Meal prep burrito bowls are a fantastic way to enjoy a delicious and balanced meal throughout the week. With marinated chicken, cilantro lime rice, and a mix of beans, corn, and salsa, these bowls are packed with flavor and nutrients. Perfect for busy schedules, they ensure you have a hearty meal ready to go anytime.
Some ingredients in this recipe might not be staples in every household. For instance, smoked paprika and cumin are essential for giving the chicken its distinctive flavor. Make sure to grab fresh cilantro leaves and lime for the rice. If you're not stocked up, a visit to the supermarket is necessary to get these specific items.
Ingredients for Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
Chicken breasts: The protein base for the burrito bowls, marinated for flavor.
Olive oil: Used in the marinade to help infuse the chicken with flavor.
Lime juice: Provides a fresh, tangy flavor to the marinade and the rice.
Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the acidity of the lime juice.
Kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish without overpowering it.
Cumin: A warm, earthy spice that adds depth to the marinade.
Garlic cloves: Fresh garlic for an aromatic and flavorful marinade.
Water: Helps to dilute the marinade slightly and coat the chicken evenly.
Smoked paprika: Adds a smoky, slightly sweet flavor to the chicken.
Onion powder: Provides a subtle onion flavor without the texture of fresh onions.
Chili powder: Adds a mild heat and rich flavor to the chicken.
Cilantro leaves: Fresh and vibrant, they give the rice a distinctive taste.
Black beans: Provide protein and fiber, essential for a balanced meal.
Corn kernels: Adds sweetness and crunch to the burrito bowls.
Salsa: Brings a spicy kick and moisture to the dish.
One reader, Griz Cotton says:
This meal prep burrito bowls recipe is a game-changer! The flavors are vibrant and the chicken is perfectly seasoned. It's so convenient to have a healthy, delicious meal ready to go. Highly recommend!
Techniques Required for Making Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
How to marinate chicken: Explanation on combining ingredients in a resealable bag, shaking to mix, adding chicken, sealing, and refrigerating. How to grill chicken: Explanation on preheating a grill, cooking chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side until cooked through. How to chop chicken: Explanation on cutting cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. How to prepare cilantro lime rice: Explanation on mixing cooked rice with cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. How to assemble meal prep containers: Explanation on dividing rice into containers and arranging chicken, beans, corn, and salsa on top.
How To Make Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
For this low-carb meal prep, we are adding tender grilled chicken, cilantro-spiced rice, salsa, and beans all combined together into burrito bowls.
Serves:
Ingredients
For Chicken:
- ¼lbschicken breastsboneless, skinless
- ¼cupolive oil
- ⅓cuplime juice
- 1tsphoney
- 1tspkosher salt
- ¼tspcuminground
- 2garlic clovesminced
- ¼cupwater
- 1½tspsmoked paprika
- 1tsponion powder
- 2tspchili powder
For Cilantro Lime Rice:
- 3cupscooked ricebrown or white, or you can use quinoa
- ⅓cupcilantro leaveschopped
- 1limejuice
- salt and pepperto taste
Remaining burrito bowl ingredients:
- 15ozblack beans1 can, drained and rinsed, thawed from frozen or canned
- 1cupcorn kernels
- 1cupsalsafresh
Instructions
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To prepare the marinade, pour the lime juice, olive oil, and water into a large resealable bag. Add the garlic, honey, salt, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, and chili powder.
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Seal bag and shake to combine. Add the chicken to the bag of marinade, seal, and place in the refrigerator. Marinate at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
-
Preheat a grill over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
-
Chop the cooked chicken into bite sized pieces.
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Place the rice or quinoa in a large bowl; add the cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat the rice evenly.
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Divide the rice between 4 meal prep containers. Arrange the chicken, beans, corn and salsa on top. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to heat and serve.
Nutrition
- Calories: 779.67kcal
- Fat: 19.02g
- Saturated Fat: 3.25g
- Trans Fat: 0.03g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 11.38g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.16g
- Carbohydrates: 121.12g
- Fiber: 20.86g
- Sugar: 8.40g
- Protein: 35.19g
- Cholesterol: 18.14mg
- Sodium: 994.06mg
- Calcium: 195.56mg
- Potassium: 2089.05mg
- Iron: 8.27mg
- Vitamin A: 73.56µg
- Vitamin C: 13.16mg
Helpful Technique for Assembling Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
To ensure the chicken absorbs maximum flavor, use a fork to poke holes in the chicken breasts before marinating. This allows the marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and juicy chicken.
Time-Saving Tips for Preparing Burrito Bowls
Marinate in advance: Prepare the chicken marinade the night before to save time on cooking day.
Use pre-cooked rice: Opt for pre-cooked rice or microwaveable rice to cut down on cooking time.
Batch cook chicken: Grill extra chicken breasts and store them for future meals.
Frozen corn: Use frozen corn kernels instead of fresh to save prep time.
Canned beans: Rely on canned black beans to avoid soaking and cooking dried beans.
Pre-made salsa: Purchase store-bought salsa to eliminate chopping and mixing.
Substitute Ingredients For Meal Prep Burrito Bowls Recipe
Chicken breasts - Substitute with tofu: Tofu is a great plant-based protein that absorbs marinades well, making it a versatile substitute.
Olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a similar healthy fat profile and a high smoke point, making it suitable for cooking.
Lime juice - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice provides a similar acidity and citrus flavor.
Honey - Substitute with agave syrup: Agave syrup has a similar sweetness and consistency, making it a good alternative.
Kosher salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt has a similar texture and flavor profile.
Cumin - Substitute with ground coriander: Ground coriander offers a different but complementary earthy flavor.
Garlic cloves - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can provide a similar flavor, though it is less pungent.
Water - Substitute with chicken broth: Chicken broth adds more flavor to the marinade.
Smoked paprika - Substitute with regular paprika: Regular paprika provides a similar color and flavor, though it lacks the smokiness.
Onion powder - Substitute with dried minced onion: Dried minced onion offers a similar flavor and texture.
Chili powder - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds heat, though it is spicier, so use less.
Cooked rice - Substitute with quinoa: Quinoa is a high-protein grain that offers a different texture and nutritional profile.
Cilantro leaves - Substitute with parsley: Parsley provides a fresh, herbaceous flavor, though it lacks the citrus notes of cilantro.
Lime - Substitute with lemon: Lemon offers a similar acidity and citrus flavor.
Salt and pepper - Substitute with seasoned salt: Seasoned salt can add more complexity to the flavor.
Black beans - Substitute with pinto beans: Pinto beans have a similar texture and flavor profile.
Corn kernels - Substitute with frozen peas: Frozen peas offer a different but sweet and fresh flavor.
Salsa - Substitute with pico de gallo: Pico de gallo provides a fresh, chunky texture and similar flavor profile.
How to Beautifully Present Your Burrito Bowls
Use a large, shallow bowl: Choose a wide, shallow bowl to give ample space for each component to shine. This allows for a more elegant presentation and easy access to all ingredients.
Create a base layer: Start by placing a generous scoop of cilantro lime rice in the center of the bowl. Use a ring mold if available to keep the rice neatly contained.
Arrange the chicken artfully: Slice the grilled chicken into thin, even strips and fan them out over one side of the rice. This showcases the juicy, perfectly cooked chicken.
Add the black beans: Spoon the black beans next to the chicken, ensuring they are neatly piled and not spilling over. This creates a clean, organized look.
Place the corn kernels: Add the corn kernels in a small mound next to the beans. The bright yellow color adds a vibrant contrast to the dish.
Top with salsa: Spoon a small amount of salsa on top of the rice, allowing some to gently cascade over the sides. This adds a pop of color and a hint of freshness.
Garnish with cilantro: Sprinkle a few whole cilantro leaves over the top of the dish for a fresh, aromatic touch. This also ties in the flavors of the rice.
Finish with lime wedges: Place a couple of lime wedges on the side of the bowl. This not only adds a visual appeal but also allows diners to add an extra burst of citrus if desired.
Drizzle with olive oil: Just before serving, lightly drizzle some olive oil over the entire dish. This adds a glossy finish and enhances the flavors.
Serve with a side of tortilla chips: Arrange a few tortilla chips on the side of the bowl or on a separate small plate. This adds a crunchy element and completes the burrito bowl experience.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
Resealable bag: Used to marinate the chicken by combining all the marinade ingredients and allowing the chicken to soak up the flavors.
Grill: Essential for cooking the marinated chicken to achieve a smoky, charred flavor.
Tongs: Handy for flipping the chicken on the grill and ensuring even cooking on both sides.
Cutting board: Provides a clean surface for chopping the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Knife: Necessary for chopping the cooked chicken and cilantro.
Large bowl: Used to mix the cooked rice with cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Measuring cups: Helps in accurately measuring ingredients like olive oil, lime juice, and water for the marinade.
Measuring spoons: Useful for measuring smaller quantities of ingredients such as honey, salt, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, and chili powder.
Meal prep containers: Used to divide and store the burrito bowl components for easy meal prep and storage.
Can opener: Needed to open the can of black beans.
Strainer: Useful for rinsing and draining the black beans before adding them to the burrito bowls.
Mixing spoon: Helps in tossing the rice with cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper to ensure even coating.
Storing and Freezing Your Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
To store the meal prep burrito bowls, let them cool completely to room temperature before placing the lids on the containers. This will prevent condensation from building up and making the ingredients soggy.
Once cooled, cover the containers tightly with lids and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. The rice, beans, and corn will hold up well, while the salsa may release some liquid over time.
When ready to eat, you can enjoy the burrito bowls cold or reheat them in the microwave until warmed through. If microwaving, you may want to remove the salsa and add it back after heating to keep it fresh.
If you want to freeze the burrito bowls for longer storage, it's best to freeze the components separately:
- Cook and season the chicken and freeze it in a sealed container or freezer bag.
- Prepare the cilantro lime rice and freeze it in a separate container or freezer bag.
- Freeze the black beans and corn kernels together in another container or freezer bag.
- The salsa is best added fresh after thawing and reheating the other components.
To reheat the frozen burrito bowl components, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat the chicken and rice in the microwave until heated through, then assemble the bowls with the thawed beans, corn, and fresh salsa.
Properly stored, the frozen burrito bowl components will maintain their best quality for up to 3 months in the freezer, but will remain safe to eat beyond that time.
How To Reheat Leftover Burrito Bowls
Microwave: transfer the burrito bowl to a microwave-safe dish. cover the dish with a damp paper towel to prevent the rice from drying out. microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. stir the contents and enjoy your piping hot burrito bowl.
Stovetop: place the burrito bowl contents in a skillet over medium heat. add a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent sticking and to steam the ingredients. cover the skillet and heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the burrito bowl is heated through and the rice is fluffy.
Oven: preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). transfer the burrito bowl to an oven-safe dish and cover with foil. bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the ingredients are heated through and the cheese (if added) is melted and bubbly. remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of baking to crisp up the toppings.
Air fryer: place the burrito bowl contents in an air fryer-safe container. set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and cook for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the ingredients are heated through and the edges are slightly crispy.
Cold: if you prefer a cold burrito bowl, simply remove it from the refrigerator, give it a good stir, and enjoy! this method works well if you've added fresh toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, or avocado that you don't want to heat up.
Interesting Trivia About Burrito Bowls
A fun fact about this meal prep burrito bowls recipe is that the cilantro lime rice adds a refreshing twist, making it a popular choice for those looking to add a zesty flavor to their burrito bowls.
Is Making Burrito Bowls at Home Cost-Effective?
When analyzing the cost-effectiveness of this meal prep burrito bowls recipe, it stands out as a budget-friendly option. The use of chicken breasts, black beans, corn kernels, and cilantro ensures a nutritious and filling meal without breaking the bank. The ingredients are readily available and relatively inexpensive. Overall, this recipe scores a solid 8 out of 10 for cost-effectiveness. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people is around $15-$20 USD, making it an excellent choice for those looking to save money while enjoying a delicious and wholesome meal.
Are Meal Prep Burrito Bowls Healthy or Unhealthy?
This meal prep burrito bowl recipe has several healthy elements, but there's room for improvement. Let's break it down:
Healthy aspects:
- Chicken breast is a lean protein source
- Lime juice and cilantro add flavor without excessive calories
- Black beans provide fiber and additional protein
- Corn and salsa contribute vitamins and minerals
Less healthy aspects:
- The marinade contains honey and a significant amount of olive oil, which can add calories
- Depending on the type of rice used (e.g., white rice), it may be less nutritious than other options
- The recipe lacks a variety of vegetables
To make this recipe even healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Reduce the amount of olive oil in the marinade and replace some of it with additional lime juice or water
- Opt for brown rice or quinoa instead of white rice for added fiber and nutrients
- Include a greater variety of vegetables, such as bell peppers, onions, and leafy greens like spinach or kale
- Use low-sodium black beans and salsa to reduce the overall sodium content
- Add a dollop of Greek yogurt or a sprinkle of low-fat cheese for extra protein and calcium without significantly increasing calories
- Experiment with different spice blends to enhance flavor without relying on salt or sugar-based marinades
- Control portion sizes by using smaller meal prep containers or adjusting the ratio of ingredients to prioritize vegetables and lean proteins
By incorporating these changes, you can elevate the nutritional value of this meal prep burrito bowl while still enjoying a delicious and satisfying lunch or dinner.
Editor's Opinion on This Delicious Meal Prep Recipe
This meal prep burrito bowl recipe is a fantastic blend of flavors and textures, perfect for a balanced and satisfying meal. The marinade for the chicken is well-crafted, offering a delightful mix of tangy lime, smoky paprika, and a hint of sweetness from the honey. The cilantro lime rice adds a fresh and zesty base, while the black beans, corn, and salsa provide a hearty and colorful topping. It's a versatile and nutritious option that can be easily customized to suit individual preferences. Overall, a great choice for meal prepping that ensures delicious and convenient meals throughout the week.
Enhance Your Meal Prep Burrito Bowls Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
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Appetizers and Desserts That Complement Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
Why trust this Meal Prep Burrito Bowls Recipe:
This meal prep burrito bowls recipe is a game-changer for busy weeks. The marinated chicken is packed with flavor, thanks to a blend of lime juice, smoked paprika, and garlic. The cilantro lime rice adds a fresh, zesty touch, perfectly complementing the black beans and corn. With easy-to-follow steps and ingredients you likely already have, this recipe ensures a delicious, nutritious meal that's ready when you are. Trust in its simplicity and the balance of flavors to make your meal prep both enjoyable and satisfying.
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