CopycatSpices
Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl
Make Chipotle's famous chicken burrito bowl at home — cilantro-lime rice, seasoned grilled chicken, black beans, corn salsa, and guacamole.
chipotle · burrito-bowl · mexican · copycat
🕑Prep20 min
🍳Cook25 min
⏱Total45 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyMedium
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 2 roma tomatoes, diced
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1 jalapeño, minced (optional)
- 1 lime
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- 1.Whisk olive oil, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl. Add chicken thighs, coat, and marinate at least 1 hour.
- 2.Rinse rice in cold water. Combine with 2 cups water and butter in a saucepan. Bring to boil, cover, reduce to low, and cook 15 minutes.
- 3.Remove from heat, fluff with fork, stir in chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. Keep covered.
- 4.Grill chicken over medium-high heat 5-6 minutes per side until internal temp reaches 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes, then dice.
- 5.Warm black beans in a small pan with a pinch of cumin. Char corn in a dry skillet until slightly blackened.
- 6.Mash avocados with diced jalapeño, lime juice, and salt for quick guacamole.
- 7.Assemble bowls: rice, diced chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, guacamole, sour cream.
- 8.Serve with lime wedges and hot sauce on the side.
This Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl copycat hits every note — smoky grilled chicken, cilantro-lime rice, creamy guacamole, and all the fixings. It’s a complete meal in one bowl and perfect for meal prep.
The Chicken Marinade
The secret to Chipotle’s chicken flavor is the smoky marinade. Cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika with lime juice recreate that signature taste. Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts on the grill.
Cilantro-Lime Rice
Don’t skip rinsing the rice — it removes excess starch for fluffy grains. Fold in cilantro and lime after cooking, not during, to preserve the fresh flavor.
Make It Your Own
Swap chicken for steak, sofritas (tofu), or extra veggies. Batch the components separately and assemble fresh for week-long meal prep.
