppings before serving again.
- This is a great meal-prep recipe. Make and prep the ingredients in advance, then store in the fridge until ready to serve. Reheat the rice and chicken in the microwave, then assemble your bowls and layer with fresh toppings.
- Pat the Chicken Dry - Do this before seasoning so the chicken can adhere the taco seasoning well.
- Use your Favorite Taco Seasoning - We like to sprinkle the chicken with it before we pop it into the air fryer to cook.
- If you're in a crunch for time, use store-bought swaps - Buy pico de gallo or guacamole, even pickled red onions, to keep this meal quick to prep.
- Leftover rotisserie chicken is delicious too - Shred the meat and toss with taco seasoning before warming in a skillet. It's a great way to use leftovers.
- Salt the Rice and Beans Separately - Taste and adjust each component on their own so everything is well-seasoned.
- Use a Meat Thermometer - This will give you the most accurate read and the juiciest, most perfectly cooked chicken. Pull it at 165°F, then let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
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