10-Minute Healthy Southwest Chicken Bowl

Love eating at Chipotle or Applebees? If you are craving those delicious Mexican flavors, this recipe is for you.

You can make these healthy chicken burrito bowls at home that you would swear came straight from a restaurant.

With this recipe, you can save money on groceries and time on cooking with this easy-to-make recipe. You can even meal prep it for an entire week of meals!

If you like easy meal prep bowl recipes, try this rice bowl with salmon, bacon cheeseburger bowl, Panera warm grain bowl with chicken copycat, or this meatless quinoa power bowl.

Why You Should Make This Southwest Chicken Bowl

• Great for meal prep.
• Fast! Quick to make in 10 minutes.
• Healthy meal for busy weeknights.
• Use up leftover chicken!
• Cheap copycat recipe - better for your food budget than Applebee's or Chipotle!
• Healthy and filling!
• Use many items you already have on hand in your pantry or freezer.
• Great for lunch or dinner.
• Customizable - Add your favorite toppings to make this healthy chicken burrito bowl fit your unique tastes and dietary preferences.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.

Use any cooked chicken like chicken tacos, baked chicken seasoned with taco seasoning, rotisserie chicken, thighs, ground chicken, or leftover grilled chicken. You can also try Argentine shrimp, ribeye steak, or carne asada.

Microwave brown rice works well to make this recipe quickly.

Grilled peppers provide sweetness and another element of texture and flavor.

Canned, frozen, or , black or pinto beans, cantina or mango salsa, guacamole, cilantro, and cheese are great toppings for this healthy chicken burrito bowl.

How to Make a Southwest Chicken Bowl

Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.

Step 1

Cook microwave rice according to the package directions and then divide the rice between two large salad or pasta dishes. Alternatively, use meal prep containers to make bowls.

Step 2

Heat chicken and warm toppings (if necessary) in the microwave in 60-second increments before adding to the microwave rice bowl.

Step 3

Variations and Customizations

• Choose your favorite meat by making this southwest chicken bowl with ground beef, ground turkey, or whatever protein you prefer.
• Make vegetarian by omitting meat and increasing beans, and veggies or adding tempeh or other plant-based meat. Vegans will also omit cheese and dairy.
• Swap brown rice for a different whole-grain blend. Making it with quinoa is also very tasty.
• Make low-carb or keto-friendly without rice and subbing in cauliflower rice.

Topping Suggestions

Top your Southwest chicken bowls with as many of these toppings as you would like!

• Cilantro
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Avocado or guacamole
• Salsas - cantina-style, pico de gallo, or corn salsa
• Jalapeños or green chiles
• Chopped raw or cooked onions
• Shredded Mexican-blend cheese or cojita cheese.
• Lime wedges
• Tortilla chips
• Romaine lettuce

Expert Tips

• Use microwave rice to make the recipe quick and easy to make.
• Make it spicy by adding some hot sauce, jalapeños, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or Rotel.
• Refrigerate leftover ingredients in airtight containers for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• To freeze, store cooked and cooled ingredients separately in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
• To reheat, place ingredients in a microwave-safe dish and heat in 60-second increments, stirring between increments, until heated through.