Description
Mexican-inspired slow cooker chicken burrito bowls deliver a hearty, flavor-packed meal that brings restaurant-quality comfort right to your kitchen. Tender chicken, zesty seasonings, and colorful toppings combine for a delicious dinner you can easily customize and enjoy with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or a mix
Grains and Legumes:
- 1 cup uncooked brown rice
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
Vegetables and Liquids:
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, plus more as needed
Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
Optional Toppings:
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped cilantro
- Sour cream
- Diced avocado
- Salsa
- Hot sauce
- Diced green onions
- Shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Gently place chicken breasts in a 2.5 to 3.5-quart (2.4 to 3.3 liters) slow cooker, ensuring complete coverage with diced tomatoes, chicken broth, chili powder, kosher salt, and ground cumin.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature and allow chicken to simmer and become tender for 3 to 4 hours, maintaining sufficient liquid levels throughout cooking process.
- After initial cooking period, carefully incorporate black beans, long-grain white rice, and sweet corn kernels into the slow cooker mixture.
- Continue cooking on low temperature for an additional 3 to 4 hours, periodically checking rice’s texture and stirring gently to prevent sticking or uneven cooking.
- If rice appears firm but excess liquid remains, remove slow cooker lid and increase temperature to high, allowing remaining liquid to evaporate and concentrate flavors.
- Using two forks, delicately shred chicken breasts directly within the cooking vessel, ensuring even distribution throughout rice and vegetable mixture.
- Taste the burrito bowl filling and adjust seasonings as needed, potentially adding extra chili powder, salt, or cumin to enhance overall flavor profile.
- Serve hot in individual bowls, garnishing with optional toppings like fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, or shredded cheese for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Slow cooking transforms tough chicken into tender, flavor-packed morsels that easily shred and blend with spices.
- Liquid levels are crucial for preventing dry rice and ensuring each bite bursts with Mexican-inspired zest.
- Experiment with different bean varieties like black, pinto, or kidney to personalize your burrito bowl experience.
- Corn adds subtle sweetness and vibrant color, creating visual appeal and textural contrast in the final dish.
- Customize toppings with fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, sour cream, or sharp shredded cheese for extra excitement.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 55mg