Prep: 10 These Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls are full of southwestern flavor and SO easy to make! With 40+ 5-star reviews, I’ve been making these meal prep bowls for YEARS and they’re still one of my most popular easy dinners and lunch ideas. They’re gluten-free, can be made in just 30 minutes, and are so delicious. And as a busy mom who wants to eat healthier, these burrito bowls are the best for making ahead and enjoying throughout the week!
Meal Prep Southwest Chicken Burrito Bowls Video
When it comes to healthy meal prep ideas, these Meal Prep Southwest Chicken Burrito Bowls are always at the top of my mind! The chicken is quickly cooked in the best marinade, then the bowls come together in just minutes and are drizzled with a creamy avocado lime sauce. I save time by making these with pre-cooked rice (you can cook a big batch of it ahead of time or use these delicious rice packets), and the bowls can actually be made with rotisserie chicken to save even more time!
No matter how you make these, they’re easy, straight-forward, quick, healthy, and SO yummy. Make a big batch of these bowls and refrigerate or freeze them for later for one of the best meal prep lunch ideas!
You’ll Also Love: 35+ BEST Healthy Meal Prep Recipe Ideas
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”H4Fr6A0j” upload-date=”2019-03-22T15:04:12.000Z” name=”Meal Prep Southwest Chicken Burrito Bowls” description=”These Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls (southwest edition) are pretty easy to make! They’re gluten-free and only take about 30 minutes to put together. They’re great for lunch on the go or for a quick and easy dinner for busy weeknights!”]
*Note: my recipe has changed a bit since the making of this video to now include so much more flavor and deliciousness! This video shows a basic outline of how the bowls come together, but be sure to head to the recipe below to easily make these.
Need recipe ideas and help with meal planning? Get my FREE 7 Meal-Planning Secrets To Making Healthy Dinners (In 30 Minutes Or Less) course!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Bowl Recipe
- 30 Minutes – Make 4 meal prep bowls in just 30 minutes from beginning to end.
- Easy Process – Mix the marinate, stir the chicken in it, and cook. Combine the bowls, mix the sauce, and drizzle. They’re so easy to make!
- Southwestern Flavor – Don’t even get me started on the flavor here. The chicken has this smoky, savory flavor with a slight kick that’s just right, combined with hearty rice, flavorful beans, freshly massaged kale, sweet corn, and a creamy avocado sauce that brings it all together!
- Meal Prep – Who doesn’t love a good easy meal prep lunch idea?
- Easy to Store – Store them in glass meal prep containers (opens in a new tab) and stack them in the fridge or freezer. It’s so simple!
Other Meal Prep Ideas
- Honey Sesame Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
- Sofritas Meal Prep Bowls
- Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe
- Meal Prep Breakfast Egg Bagels
- Low-Carb Mexican Meal Prep Bowls
Chicken Burrito Bowl Ingredients
Southwest Chicken
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Ancho Chili Powder (opens in a new tab) (or regular chili powder)
- Dried Oregano
- Ground Cumin
- Smoked Paprika (opens in a new tab)
- Salt/Pepper
- Cayenne (optional)
- Minced Garlic
- Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- Avocado Oil (opens in a new tab) (divided)
- Chicken Breasts (opens in a new tab) (cubed)
Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
- Chopped Kale (or lettuce of choice)
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Grape Tomatoes
- Corn
- Cooked Black Beans
- Cooked Rice (opens in a new tab)
- Fresh Cilantro
Avocado Lime Sauce
- Avocado
- Plain Greek Yogurt (or sour cream)
- Lime (lightly zested and freshly squeezed)
- Salt/Pepper
How to Make a Burrito Bowl with Southwest Chicken
1. Cook the Chicken
It only takes a few minutes to marinate and cook the chicken! Here’s how to cook the chicken for these high-protein meal prep bowls:
- Mix the marinade in a large bowl.
- Cube the chicken and add to the marinade, coating evenly.
- Let it sit while you prep other ingredients.
- Cook the chicken in a skillet.
2. Assemble the Burrito Bowls
- Lightly massage the chopped kale with oil and salt.
- Layer kale, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cooked rice, and cilantro in each bowl.
- Top with the cooked chicken.
3. Make the Sauce
The sauce for this recipe is my Avocado Lime Dressing, which is one of my favorite dressings for meal prep bowls of all kinds! All you’ll need is a blender with a small cup attachment. (opens in a new tab) Here’s how to make the avocado sauce for meal prep:
- Blend avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice, zest, and a little bit of salt and pepper until smooth.
- Drizzle over the bowls and enjoy or place in small dressing cups and store for later!
Burrito Bowl Meal Prep Recipe Tips
The beauty of meal prep. It’s a way of life and I love it! Oh and by the way, these bowls don’t have to be meal prep bowls. They can totally be an easy weeknight dinner recipe, too! Here are some tips for making the BEST meal prep burrito bowls:
- Make these burrito bowls low carb by replacing the rice with cauliflower rice.
- You can also use leftover cooked chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken to speed things up!
- You can pick and choose any vegetables and greens you like, they are super versatile and are perfect for using up leftovers in your fridge.
- Store the sauce in separate containers and add right before serving!
Chicken Bowl Recipe Variations
One of the things I LOVE about these Chicken Burrito Bowls is how flexible they are! You can switch things up based on what you have on hand or what you’re craving. Here are some of my favorite easy variations:
- Spicy Chipotle Chicken Bowls – Swap the ancho chili powder with chipotle chili powder and add a spoonful of adobo sauce to the marinade for a smoky, spicy kick!
- Low-Carb Chicken Burrito Bowls – Replace the rice with cauliflower rice or shredded cabbage to keep things lower in carbs but still super filling.
- Vegetarian Burrito Bowls – Skip the chicken and add extra black beans or toss in some sautéed bell peppers, onions, or even roasted sweet potatoes for a hearty veggie version.
- Tex-Mex Ground Turkey Bowls – Use ground turkey instead of chicken, and season it with the same southwest spices. It’s just as delicious and a fun twist!
- Dairy-Free Option – Leave out the Greek yogurt in the avocado lime sauce and use a dairy-free yogurt or just a little more avocado and lime juice to keep it creamy.
- Taco-Inspired Bowls – Top your bowls with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and your favorite salsa for a taco vibe!
Using Rotisserie Chicken or Shredded Chicken
Save time by using rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken in this recipe instead! Just add about 1/2 of the spices and heat it up in some oil if you go that route. Then add it to your bowls!
I love making homemade rotisserie chicken for the week ahead. It’s a huge time saver! I use this roaster, (opens in a new tab) place a whole organic chicken in there with about 1.5 inches of water or broth, sprinkle some seasoning over it, and roast it at 425 degrees F for about 2-3 hours (until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees and it’s fully cooked).
It’s perfect for Healthy Sriracha Shredded Chicken Tacos, Chicken Fajita Casserole, my One-Pot Basil Chicken Baked Ziti, and of course these meal prep burrito bowls!
TIP: I always order high quality, organic chicken (delivered right to my doorstep, might I add) through Butcher Box (opens in a new tab)! It’s so worth it for getting sustainably sourced meats at a great price.
How to Store a Burrito Bowl
These meal prep bowls can stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator! To store, divide the recipe into 4 meal prep containers with airtight lids. Keep the sauce in separate airtight cups, then add to the meal when ready to enjoy. These burrito bowls can also be frozen (without the sauce) for up to 3 months!
To reheat the meals, simply place them in microwave for 1-2 minutes until evenly warm, then add the sauce and enjoy!
More Lunch Ideas
- 50+ Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work
- Spicy Southwest Salad Recipe
- 15+ BEST Protein Bowl Recipes
- Healthy Ground Turkey Taco Salad
- 25+ Quick High-Protein Lunches
Healthy Chicken Meal Prep Ideas
- Greek Chicken Rice Bowls
- Skinny Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (Freezer Meal)
- Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole ( Freezer Meal)
- Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad
- Healthy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Casserole
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More From Jar Of Lemons
Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe (Meal Prep)
Equipment
Ingredients
Southwest Chicken
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoons ancho chili powder (opens in a new tab) (or regular chili powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (opens in a new tab)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons avocado oil (opens in a new tab) (divided)
- 1 – 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (opens in a new tab) (cubed)
Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
- 3 cups chopped kale (or lettuce of choice)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (opens in a new tab)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans
- 2 cups cooked rice (opens in a new tab)
- chopped fresh cilantro (to taste)
Avocado Lime Sauce
- 1 small avocado
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 1 medium lime (lightly zested and freshly squeezed)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
Cook the Chicken
- Whisk the apple cider vinegar, dried spices, minced garlic, fresh cilantro, and 1/2 Tablespoon of avocado oil in a large bowl or container.
- Add the cubed chicken and coat evenly in the marinade. Cover and let it marinate for a few minutes while you prep the other ingredients (you could also marinate it in the fridge the night before to save time the next day and for a better flavor!).
- When ready to cook, add the remaining avocado oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken (along with any leftover marinade) and cook for about 12-15 minutes, or until brown and cooked through, stirring occasionally.
Assemble the Bowls
- Meanwhile, lightly "massage" the kale with the olive oil and salt.
- Divide it into 4 bowls along with the tomatoes, corn, black beans, cooked rice, and cilantro.
Blend the Sauce
- Blend the avocado lime sauce ingredients in a blender with a small cup attachment.
- Let the chicken rest and cool for a few minutes after it’s done cooking.
- Add the chicken to bowls and drizzle with the sauce (or keep separate until ready to enjoy)!
Watch Me Make This
Notes
-
- Make these burrito bowls low carb by replacing the rice with cauliflower rice.
-
- You can also use leftover cooked chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken to speed things up! Just add about 1/2 of the spices and heat it up in some oil if you go that route. Then add it to your bowls!
-
- You can pick and choose any vegetables and greens you like, they are super versatile and are perfect for using up leftovers in your fridge.
-
- Store the sauce in separate containers and add right before serving!
Nutrition
Did you make this? I’d love to see!
Tag me on socials at @JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab) or #JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab)
This is so good & so simple!! I made a few mods – I used seitan instead of chicken, & then cooked the beans, corn & kale in the pan with the seitan so it was all warm. Topped with some tomatoes & the avocado lime sauce & a little cotija! Perfection!!
So glad you enjoyed them Erin! Thanks for sharing.
Love this! Tried for the first time tonight. I will definitely have this in rotation. Light and refreshing, great source of protein!
Thanks, Chris! I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe.
This was great for a meal prep! I didn’t make the sauce, just squeezed fresh lime juice over it before eating and was delish. Thank you!
I made these meal-prep Southwest chicken burrito bowls, and they were a game-changer! So easy to put together, packed with flavour, and perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
Thanks so much, Claudia!
I made these Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls, and they were an absolute lifesaver! So easy to put together, packed with bold southwestern flavors, and perfect for a quick, healthy meal all week long. Definitely adding this to my regular meal prep rotation!
Love hearing this, Nora. Thanks for the review!