Name: Southwest Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound chicken breasts, skinless, boneless; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1 1/2 cups white rice, raw; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 3 cups water; 1 pinch of salt; 1 teaspoon lime zest (about 1 lime); 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime); 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped; 1/2 red onion, diced; 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced; 1 cup frozen corn, thawed; 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed; 1 avocado, sliced; 1/4 cup sour cream; 1 lime, cut into wedges

Filled with seasoned chicken, cilantro lime rice, and tender veggies, these Southwest chicken meal prep bowls are a nutritious and delicious make-ahead meal idea. Whip them up on a weekend and enjoy healthy meals all week long.

Four Southwest chicken meal prep bowls in glass containers on a white background.

Southwestern cuisine is a unique cooking style from the Southwestern United States, which includes New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, that blends native American, Hispanic, and Anglo influences. It’s known for bold flavors, an emphasis on chili peppers, and the use of the “three sisters”: corn, beans, and squash.

While this Southwest chicken bowl recipe is not traditional, it’s inspired by the Southwest’s use of spices and ingredients, but done quickly and easily to help keep meal prep a breeze. And, while these bowls are designed for meal prep, they work just as well as a family-friendly weeknight dinner.

Close up of three Southwest chicken bowls in a glass meal prep container with sliced avocado, lime wedges, and chopped cilantro on top.

Why You’ll Love Them

High in Protein – The combination of chicken and black beans ensures these bowls contain 40 grams of protein.
High in Fiber – Each bowl is packed with filling foods and contains over 10 grams of fiber.
Full of Flavor – The combination of spices ensures these Southwest chicken bowls are packed full of flavor in every bite.
Keep Well – These bowls keep well in the fridge and freezer, making them a great meal prep idea for healthy lunches and dinners.

Two raw chicken breasts on a white plate with a bowl of white rice, black beans, frozen corn, Southwest spices, garlic cloves, red onion, red bell pepper, lime, and fresh cilantro.

Ingredients + Substitutions

Chicken – To add some protein to the bowls. The recipe calls for skinless chicken breasts, but chicken thighs will work just as well. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Rice – To add some complex carbohydrates to the bowls. The recipe calls for white rice, but brown rice will also work. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Black Beans – To add some fiber and make a warm Southwest-inspired salad for the bowls. I used canned black beans to cut down on prep time, but you can cook your own black beans if preferred.
Corn – To add some more fiber. The recipe calls for frozen corn, but canned corn will also work well. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Bell Pepper – To add some veggies and micronutrients to the bowls. The recipe calls for a red bell pepper, but an orange, yellow, or green bell pepper will also work.
Red Onion – To add some color and prebiotic fiber to the bowls.
Spices – A mixture of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, and salt to season the chicken. If preferred, you can use a store-bought fajita or taco seasoning, and swap the fresh garlic for garlic powder. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Lime – To make the cilantro lime rice. The recipe calls for fresh lime juice, but you can use jarred lime juice if preferred.
Cilantro – To make the cilantro lime rice.
Avocado – To add some healthy fats and a creamy texture to the bowls, although optional.
Sour Cream – To add some more healthy fats and flavor to the bowls, although optional. Greek yogurt would also work well.

Dietary Adaptions

To Make them Gluten-Free: No adaptations are needed; the bowls are gluten-free.

To Make them Dairy-Free: Omit the sour cream.

Two chicken breasts marinating in Southwest spices in a glass bowl.

Two cooked Southwest chicken breasts in a cast-iron skillet.

Red’s Nutrition Tip

chicken breasts vs thighs, low in saturated fat

Serving Suggestions

These Southwest chicken rice bowls are a balanced meal complete with protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fats. However, they can easily be adapted to suit your personal calorie or macro needs, for example:

To make them higher in protein, add an additional 1/2 pound of chicken breasts to the recipe, along with appropriate seasoning.
To make them lower in fat, use half the amount of olive oil and omit the avocado.
To make them low carb, swap the recipe for cauliflower rice.
To add more flavor and texture, top the bowls with some shredded cheese, salsa, hot sauce, sliced green onion, and/or crushed tortilla chips.

Glass meal prep container with rice, chicken, veggies with a sliced Southwest chicken, avocado, sour cream, cilantro lime rice, lime wedges, and a corn, black bean, and red pepper salad on the side on a white background.

Storage + Reheating

To Refrigerate: Once cooked, allow the Southwest chicken meal prep bowls to cool completely, then cover them with a lid and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Only add the avocado, sour cream, and lime wedges when you are ready to eat.

To Freeze: Once the bowls have cooled completely, cover them with a lid and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Only add the avocado, sour cream, and lime wedges when you are ready to eat.

To Reheat: You can reheat Southwest chicken bowls in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until warm. If using frozen bowls, remove them from the freezer and allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Close up of a Southwest chicken bowl in a glass container on a white background.

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