Move over Chipotle! These Honey Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowls are the best blend of sweet and smoky flavors! Tender chicken is glazed with a honey chipotle marinade that perfectly complements the fluffy rice with creamy avocado crema and crisp corn salsa!
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The Best Honey Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
These honey chipotle chicken rice bowls are the epitome of flavor! Each component adds a different layer of flavor that makes these chicken burrito bowls even better than the restaurant version. It starts with a sweet and bold chicken marinade that infuses loads of flavor into the chicken. I like to pair the chicken with fluffy white rice, corn salsa and some creamy avocado topping that all comes together perfectly in one bowl!
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Thighs: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs here! You can also use chicken breast if desired.
- Honey: Honey adds just a touch of sweetness to balance the bold, smoky flavors and helps the chicken to caramelize when getting cooked!
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: The honey chipotle chicken gets it’s bold flavor from the chipotles in adobo sauce!
- Adobo Pepper: For added spice and smokiness!
- Onion & Garlic Powder: A combo of onion powder and garlic powder add a deeper savory flavor.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
- Olive Oil: To sauté the chicken!
- Lime: To finish the chicken with a little bit of tang!
- For Serving: Serve the chicken on a bed of rice with some avocado crema, corn salsa, and fresh cilantro if desired!
How to Make honey chipotle chicken rice bowls
- Marinade: Add the chicken to a large bowl or a ziplock bag. Add in the honey, chipotles in adobo, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil and lime juice. Toss to coat the chicken in the spices. Marinade for 30 minute to up to 4 hours.
- Sear: When ready to cook, heat a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil. Add in chicken and cook for 4 minutes on each side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. If the sauce starts to burn (due to the honey), turn down the heat.
- Remove & Dice: Remove the chicken from the pan and allow it to rest for a couple of minutes. Squeeze half of a lime onto the chicken. Cut or shred the chicken into bite size pieces.
- Make Toppings: Prepare the rice, corn salsa and avocado crema, or you can use your favorite store-bought versions!
- Assemble the Chicken Rice Bowls: Add rice, corn salsa, chicken and avocado cream to the bowls. Add additional toppings if desired and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Feel free to grill the chicken! For added flavor, you can definitely grill the chicken instead of using a pan!
- If you are sensitive to spicy food, don’t use the actual chiles from the can of chiles in adobo sauce, and just use the adobo sauce in the marinade! You get all that flavor without so much of the spice from the chili.
- Add additional toppings! Feel free to make these honey chipotle chicken rice bowls your own. You can add diced tomatoes, pinto or black beans, diced avocado, or some black olives!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are chipotle peppers in adobo sauce?
Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are dried jalapeños that are then rehydrated in a smoky tomato sauce and canned. The sauce is slightly spicy and smoky, and the peppers themselves are quite spicy.
Are honey chipotle chicken rice bowls good for meal prep?
Absolutely! I recommend storing the avocado cream and corn salsa in separate containers, but you can store the rice with honey chipotle chicken together in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days!
More Easy Bowl IDeas to Try
- Greek Chicken Bowls
- Classic Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Banh Mi Bowls
- Salmon Sushi Bowls
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
Honey Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowls
Ingredients
Honey Chipotle Chicken
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp chipotle in adobo sauce
- 1 chipotle in adobo pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus more for cooking the chicken
- 1 lime, juiced
For Serving
- avocado crema
- corn salsa
- cooked white rice
- fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
Honey Chipotle Chicken
- Add the chicken to a large bowl or a ziplock bag. Add in the honey, chipotles in adobo, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive oil and lime juice.
- Toss to coat the chicken in the spices. Marinate for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- When you are ready to cook heat a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil.Add in chicken and cook for 4 minutes on each side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165. If the sauce starts to burn (due to the honey) turn down the heat.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and allow it to rest for a couple of minutes.Squeeze half of a lime onto the chicken.
- Cut or shred the chicken into bite size pieces.
Assemble Bowls
- Add rice, corn salsa, chicken and avocado cream to bowls. Add additional toppings if desired and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
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