If you love bold flavor, smoky heat, fresh toppings, and build-your-own bowl vibes, this Chipotle Chicken Bowl with Black Beans, Corn & Creamy Chipotle Sauce has everything you need. It’s inspired by your favorite fast-casual burrito bowls but made fresher, cheaper, and way more flavorful at home.

Imagine juicy chipotle-marinated chicken, charred sweet corn, soft black beans, fluffy white or brown rice, fresh cilantro, crisp lettuce, and a dreamy creamy chipotle sauce drizzled on top. Every bite is smoky, spicy, tangy, creamy, and fresh all at once.

The best part? It’s completely customizable. Add avocado, skip the dairy, switch the base, make it extra spicy, or meal-prep it for the week. This recipe gives you full Chipotle bowl energy right from your own kitchen.

Why This Chipotle Chicken Bowl Is So Good

✔ Packed with smoky, spicy flavor

The chipotle marinade transforms basic chicken into something incredible.

✔ Loaded with textures

Creamy, crunchy, juicy, fresh — this bowl hits EVERY craveable note.

✔ Naturally balanced & nutritious

Protein, vegetables, beans, fiber, and healthy carbs all in one bowl.

✔ Meal prep friendly

Stays fresh 3–4 days and reheats perfectly.

✔ Way cheaper than takeout

And bigger portions, too.

Ingredients

For the Chipotle Chicken

• 1.5 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo + 1 tbsp sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt & pepper

For the Bowl Base

• 3 cups cooked rice (white, brown, cilantro rice, or cauliflower rice)
• 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
• 1 cup corn (fresh, canned, or roasted)
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• Lime wedges
• Fresh cilantro

For the Creamy Chipotle Sauce

• ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1–2 tsp adobo chipotle sauce
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• Juice of ½ lime
• Salt & pepper
• Optional: honey to balance heat (½ tsp)

Optional Toppings

• Avocado or guacamole
• Tomato salsa
• Jalapeños
• Red onions
• Shredded cheese

Instructions

1. Make the chipotle marinade

Blend olive oil, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, paprika, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Coat chicken fully and marinate 20 minutes or up to overnight.

2. Grill or pan-sear the chicken

Cook chicken over medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes per side until charred and cooked through. Let rest, then slice.

3. Prep the bowl base

Warm black beans. Char the corn in a dry skillet for smoky flavor. Cook rice or prepare your base of choice.

4. Make the creamy chipotle sauce

Whisk Greek yogurt (or sour cream), chipotle sauce, garlic, lime, salt, and pepper until smooth.

5. Assemble the bowls

Add rice, black beans, corn, sliced chicken, lettuce, and cilantro. Drizzle with creamy chipotle sauce.

6. Garnish

Add lime juice, cilantro, jalapeños, or avocado.

Chipotle Chicken Bowl with Black Beans, Corn & Creamy Chipotle Sauce

A smoky, spicy, fresh burrito-style bowl with chipotle chicken, black beans, corn, rice, and a creamy chipotle sauce.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4 bowls

Course: Dinner, Healthy

Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired

Calories: 560

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chipotle Chicken

• 1.5 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo
• 1 tbsp adobo sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 0.5 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp onion powder
• 1 lime juiced
• salt and pepper to taste

Bowl Base

• 3 cups rice white, brown, or cauliflower
• 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn fresh, canned, or roasted
• 1 cup lettuce shredded

Creamy Chipotle Sauce

• 0.5 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 2 tsp chipotle adobo sauce
• 1 garlic clove grated
• 0.5 lime juiced
• salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

• Grill or skillet
• Mixing bowls
• Cutting board
• Rice cooker or pot

Method

 

1. Blend chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, olive oil, spices, and lime to make a marinade.
2. Marinate chicken for 20 minutes or longer.
3. Grill or sear chicken 5–6 minutes per side and slice.
4. Warm black beans and char the corn in a skillet.
5. Whisk Greek yogurt, chipotle sauce, garlic, and lime to make the sauce.
6. Assemble bowls with rice, beans, corn, lettuce, and chicken.
7. Drizzle with creamy chipotle sauce and garnish with cilantro.

Notes

Add avocado for extra creaminess.

Tips for the Best Chipotle Chicken Bowls

⭐ Char the chicken

Gives smoky flavor just like restaurant bowls.

⭐ Use thighs for maximum juiciness

But breasts work great too.

⭐ Make extra sauce

It’s addictive — put it on everything.

⭐ Add honey to balance heat

Just a little makes the sauce even better.

⭐ Meal prep friendly

Store components separately for best texture.

Variations

• Chipotle Shrimp Bowl

Swap chicken for quick-grilling shrimp.

• Double Protein Bowl

Add steak, tofu, or extra beans.

• Cheesy Bowl

Add Monterey Jack or queso fresco.

• Veggie-Loaded Version

Add bell peppers, tomatoes, avocado, fajita veggies, or cabbage.

Serving Suggestions

• Cilantro lime rice
• Corn chips
• Warm tortillas
• Fresh pico de gallo
• Sliced avocado or guacamole

Storage & Meal Prep

Fridge:

Lasts 3–4 days in airtight containers.

Meal Prep Tip:

Store sauce separately so bowls don’t get soggy.

Reheat:

Warm chicken, rice, beans, and corn; add fresh toppings afterward.

Short Summary

A smoky, spicy, fresh, and creamy burrito bowl loaded with chipotle-marinated chicken, black beans, corn, rice, and a rich chipotle sauce. Perfect for fast dinners, meal prep, or healthy takeout-style meals at home.