Are chicken burrito bowls healthy?

This version is: about 560 calories with 42g of protein and 12g of fiber a bowl, nothing fried, and Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. Swap the rice for cauliflower rice and it drops to roughly 420 calories.

How long do chicken burrito bowls last for meal prep?

The cooked base of chicken, rice, beans and corn keeps 4 days in the fridge. Keep pico, lettuce, avocado and crema separate and add them when you eat so nothing goes soggy.

Can I make the chicken in the air fryer instead of a skillet?

Yes. Season the breasts whole, air fry at 380F for 15 to 17 minutes flipping once, rest 5 minutes and slice. It is hands-off and just as juicy; the skillet version has more char.

What can I use instead of Greek yogurt for the crema?

Sour cream works one-for-one with less protein, or blend cottage cheese with lime juice until smooth for an even higher-protein drizzle.

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Chicken burrito bowls

By Ami · September 2, 2026 · ★★★★★ 4.9 from 64 reviews · Jump to Recipe · Print

These healthy chicken burrito bowls are what I make when I want the Chipotle order without the Chipotle line — smoky chili-lime chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans, charred corn, fresh pico and a Greek yogurt crema, all in about 30 minutes. Every bowl lands around 42g of protein, which is why they've become my most-repeated meal prep bowl.

Healthy chicken burrito bowl with cilantro lime rice, chili-lime chicken, black beans, charred corn, pico de gallo, avocado and Greek yogurt crema — easy high protein healthy recipe

This is the healthy bowl that actually keeps you full.

Protein and fiber in the same bowl. Chicken, black beans and corn add up to about 42g of protein and 12g of fiber a serving, which is exactly the combination that keeps you full through the afternoon — the same reason white chicken chili works so well on a GLP-1 friendly plan.
The chicken is seasoned like it came off a grill. Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and lime, seared hard in a skillet — or cooked in the air fryer using the air fryer chicken breast method if you'd rather not babysit a pan.
Greek yogurt crema instead of sour cream. Same tang, same cooling drizzle, four times the protein. Check what a bowl like this covers for you with the protein calculator.

Here's what you'll need.

Nothing exotic — the whole list is a normal grocery run, and canned beans and frozen corn are exactly what I use. Leftover rice makes this even faster.

Ingredients for chicken burrito bowls portioned into small bowls — chicken breast, rice, cilantro, limes, black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, romaine, Greek yogurt and spices

Here's how it all comes together.

Step 1 — Season the chicken

Slice the chicken into strips and toss with olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic and salt. Even ten minutes of sitting while you prep the rest makes a difference; an hour in the fridge is better still.

Chicken breast strips being tossed with olive oil, lime juice and a chili cumin spice mix for chicken burrito bowls

Step 2 — Sear it hard

Get a cast iron or heavy skillet properly hot, add the chicken in a single layer and leave it alone for 3 minutes before turning. You want charred edges — that's where the burrito-shop flavor comes from. About 7 minutes total.

Seasoned chicken strips searing in a hot cast iron skillet with charred edges for burrito bowls

Step 3 — Make the cilantro lime rice

Stir a big handful of chopped cilantro, the zest and juice of a lime and a pinch of salt through hot cooked rice. That's it — it tastes like far more effort than it is.

Fluffy rice being stirred with chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice for cilantro lime rice

Step 4 — Pico, beans and corn

Mix the tomato, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime for the pico. In the chicken skillet, warm the black beans with a pinch of cumin, and char the corn in a dry pan for a few minutes until it's spotted brown.

Mixing fresh pico de gallo in a bowl while black beans and charred corn warm in a skillet

Step 5 — Build the bowls

Rice on the bottom, then sections of chicken, beans, corn and shredded romaine around the edge so every bite can be a little different. Meal-prepping? Do exactly this in four containers and hold the toppings separately.

Assembling a chicken burrito bowl over cilantro lime rice with sliced chicken, black beans, corn and lettuce

Step 6 — Crema, avocado, pico

Whisk Greek yogurt with lime juice, a little water and salt until it drizzles, then finish each bowl with the crema, sliced avocado and a spoonful of pico. Extra lime on the side always.

Greek yogurt lime crema being drizzled over a finished chicken burrito bowl topped with avocado and pico de gallo

Two healthy chicken burrito bowls on cream linen with lime wedges and a small bowl of Greek yogurt crema — easy 30-minute high protein dinner

Things I learned while testing this recipe.

Don't crowd the chicken. Pile it in and it steams grey instead of charring. Two batches in a hot pan take an extra four minutes and taste completely different.
Charring the corn is not optional. Frozen corn straight into a dry hot skillet, no oil, left alone until it pops and browns — it's the ingredient people always ask about.
Salt the rice, not just the chicken. Bland rice makes the whole bowl feel bland; a generous pinch plus the lime makes every layer taste seasoned, the same trick that carries the one pot chicken and rice.
Thin the crema more than you think. Straight Greek yogurt sits in a blob. A tablespoon or two of water turns it into a drizzle that coats everything.

Meal prep it — four lunches, one cooking session.

Rice, chicken, beans and corn go in the containers together. They hold 4 days in the fridge and reheat in 2 minutes.
Pico, lettuce, avocado and crema stay separate. Pack the toppings in a small side container so nothing goes soggy — add the avocado the day you eat it.
Swap the base for a lower-carb week. Cauliflower rice or just double lettuce works, and the bowl still lands above 40g of protein — the same idea as these cheeseburger bowls.

Here's what I'd serve with this.

Use the chicken from air fryer chicken breast, and this bowl becomes a 15-minute assembly job.
Tortilla-lovers can pair it with sheet pan chicken fajitas for a full build-your-own taco night.
For the beef version of this exact bowl, smash burger tacos hit the same craving.
Start the meal with a cup of white chicken chili on a cold night.
And chocolate cottage cheese mousse is the 5-minute dessert that keeps the whole dinner high protein.

Just in case you have leftovers.

Storing: refrigerate the cooked components (chicken, rice, beans, corn) in airtight containers up to 4 days. Pico keeps 2 days; make crema fresh or keep it up to 3 days. Cooked chicken and rice also freeze for up to 2 months — avocado, pico and lettuce do not.

Reheating: microwave the rice-chicken-bean base for 2 minutes with a splash of water, or warm it in a skillet over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cold toppings after heating. The bowl is also good cold, salad-style, straight from the fridge.

More easy healthy recipes...

Sheet pan chicken fajitas — easy healthy 35-minute dinner

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Cheeseburger bowls — 20-minute high protein dinner

Chicken burrito bowls

★★★★★ 4.9 from 64 reviews — healthy chicken burrito bowls with chili-lime chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans, charred corn, pico and a Greek yogurt crema. About 30 minutes, 42g protein a bowl, meal-prep friendly.

Prep 15 min · Cook 15 min · Total 30 min · Serves 4 · Category: Healthy Recipes · Cuisine: Mexican-American

Ingredients

Chicken: 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
1 tbsp olive oil · juice of 1 lime
2 tsp chili powder · 1 tsp ground cumin · 1 tsp smoked paprika
2 garlic cloves, minced · 1 tsp kosher salt · ¼ tsp black pepper
Rice: 3 cups cooked white or brown rice, hot
⅓ cup chopped cilantro · zest and juice of 1 lime · ½ tsp salt
Bowls: 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed
1½ cups corn kernels (frozen is fine)
3 cups shredded romaine
1 large avocado, sliced
Pico: 2 Roma tomatoes, diced · ¼ red onion, finely diced · 1 jalapeño, minced · 2 tbsp cilantro · juice of ½ lime · pinch of salt
Crema: ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt · juice of ½ lime · 1–2 tbsp water · ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

Season. Toss the chicken strips with olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside 10 minutes (or refrigerate up to 8 hours).
Sear. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high until very hot. Cook the chicken in a single layer, undisturbed 3 minutes, then turn and cook 3–4 minutes more until charred at the edges and cooked through (165°F). Work in two batches. Remove to a plate.
Rice. Stir the cilantro, lime zest, lime juice and salt through the hot rice.
Pico, beans, corn. Mix the pico ingredients in a small bowl. In the same skillet, warm the black beans 2 minutes and remove, then char the corn in the dry pan 3–4 minutes until spotted brown.
Assemble. Divide the rice among 4 bowls. Top with sections of chicken, beans, corn and romaine.
Finish. Whisk the crema ingredients until pourable. Drizzle over the bowls, add avocado and pico, and serve with extra lime.

Notes: Air fryer option: cook the whole seasoned breasts at 380°F for 15–17 minutes (see the air fryer chicken breast post), rest and slice. Lower-carb: swap the rice for cauliflower rice or extra lettuce. Add ½ cup shredded cheddar or cotija if you like. Rotisserie chicken tossed with the spices and warmed in the skillet works in a pinch.

Nutrition (per bowl, estimated): 560 calories · 42g protein · 58g carbs · 16g fat · 12g fiber

The Ultimate GLP-1 High Protein High Fiber Cookbook cover

If high-protein, high-fiber meals are the goal, this cookbook makes them the default.

The Ultimate GLP-1 High Protein High Fiber Cookbook for Weight Loss is built on the same formula as this bowl — lean protein, beans and vegetables, real flavor, and portions that keep you full for hours. Tested recipes with the macros already worked out, made for anyone eating smaller, smarter meals.

Get the cookbook on Amazon

FAQ

Are chicken burrito bowls healthy?: This version is — about 560 calories with 42g of protein and 12g of fiber a bowl, no fried anything, and Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. Swap the rice for cauliflower rice and it drops to roughly 420 calories.
How long do chicken burrito bowls last for meal prep?: The cooked base (chicken, rice, beans, corn) keeps 4 days in the fridge. Keep pico, lettuce, avocado and crema separate and add them when you eat, so nothing goes soggy.
Can I make the chicken in the air fryer instead of a skillet?: Yes — season the breasts whole, air fry at 380°F for 15 to 17 minutes flipping once, rest 5 minutes and slice. It's hands-off and just as juicy; the skillet version has more char.
What can I use instead of Greek yogurt for the crema?: Sour cream works one-for-one (less protein), or blend cottage cheese with lime juice until smooth for an even higher-protein drizzle.