Prep Ahead Chicken Burrito Bowls

6 bowls
15 min

Meal prepping ahead of time is a big help when life is busy. Prepping these Chicken Burrito Bowl, and having them waiting in my freezer to grab-n-go is a big help. They can easily be reheated for a work or school lunch, or a quick dinner on a busy night.

Batch Cook the MeatMy husband had the day off, so he used his smoker to cook a big batch of chicken breasts. This was great, because we were able to have it for dinner that night, and then we sliced the rest up and put it into the freezer.The leftover smoked chicken breast was perfect for these Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls. You could also use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, cook chicken in your Crock Pot or Instant Pot, or drizzle some chicken breasts with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, and then bake in the oven.Whichever method you choose, consider cooking extra, so you can put it in the freezer and have it on hand for other quick meals in the future.

SalsaI made another batch of my Garden Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes, specifically to use in these bowls. We are still harvesting so many tomatoes right now, that I am using them in all the things!You can use any kind of salsa that is your favorite.

Rice & Black BeansI went the easy route for this, and used Rice-a-Roni’s Cilantro Lime Rice from a box, and black beans from a can.I had extra fresh cilantro and fresh limes leftover from making the salsa, so I added a bit into my boxed rice just to amp it up a bit.You can use any kind of rice you like for this. You can make your own cilantro-lime rice using Jasmine or Basmati, which I often do. Any kind of flavored rice in a box, such as Mexican or Four Chese would also be good! Or, you can go super healthy and make brown rice or even quinoa.For the beans, I just drained and rinsed, and seasoned them with a little fresh lime juice and some freshly ground pepper.

Extra ToppingsAfter I had the basics of the bowl in place–the chicken, beans and rice– I added in a few extras to jazz it up.I put a big spoonful of my Garden Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes in the middle, some shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese, and a lime wedge.

Ready for the FreezerAfter filling them this to this point, I put the lids on and stacked them up in my freezer.These Pyrex 3-cup rectangular glass containers are my favorite for work lunches and freezer meals. Some of mine were already being used in the freezer for other things, so I had to sub in a couple of plastic containers this time.

Jazz it UpThe nice thing about these burrito bowls is that I can just pull them out of the freezer as I leave for work in the morning. I store them in my work fridge, and by the time I am ready to eat lunch, they are partially thawed. Just 3-4 minutes in the microwave, and they are ready to go!Plus, to jazz them up even a bit more, I like to quickly add in some fresh ingredients in the morning, depending on what’s available, or what we may have as leftovers. This is a great way to mix it up, so you don’t feel like you’re eating exactly the same thing over and over.Some great fresh topping ideas:

  • sour cream
  • guacamole or avocado slices
  • leftover corn
  • sauteed pepper strips
  • grilled or caramelized onions
  • grilled zucchini
  • tortilla chips
  • fresh cilantro
  • lime wedge

These Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls will keep in your freezer for at least a month. Not only are they tasty, but they are good quality, real food that is more nutritious than so many other quick lunch options.Niky @ The House on Silverado

Prep Ahead Chicken Burrito Bowls
Recipe details
  • 6  bowls
  • Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 0 Minutes Total time: 15 min
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Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken cooked
  • 1 can black beans drained
  • 2 cups cooked rice (or box of Rice-a-Roni)
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 jar salsa
Topping Options:
  • avacado or guac
  • lime wedge
  • cilantro
  • corn
  • sauteed pepper strips
  • onions
  • grilled zucchini
  • tortilla chips
  • sour cream
Instructions

Divide chicken, rice, beans, salsa and cheese evenly amongst 6 freezer-safe containers.
Add toppings of choice.
Cover tightly with lid and freeze up to one month.
To serve, microwave. Time will depend on if contents are frozen or thawed, and how many toppings were added.
Once warm, garnish with extra toppings like avacado or sour cream.
Niky | The House on Silverado
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