These Shredded Chicken Burrito Bowls are an easy 30-minute dinner made with juicy shredded chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans, fresh toppings, and a creamy sauce. They're perfect for meal prep, busy weeknights, and a great way to use leftover shredded chicken.
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These Shredded Chicken Burrito Bowls are one of my favorite ways to turn simple ingredients into a dinner that feels fresh, flavorful, and filling. Juicy shredded chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans, fresh vegetables, and a creamy avocado lime dressing come together in a meal that's easy enough for busy weeknights but just as perfect for meal prep.
Roast the chicken specifically for this recipe, or put leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken to good use. Either way, you'll have a customizable dinner everyone can build just the way they like it.
Why You'll Love These Shredded Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Juicy shredded chicken: Roasting the chicken first creates tender, flavorful chicken that soaks up every bit of the seasoning.
- Easy to customize: Let everyone build their own bowl with their favorite toppings for a dinner the whole family will enjoy.
- Creamy avocado lime dressing: Fresh, tangy, and the perfect finishing touch for every bite.
- Perfect for meal prep: Prep the ingredients ahead of time for easy lunches and busy weeknight dinners.
- Simple, fresh ingredients: Rice, beans, vegetables, and shredded chicken come together for a satisfying meal that's easy to make.
- A great way to use leftover chicken: Have leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken? This recipe comes together even faster.
What You'll Need & Why
Simple, fresh ingredients come together to make these shredded chicken burrito bowls perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
- Chicken thighs & burrito seasoning: Chicken thighs stay juicy as they roast, and the homemade spice blend gives every bite bold, smoky flavor.
- Peppers, onions & fresh lime: Roasting the vegetables alongside the chicken creates sweet, caramelized flavor, while fresh lime brightens everything up.
- Cilantro lime rice: Fluffy rice tossed with fresh cilantro and lime creates the perfect base for every burrito bowl.
- Black beans: Add extra protein, fiber, and make the bowls even more satisfying.
- Fresh toppings: Tomatoes, jalapeños, avocado, Cotija cheese, and lime wedges let everyone build their perfect bowl.
- Avocado lime dressing: Creamy avocado, sour cream, fresh lime, cilantro, and green onion blend into a bright, flavorful sauce that ties everything together.
The Recipe Rundown
These shredded chicken burrito bowls come together with a handful of simple steps and are perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
- Roast the chicken and vegetables: Season the chicken, peppers, and onions, then roast until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Shred the chicken and toss it with the roasted vegetables.
- Cook the cilantro lime rice: Simmer the rice until fluffy, then stir in fresh cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice.
- Blend the avocado lime dressing: Combine the dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy.
- Prep the toppings: Drain the black beans and slice or chop any additional toppings you'd like to add.
- Build the bowls: Layer the rice, shredded chicken and vegetables, black beans, and your favorite toppings. Finish with a generous drizzle of avocado lime dressing.
- Serve or meal prep: Enjoy right away or portion everything into containers for easy lunches and dinners throughout the week.
Swaps & Variations
These shredded chicken burrito bowls are easy to customize with whatever protein, grains, and toppings you have on hand.
- Save time with rotisserie chicken: Leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken works beautifully when you need dinner on the table fast.
- Switch the protein: Try shredded beef, seasoned ground beef, carnitas, shrimp, or your favorite taco-seasoned protein.
- Make it vegetarian: Skip the chicken and load up on black beans, roasted vegetables, or both. Pinto beans are also delicious!
- Swap the rice: Brown rice, cilantro lime rice, or cauliflower rice all make great bases for these burrito bowls.
- Change up the toppings: Add Mexican street corn salad, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, shredded lettuce, or your favorite cheese to make the bowls your own.
Tips For The Best Shredded Chicken Burrito Bowls
A few simple tips will help your shredded chicken burrito bowls come together even faster.
- Shred the chicken in minutes: A hand mixer or stand mixer makes quick work of shredding warm chicken. It takes about 30 seconds and saves a lot of effort.
- Roast everything on one pan: Spread the chicken and vegetables into an even layer so they roast instead of steam.
- Meal prep the components: Store the chicken, rice, beans, and toppings separately, then build fresh bowls throughout the week.
- Don't skip the dressing: The avocado lime dressing is what ties all the flavors together. Make a little extra—it doubles as a fantastic salad dressing or dip.
Chicken Burrito Bowls Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken and Veggies
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 med onion, sliced
- 1 sweet bell pepper, sliced
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 3 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Juice of 1-2 limes I used two as my limes were small
Cilantro Lime Rice
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- juice and zest of 1 lime optional
- 2 tablespoon cilantro, finely diced optional
Avocado Lime Dressing
- 1 avocado
- ½ cup sour cream or Mexican crema
- 2 green onions, rough chopped
- 1 jalapeño, rough chopped optional
- 1 handful cilantro, rough chopped optional
- juice and zest of 1 lime
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Toppings
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and set aside
- sliced jalapeño, chopped tomatoes, Cotija cheese, avocado slices, lime wedges, etc
Instructions
Chicken and Veggies
- Toss the chicken, onions, and pepper with the salt and spices, avocado oil, and lime juice on a sheet pan.
- Roast for 30 minutes in a preheated 400° oven or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove from oven and let chicken cool slightly. About 5 minutes. Shred chicken and toss back onto the sheet pan. Mix into the roasted onions and peppers. Set aside.
Cilantro Lime Rice
- While the chicken and veggies roast, rinse the rice until the water becomes clear.
- Bring the rice and 2 cups of fresh water to a boil. Add salt. Reduce heat, cover with a lid, and continue to cook for 20 minutes. Do not peak.
- After 20 minutes, fluff rice with cilantro and the juice and zest of 1 lime. Set aside.
Avocado Lime Dressing
- Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a food processor and pulse until you reach your desired consistency.
Build Your Bowl
- Start with a base of rice, followed by a layer of chicken and veggies. Add black beans.
- At this point go wild with the toppings. Add a healthy dollop of the dressing and enjoy!
Nutrition
Storage & Meal Prep
These shredded chicken burrito bowls are made for planning ahead.
- Refrigerator: Store the chicken, rice, veggies, and toppings separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Meal prep: Portion the rice, chicken, and veggies into meal prep containers. Keep the avocado lime dressing in a small lidded container and add it just before serving.
- Reheating: Reheat the chicken, veggies, and rice gently in the microwave until warmed through, then finish with fresh toppings and sauce.
- Freezer: Freezing isn’t recommended for this recipe, as the fresh toppings and creamy dressing don’t thaw well.
You Asked, I Answered
What's the best chicken for shredded chicken burrito bowls?
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are my favorite because they stay juicy and shred easily after roasting. Chicken breasts work well too if you prefer a leaner option.
I don't like cilantro. What can I use instead?
No problem! Leave it out completely, or substitute fresh parsley, chives, or the green tops of green onions for a fresh finish.
Can I serve these warm or cold?
Both! They're delicious served warm for dinner or chilled straight from the refrigerator for an easy meal-prep lunch.
Can I make these shredded chicken burrito bowls ahead of time?
Yes! They're perfect for meal prep. Store the chicken, rice, beans, dressing, and toppings separately, then assemble the bowls just before serving for the freshest texture.
Other Easy Bowl Recipes You’ll Love
If build-your-own bowls are your love language, try these next:
- Bacon Cheeseburger Bowls: All the classic cheeseburger flavor you love, piled into a hearty, comfort-food bowl.
- Shrimp Taco Bowls: Fast, flavorful bowls with roasty shrimp and a drinkable chili lime crema — perfect for busy nights.
- Chicken Gyro Bowls: Mediterranean-inspired bowls with juicy chicken, fresh veggies, and bold, tangy sauces.
- Ground Beef Taco Bowls: Family-friendly taco flavor made easy with seasoned ground beef and customizable toppings.
- Salmon Sushi Bowls: Fresh, bright, and satisfying — all the sushi vibes without the rolling.
Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth—recipe developer, comfort-food creator, and the voice behind Rufus For Real. I specialize in cozy, doable, flavor-packed meals for real-life kitchens, and I’m a firm believer that breakfast, dinner, and everything in between should be simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up.
You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).
If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
Sara Garcia says
We make a variation of this weekly now. Sometimes I use ground beef, but they are great for work and school lunches. We love the dressing!