These chicken burrito bowls are one of our favorite easy dinners, a hearty, flavorful mix of chicken, rice, beans, and salsa that cooks together in one pot in about thirty minutes. For us that kind of fast, satisfying meal is exactly what real food for real life is about. They are the kind of dinner that pleases a whole table at once, since everyone can build their own bowl, and because chicken, rice, beans, and salsa cook together in one pot, the cleanup is minimal.
Chicken thighs cook with rice, black beans, corn, and salsa in the pressure cooker, then get topped with cheddar and fresh cilantro. These chicken burrito bowls bring together bold, Tex Mex flavor in a complete, customizable, one pot meal the whole family loves. Cooking the chicken thighs right alongside the rice, beans, corn, and salsa lets all that bold flavor meld under pressure, and a shower of cheddar and fresh cilantro finishes each bowl beautifully.
Chicken, rice, beans, corn, and salsa topped with cheddar and cilantro make these chicken burrito bowls a hearty Tex Mex meal.
Why You Will Love These Chicken Burrito Bowls
- One pot meal. Chicken, rice, and beans cook together for easy cleanup.
- Ready in about thirty minutes. The pressure cooker makes a complete dinner fast.
- Bold Tex Mex flavor. Chili powder, cumin, and salsa give it a flavorful kick.
- Hearty and filling. Chicken, rice, and beans make a complete, satisfying bowl.
- Easy to customize. Top it your way with cheese, avocado, or sour cream.
What Makes These Chicken Burrito Bowls So Good
A great chicken burrito bowls starts by blooming chili powder and cumin with onion and garlic, which builds a deep, savory, slightly smoky base before anything else goes in. Blooming the chili powder and cumin with onion and garlic before anything else is what builds a deep, smoky, savory base, so the whole pot tastes layered rather than plain.
Cooking the chicken with beans, corn, and salsa lets the flavors meld, while layering rice on top with broth ensures it cooks up fluffy and well seasoned under pressure. Cooking the chicken with the beans, corn, and salsa lets the flavors mingle, while layering the rice on top with broth is the trick to fluffy, well seasoned grains under pressure.
The key to these chicken burrito bowls is the finish. A gentle stir brings everything together, and toppings of cheddar and fresh cilantro add richness and brightness to each bowl. A gentle stir at the end brings everything together without turning the rice to mush, and toppings of cheddar and bright cilantro add the richness and freshness that make each bowl sing.
Optional Pro Tip: Layer Rice on Top
Sprinkle the rice over the other ingredients and pour the broth on top without stirring, so it cooks evenly and does not stick. For the best chicken burrito bowls, do a quick pressure release and stir gently right before serving so the rice stays fluffy. Layering the rice over everything else and pouring the broth on top without stirring keeps it from sticking or scorching, and a quick release followed by a gentle stir keeps the grains fluffy.
Tips for the Best Chicken Burrito Bowls
Bloom the spices first so the chicken burrito bowls has deep flavor, and layer the rice on top without stirring. Blooming the spices first gives the whole pot deep flavor, and resisting the urge to stir the rice into the rest is what lets it cook up light and separate.
Do a quick release and stir gently at the end. Top each bowl just before serving so the cheese melts and the cilantro stays fresh. A quick pressure release and a gentle stir at the end keep the rice fluffy, and adding toppings just before serving lets the cheese melt while the cilantro stays fresh.
Variations and Add Ins
- Spicy. Use a hot salsa or add diced jalapenos.
- Extra protein. Add more beans or a little extra chicken.
- Different toppings. Add avocado, sour cream, lime, or hot sauce.
- Veggie packed. Stir in bell peppers or extra corn.
- Cheesy. Stir cheese right into the warm bowl until melted.
How to Store and Make Ahead
Store leftover chicken burrito bowls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. They make great meal prep lunches. Stored airtight, they keep their bold flavor for several days, which makes them a reliable, satisfying choice for meal prep lunches through the week.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until hot, adding a splash of broth or water if the rice has dried out. Add fresh toppings after reheating. A splash of broth or water stirred in while reheating revives the rice if it has dried out, and adding fresh toppings afterward keeps them bright and lively.
Serving Suggestions for Chicken Burrito Bowls
Serve these in bowls topped with cheddar, cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime, with tortilla chips or warm tortillas on the side. They make an easy, crowd pleasing dinner. A finish of cheddar, cilantro, creamy avocado, and a squeeze of lime makes each bowl feel complete, and chips or warm tortillas on the side round out the meal.
These bowls build on rice and beans, a nourishing grain and legume pairing found in cuisines worldwide, as described in this overview of rice and beans. That hearty, satisfying base is the heart of these chicken burrito bowls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why layer the rice on top?
Layering rice over the other ingredients with broth helps it cook evenly and keeps it from sticking or scorching. Layering the rice over the other ingredients with the broth on top helps it cook evenly and keeps it from sticking to the bottom or scorching under pressure.
Can I use chicken breasts?
Yes, though thighs stay juicier. If using breasts, cut them into pieces and avoid overcooking. Breasts work, though thighs stay juicier through pressure cooking, so if you use breasts, cut them into pieces and take care not to overcook them.
What rice works best?
Long grain white rice cooks well under pressure. Adjust liquid and time if you use brown rice. Long grain white rice cooks reliably under pressure and stays fluffy, but you can use brown rice if you adjust the liquid and the cooking time to match.
How spicy are they?
It depends on your salsa and chili powder. Use a mild or hot salsa to control the heat. The heat depends largely on your salsa and chili powder, so reaching for a mild or hot salsa lets you set the spice level exactly where you like it.
Can I make them vegetarian?
Yes. Skip the chicken, use vegetable broth, and add extra beans for a hearty meatless bowl. Skipping the chicken, using vegetable broth, and adding extra beans turns these into a hearty, satisfying meatless bowl that loses none of the bold flavor.
Can I make them ahead?
Yes. They keep for up to four days and reheat well, making them great for meal prep. Because they reheat so well, they are great for meal prep, giving you several days of filling, flavorful lunches with almost no extra work.
Can I freeze them?
Yes. Freeze the cooled mixture for up to two months, then thaw and reheat, adding fresh toppings. They freeze nicely too, so cool the mixture fully and seal it away, then thaw and reheat, adding fresh toppings to bring the bowl back to life.
What toppings go well?
Cheddar, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, lime, and hot sauce all work beautifully. Cheddar, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, lime, and a dash of hot sauce all pile on beautifully, so let everyone customize their bowl to taste.
Can I make it on the stove?
Yes. Cook the rice and chicken in a covered pot, then stir in the beans, corn, and salsa. On the stove, cooking the rice and chicken in a covered pot and then stirring in the beans, corn, and salsa gives you the same hearty bowl without a pressure cooker.
What do I serve with them?
Tortilla chips, warm tortillas, or a simple salad all pair nicely. Tortilla chips, warm tortillas, or a simple green salad all pair nicely and round these bowls into a complete, satisfying meal.
A Hearty, Customizable One Pot Dinner
These chicken burrito bowls pack bold Tex Mex flavor into a complete, one pot meal that comes together in about thirty minutes. Hearty, filling, and easy to love. They pack bold, Tex Mex flavor into a complete, one pot meal that comes together in about half an hour, hearty and filling and easy to love.
Top them your way with cheese, avocado, and cilantro, and adjust the heat to your taste. They are a flexible, crowd pleasing dinner and a great meal prep option. Top them your way with cheese, avocado, and cilantro, adjust the heat to taste, and you have a flexible, crowd pleasing dinner that doubles as great meal prep.
If you love bold, satisfying dishes like this, you will also enjoy our sweet potato enchiladas, another favorite from our kitchen.
Results vary by ingredients, equipment, and cooking conditions. Always taste and adjust seasoning as you go.
Chicken Burrito Bowls
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add the oil to the Instant Pot, turn on saute setting, and heat until shimmering.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes.
- Stir in the chili powder and cumin and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add 1/4 cup of the chicken broth and cook, gently scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen any stuck-on bits, and simmer for 1 minute.
- Season the chicken all over with the salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken, beans, corn, salsa, and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the rice over the top.
- Pour the remaining 3/4 cup broth over the rice, but do not stir.
- Using the manual setting, set the pressure to HIGH for 10 minutes.
- Close and lock the lid.
- It should take the pressure cooker about 10 to 12 minutes to come to pressure and begin the 10 minute countdown.
- When the cooking time is complete, do a quick release of the pressure.
- Gently stir everything together.
- Divide between bowls and top with the cheese and cilantro.
Nutrition
Notes
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