Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls
Sweet, smokey chicken with all the fixings makes this an easy and delicious dinner.
In our house, bowls are a quick and easy dinner. The girls eat these really well and I have a lot trying new combinations. The girls also get to decide what they want to include in theirs, allowing them to create their own "recipe" which they love!
What is a bowl?
We consider a bowl as rice topped with protein and veggies. We change up the protein and veggies to accommodate what we have in the fridge or whatever sounds good for that evening.
I have had a strong passion for Chiptole for some time now and my go-to order is always a rice bowl topped with meat and all sorts of other toppings. It was one of my favorite meals when I lived on my own. I have been making them at home for years and love that my family also loves them!
Customize
You can definitely customize any bowl to be what your family likes best. That is the point of a bowl. These Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls are a little spicy but you can cut back not he chipotle seasoning to make it a little smokey but less spicy.
The toppings really vary depending on the veggies or sauces your family likes. We like peppers, lettuce, and plain greek yogurt in out house so that is typically what I have on had to top these chicken bowls with. The arugula adds a nice peppery, fresh bite and the plain greek yogurt cools everything down. You could always use sour cream as well!
I like to use chicken thighs in bowls. I find them to have more flavor and they are also a little cheaper. If you do not like dark meat, you can certainly use chicken breast! I recommend cutting them into small pieces to get a quicker cook on them.
You can cook the chicken in a pan on the stove or in the grill. It is great either way!
Tips
I like my chicken to get nice a golden, almost burnt. The darkness will come from the honey caramelizing in the pan. Those crispy dark pieces are my favorite. You don't have to take the chicken that far if you don't like that flavor.
As you are making the chicken, feel free to add a little of the marinade into the pan while the chicken cooks just to give it even more flavor. This will also help it remain juicy.
Feel free to cut back on the spice if you are making this for kids. My kids like the chicken with 2 teaspoons of chipotle powder but you can cut it back to 1 tsp if your family doesn't like a lot of spice.
You can use chili powder if you do not have chipotle powder. I would cut back on the chili by 1 tsp as it can be a little spicier. Then bump up the paprika by 1/2 tsp so you can still get that nice smokey flavor.
Meal Prep
This is a great meal to meal prep in advance. The leftovers are so good for lunches.
The chicken can also sit in the marinade all day so it is easy to whip up before you leave for work and have ready to cook when you get home!
I hope you enjoy these bowls! I will be sharing more variations my family loves soon!
Explore more!
Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls
A homemade version of my favorite fast food bowl! It is sweet, spicy, and so yummy! A perfect weeknight meal.
For the chicken
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp chipotle powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
Toppings
- 2 cups rice (cooked, I like to cook my rice in the instant pot using chicken bone broth as the liquid for added protein.)
- plain greek yogurt
- cheddar cheese (shredded)
- green onions (chopped)
- onion (chopped)
- lettuce
- bell pepper (chopped)
- For the marinade: In a small measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the oil, lime juice, honey, chipotle powder, salt, garlic powder, and paprika. Set aside.
- Place the chicken thighs in a large glass bowl or gallon size Ziplock bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss everything together to make sure the chicken is completely coated. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour, up to 8 hours.
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add a little butter or avocado oil to the bottom of the pan. Add in the chicken thighs, cooking about 6-7 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to cook the chicken in batches. Be sure to not overcrowd the pan to ensure the chicken gets nice and browned on both sides.
- Once cooked, move the chicken to a cutting board and slice into strips, going against the grain of the chicken for the most tender bites!
- To serve, add some rice to the bottom of a bowl. Top with the chicken, greek yogurt, lettuce, peppers, cheese, or whatever toppings your family prefers!