Description
Bold, smoky, and packed with fresh ingredients, this Easy Chipotle Chicken Bowl is the ultimate quick dinner or satisfying lunch. With juicy chipotle-marinated chicken, creamy avocado, hearty black beans, sweet corn, and a tangy chipotle crema—all served over fluffy rice—it’s a flavorful and balanced bowl that delivers every time. Perfect for meal prep, weeknight dinners, or healthy snack options, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, protein-rich, and endlessly customizable. It’s one of the best dinner ideas to keep in your rotation when you want something easy, wholesome, and exciting.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
3 tablespoons Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup cooked black beans
1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
1 avocado, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups cooked rice
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. In a bowl, mix chipotle peppers, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add chicken and coat well. Let marinate for 20–30 minutes or overnight.
2. Grill chicken over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes per side or until fully cooked. Alternatively, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
3. In a blender, combine Greek yogurt, one chipotle pepper, lime juice, a pinch of garlic powder, and salt. Blend until smooth to make the chipotle crema. Adjust heat to taste.
4. Warm black beans and corn in the microwave or stovetop.
5. Assemble your bowl with a base of rice, then layer chicken, beans, corn, avocado, and cilantro.
6. Drizzle with chipotle crema and serve immediately.
Notes
Marinate the chicken as long as possible for the most intense flavor—overnight is ideal.
If you’re sensitive to spice, start with just one chipotle pepper and taste before adding more.
Store each bowl component separately to keep everything fresh throughout the week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilled, Pan-Seared, or Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: easy dinner, chipotle chicken, chicken bowl, meal prep, healthy dinner, gluten-free