Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls

One batch, a whole week of easy lunches. These meal prep chicken burrito bowls are a healthy dinner recipe that doubles as lunch ideas for work — seasoned chicken, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, and fresh toppings that hold up beautifully all week. Spend 30 minutes cooking once and dinner (and lunch) is basically solved.

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts

- 1 tbsp olive oil

- 1 tbsp taco seasoning

- 2 cups cooked rice

- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

- 1 cup corn kernels (canned or frozen, thawed)

- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced

- 1 avocado, diced (or guacamole)

- 1 lime, juiced

- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook the chicken. Season the chicken breasts with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook 6-7 minutes per side until cooked through (165°F). Let rest 5 minutes, then slice or shred.

2. Make cilantro-lime rice. Stir the lime juice and chopped cilantro into the warm cooked rice. Season with a pinch of salt.

3. Warm the beans and corn. In a small pan, warm the black beans and corn together for 3-4 minutes with a pinch of salt.

4. Build the bowls. Divide the rice among 4 meal prep containers. Top each with chicken, beans and corn, tomatoes, and cheese.

5. Pack the fresh toppings separately. Put avocado, sour cream, and any hot sauce in small separate containers so they stay fresh.

6. Store and reheat. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, microwave the bowl for 2 minutes, then add the cold toppings and enjoy.

Tips:

- Keep the crunch: pack tomatoes and avocado separately and add them after reheating so nothing goes soggy.

- Freeze for later: the chicken, rice, and beans freeze well for up to 3 months — thaw overnight in the fridge.

- Mix it up: swap the rice for cauliflower rice or quinoa, or use rotisserie chicken to skip the cooking step entirely.