Description
Mexican-inspired slow cooker chicken burrito bowl delivers layers of authentic flavors with minimal kitchen effort. Home cooks can enjoy this simple, hearty meal packed with zesty ingredients and protein-rich chicken.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (or thighs), boneless, skinless
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10 oz / 283 g) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
- 1 cup salsa (mild, medium, or hot)
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup long-grain white or brown rice (uncooked)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
- Avocado or guacamole
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Diced tomatoes
- Jalapenos
- Tortilla chips or strips
Instructions
- Layer Foundation: Position chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker, creating a robust protein base for the dish.
- Ingredient Cascade: Uniformly distribute black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and salsa over the chicken, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Seasoning Infusion: Sprinkle a dynamic medley of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to elevate the flavor complexity.
- Citrus Accent: Splash fresh lime juice across the ingredients to introduce a vibrant, zesty dimension.
- Slow Transformation: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, allowing chicken to become incredibly tender and flavors to meld harmoniously.
- Chicken Preparation: Carefully shred the chicken using two forks, creating delicate, succulent strands that will integrate seamlessly with other ingredients.
- Rice Integration: Introduce uncooked rice directly into the liquid, stirring thoroughly to ensure even distribution and optimal absorption of the rich, seasoned broth.
- Final Fusion: Reincorporate shredded chicken into the rice mixture, maintaining a balanced blend of proteins and grains.
- Finishing Touch: Continue cooking on HIGH for 30-40 minutes, intermittently stirring to prevent rice from sticking and achieve perfect texture.
- Presentation: Transfer the aromatic burrito bowl contents into serving dishes and garnish with optional toppings like melted cheese, creamy avocado, tangy sour cream, and fresh cilantro to enhance the culinary experience.
Notes
- Choose the Right Chicken: Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts of uniform thickness to ensure even cooking and prevent dryness.
- Prevent Rice Sticking: Stir rice occasionally and add a bit more liquid if needed to stop it from clumping or burning at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust chili powder and spices according to personal heat tolerance, starting with less and adding more incrementally.
- Dietary Modifications: Swap white rice for cauliflower rice for a low-carb version, or use brown rice for added nutritional value and fiber.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (low) / 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg