Description
This Chipotle Chicken Bowl is a flavorful and satisfying meal featuring marinated grilled chicken thighs infused with smoky chipotle peppers and spices, served over a bed of rice and topped with black beans, corn salsa, guacamole, and salsa. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep with a delightful balance of spicy, tangy, and fresh flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 1 pound boneless chicken thighs
- 2 chipotle in adobo peppers, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons chipotle in adobo sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Bowl
- 2 cups rice, cooked
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn salsa
- 1/3 cup guacamole
- 1/2 cup salsa
Instructions
- Prepare the Chipotle Marinade: Finely chop the chipotle peppers in adobo and mix them with the chipotle sauce, olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. This creates a smoky and spicy marinade to flavor the chicken.
- Marinate the Chicken: Toss the chicken thighs in the marinade ensuring each piece is well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours if time permits, to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Cook the Chicken: Preheat a grill or a large skillet over high heat. Cook the chicken thighs for about 6 minutes per side or until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165ºF, ensuring a nice char and juicy interior.
- Prepare Toppings: While the chicken marinates and cooks, prepare your toppings: heat the rice, rinse and drain the black beans, and have the corn salsa, guacamole, and salsa ready for assembly.
- Assemble the Bowl: Start with a layer of warm rice at the bottom of your bowl. Top with the grilled chipotle chicken pieces and layer the black beans, corn salsa, guacamole, and salsa as desired for a colorful, flavorful meal.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken overnight for deeper flavor and tender texture.
- Use brown or cilantro-lime rice for a healthier or more flavorful alternative.
- Adjust the number of chipotle peppers to control the spiciness.
- Can be made gluten-free by ensuring all store-bought ingredients do not contain gluten.
- Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days, great for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: chipotle chicken bowl, grilled chicken bowl, Mexican chicken bowl, chipotle marinade, healthy chicken bowl, chicken rice bowl
