Chicken Fajita Burrito Bowls

I mean who doesn't love a good Mexican feast, right?  I certainly do!  But I'm also savvy enough to know that too many ... um... feasts brings out the clothes fairy and somehow my pants start shrinking. So the kids and I took a different approach to this and had a healthier version of a Mexican feast. We grilled the chicken, cut out the tortilla and replaced it with brown rice, added some healthy veggies (still trying to eat that rainbow), a pop of zing with some zesty condiments and even managed to squeeze in a little creamy light sour cream and of course some very flavorful crunchies! 

We actually did have every intent to put these in bowls - ha.  But we were trying to spread everything out pretty so we had to settle for plates.  This super healthy meal went over like a champ with my littles, and I was a little bit surprised because they sort of raised their eyebrows when I told them we were going the brown rice route.  I am thankful, though, of how they get on board when I tell them that we are trying to do a recipe makeover to make something healthier.  They almost take it on as a personal mission.  #teamwork! Another thing about this meal is that you could have all of these elements made up ahead of time and throw this together for some amazing lunches! 

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Ingredients:

• Southwestern marinated chicken breasts
• I purchased a pack that came already seasoned - great time saver!
• Sweet corn niblets, drained or cut from the ear
• Canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• seasoned with cumin
• Red and yellow bell pepper strips
• Fajita seasoning
• Green onion tops, chopped
• Grape tomatoes, cut in half
• Caramelized onions
• Non-stick cooking spray 
• Tortilla strips
• I used the chili lime flavored ones 
• brown rice
• save time by using instant brown rice
• make it with chicken broth!  :) 
• Jarred taco sauce
• Jarred salsa verde 

Step-by-Step Photos:

SO MANY of these elements can be done ahead of time for a super quick dinner!
Drain a can of corn.

corn niblets, drained

Drain and rinse a can of black beans.  Season liberally with cumin for that great Mexican flavor.

black beans, drained and rinsed

I grabbed a handful of pepper strips from the freezer.  As I always say, the frozen ones break down faster, so they are perfect for this application.  I'm going to sauté them - but NOT in butter. I'm going to just use water.  Yep.  I'll keep adding water until they are soft.  As it cooks out, I'll add more.  I'm going for healthy, here.

red and yellow bell pepper strips in water

To add flavor to my pepper strips (since I'm not cooking them in butter or oil), I'm going to add some fajita seasoning to them.  This will really wake them up.

fajita seasoning 

 Chop some green onion tops.  They look really pretty if you slice them on the bias.

green onion tops, sliced thinly

 Cut some grape tomatoes.  These are the sweetest.  :)

grape tomatoes cut in half

To my bell peppers, I'm adding some caramelized onions.  Love, love, love caramelized onions.  Keep adding water if you need to.

caramelized onions, yellow and red bell peppers

While the veggies are still cooking down, let's cook the chicken.  I am preparing my cast iron grill pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Still trying to be healthy here.  

non-stick cooking spray

When the pan is really hot, add the southwestern seasoned chicken breasts.  You should hear it sizzle when you add them.  If you don't hear that, your pan is not hot enough.  Once you put them in there, don't mess with them.  Just leave them along for a while.  Allow the pan to do its thing so you can get some good grill marks.  They should release easily and not stick when they are ready to be flipped.

Southwestern seasoned chicken

Okay, let's do the other side.  I can't give you an exact cooking time.  It depends on the thickness of your chicken, your pan, the BTUs of your range, etc.

Chicken breasts cooking

Once your chicken are cooked through and the juices are clear (but please not overcooked), allow them to just rest while you are putting everything else together.

Chicken resting

I will say that you really should NOT open these until you are ready to use them.  Somehow if you open them just to "taste" them... they may evaporate straight out of the bag.  I know, right?  It didn't make sense to me, either.  :/ 

Here were the zip and zing we added to the top.  Yep, straight from the jar.

All you do is put a little of each item on the plates, slice the chicken, top it off with your crunchies and sauces, and away you go!

I'm sorry I didn't take a photo of the brown rice.  To save time, I used instant brown rice that I prepared with chicken broth to infuse extra flavor into it.  You can do that while your chicken is cooking.  If you make long cooking brown rice, start it first.

So here we have a gorgeous, balanced burrito bowl (plate?) that still gives us lots of flavor and crunchies, but a healthier version.

I hope you've enjoyed this recipe!  Here are some others I think you'll like:

Tiger Tail Pasta - a creamy, slightly spicy pasta dish with crawfish perfect for crowds. (could sub chicken)

Mexican Salsa - great summer fun!  Throw it all in the food processor and let it go!

Alice Springs Chicken - a favorite of a that steakhouse chain!

Mississippi Mud Puddles - great for grab-your-own parties!

Mojito Lime Mahi Mahi Tacos with Citrus Dressed Southwestern Slaw  - perfect for summer grilling!

Written Method:

SO MANY of these elements can be done ahead of time for a super quick dinner! 

• If you make long cooking brown rice, start it first. 
• Drain a can of corn.
• Drain and rinse a can of black beans.  
• Season liberally the beans with cumin for that great Mexican flavor.
• Grab a handful of pepper strips from the freezer.  Sauté them in water until they are soft.  As it cooks out, add more.   
• To add flavor to the pepper strips (since we are not cooking them in butter or oil), add some fajita seasoning to them.  This will really wake them up.
• Chop some green onion tops.  They look really pretty if you slice them on the bias.
• Cut some grape tomatoes.  These are the sweetest.  :) 
• To my bell peppers, add some caramelized onions.  Keep adding water if you need to.
• While the veggies are still cooking down, let's cook the chicken.  Prepare a cast iron grill pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Still trying to be healthy here.  
• When the pan is really hot, add the southwestern seasoned chicken breasts.  You should hear it sizzle when you add them.  If you don't hear that, your pan is not hot enough.  Once you put them in there, don't mess with them.  Just leave them along for a while.  Allow the pan to do its thing so you can get some good grill marks.  They should release easily and not stick when they are ready to be flipped. 
• If using instant brown rice, make it while chicken is cooking.  Prepare it with chicken broth to infuse extra flavor into it. 
• Okay, let's do the other side.  I can't give you an exact cooking time.  It depends on the thickness of your chicken, your pan, the BTUs of your range, etc. 
• Once your chicken are cooked through and the juices are clear (but please not overcooked), allow them to just rest while you are putting everything else together. 
• All you do is put a little of each item on the plates, slice the chicken, top it off with your crunchies and sauces, and away you go!