Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowls: Easy Fresh Recipe

There’s something about a bowl piled high with seasoned chicken, creamy beans, and all the fresh toppings that just feels right. Healthy chicken burrito bowls bring all that Tex-Mex comfort straight to your table no tortilla needed, just layers of flavor you can dig into with a fork.

I started making these back in 2019 when I was hunting for something that could use up my farmers’ market haul without feeling like a chore. The first time I tasted how lime juice brightened up the whole bowl, I actually said “oh wow” out loud in my kitchen. After years of testing different spice blends and rice-to-topping ratios, I’ve learned that the secret is in building each layer separately so every bite tastes intentional.

Yesica Andrews

Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowls: Easy Fresh Recipe

This Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowls recipe is a vibrant and nutritious meal featuring juicy chicken, fresh vegetables, and a zesty cilantro-lime dressing. Quick to prepare and packed with flavor, it makes a perfect wholesome dinner or meal prep option.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 9 minutes mins

Total Time 29 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 262

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup loosely packed cilantro
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbs. lime juice
• 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tsp. white wine vinegar
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ¼ pound raw chicken breasts, diced into 1″ chunks
• 3 teaspoons taco seasoning
• 1 ½ teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups prepared brown rice (I use frozen)
• 3 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
• juice of 1 lime
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 – 12 ounce bag fire roasted corn, prepared
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Method

 

1. Put all dressing ingredients into a food processor and blend until creamy and smooth, stopping to scrape the sides as needed.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
3. In a bowl, mix taco seasoning, brown sugar, and cornstarch thoroughly.
4. Add olive oil to the spice blend and stir well.
5. Coat the diced chicken evenly with the seasoned oil mixture.
6. Place chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring space for air circulation.
7. Cook chicken in the air fryer for 9 to 12 minutes until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
8. Prepare brown rice according to package instructions and transfer to a mixing bowl.
9. Stir in chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt into the warm rice until combined.
10. Divide the chicken, corn, black beans, cilantro lime rice, halved cherry tomatoes, and chopped romaine lettuce among four bowls.
11. Drizzle each bowl generously with the cilantro-lime dressing and enjoy immediately.

Notes

• For stovetop chicken cooking: heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the seasoned chicken cubes until golden and cooked through, about 9 minutes. This recipe is great for meal prepping and tastes excellent cold or reheated.

Why You’ll Love These Bowls

These healthy chicken burrito bowls feel like a warm hug from your favorite taco spot, but better because you built them yourself with ingredients you actually recognize. What makes them special is that tangy cilantro-lime dressing swirled over everything, pulling each element together like a little flavor miracle.

• Packed with protein and fresh produce: Between the chicken, black beans, and Greek yogurt in the dressing, you’re getting a satisfying meal that keeps you full without feeling heavy.
• Ready in under 30 minutes: Perfect for those nights when you want something wholesome but don’t have an hour to spend hovering over the stove.
• Customizable for everyone: Picky eaters? Skip the tomatoes. Want extra greens? Pile on more romaine. These bowls bend to fit your family’s preferences.
• Meal prep magic: Make all the components on Sunday, then mix and match bowls all week long without touching a single takeout menu.

Key Ingredients That Make It Work

The beauty of these bowls is how each ingredient plays its own role, then comes together like a little neighborhood potluck. Your chicken gets a sweet-smoky crust from taco seasoning and brown sugar, while the cilantro-lime rice adds brightness that cuts through everything rich. I started using frozen brown rice years ago when I realized nobody has time to wait 45 minutes for rice on a Tuesday. It’s become my weeknight secret weapon.

The dressing deserves its own spotlight. Greek yogurt makes it creamy without drowning everything in calories, and fresh cilantro with lime juice brings that restaurant-style zing. Fire roasted corn adds a subtle char, and black beans make the whole bowl hearty enough to fuel you through evening activities. Cherry tomatoes burst with sweetness, and romaine gives you that satisfying crunch.

How to Make Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowls

Start with the dressing so those flavors can mingle while you handle everything else. Toss cilantro, Greek yogurt, lime juice, garlic, olive oil, white wine vinegar, and salt into your food processor or blender, then pulse until smooth. You might need to scrape down the sides once or twice, which is totally normal.

For the chicken, mix your taco seasoning, brown sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl, then stir in olive oil until it forms a paste. Toss your chicken chunks in this mixture until every piece is coated. Air fry at 400 degrees for 9-12 minutes, arranging pieces in a single layer so air circulates freely, or use the stovetop method in the recipe notes. Meanwhile, warm your brown rice and fold in chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt.

Assembly is the fun part. Divide everything into four bowls, layering romaine first, then add your corn, black beans, cilantro-lime rice, halved cherry tomatoes, and that perfectly seasoned chicken. Drizzle the cilantro-lime dressing over the top and you’re done.

Tips for Perfect Bowls Every Time

Don’t skip the cornstarch in your chicken coating. That tiny bit helps the taco seasoning cling and creates a light crust that makes each bite more interesting. If your chicken pieces are different sizes, pull the smaller ones out early so nothing gets dry.

When you’re making the rice, use it while it’s still warm. The heat helps the cilantro release its oils and the lime juice soaks in better. I learned this after years of stirring lime into cold rice and wondering why it tasted flat. For the dressing, start your blender on low speed to avoid splattering Greek yogurt all over your kitchen ceiling.

How to Serve and Store Your Bowls

Serve these right away for maximum crunch and contrast, or pack components separately for lunch. The chicken and rice stay good in the fridge for 4 days, and the dressing keeps for about 5 days in a sealed jar. Romaine and tomatoes are best fresh, so add those right before eating if you’re meal prepping.

Reheat chicken and rice gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of water. The dressing is fine cold and honestly tastes even better after sitting overnight when all those garlic and lime flavors get friendly with each other.

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FAQs (Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowls)

The Bowl You’ll Want to Make Again and Again

These healthy chicken burrito bowls come together in about 30 minutes and fill your kitchen with cumin and lime, the kind of smell that makes everyone wander in asking what’s for dinner. You’ll love how everything stays crisp and bright, even the lettuce.

Try swapping in leftover rotisserie chicken when you’re really short on time, or add pickled jalapeños if your family likes heat. I learned from my neighbor to make extra dressing. It’s amazing drizzled over grilled veggies or used as a dip for chips later in the week.

I’d love to hear what toppings made it into your bowl. Did you sneak in some avocado or keep it classic? Snap a photo and share it with someone who needs an easy weeknight win. This one’s a keeper worth passing along.