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These Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls are a perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors. The chicken is marinated in a chipotle-honey mixture, grilled to perfection, and served with a vibrant corn salsa. Topped with buttery avocado slices and served on a bed of rice or quinoa, this bowl makes for a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken (thighs, breasts, or tenders)
1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (plus 1 tbsp adobo sauce)
1 ½ tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp honey
3 tbsp olive oil
2 small garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 ½ cups cooked rice, quinoa, or grains
Lime wedges and cilantro, for serving
Sliced avocados, for serving

For the Corn Salsa:

1 (16-ounce) bag frozen corn
⅓ cup red onion, finely chopped
1 large poblano pepper, charred, peeled, and finely chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, finely minced
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp lime juice

Directions

Prepare the Marinade: Mince the chipotle peppers and combine them with the adobo sauce, red wine vinegar, honey, olive oil, garlic, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper in a jar. Shake or stir to combine.
Marinate the Chicken: Pour the marinade over the chicken and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
Char the Poblano: Char the poblano pepper over an open flame or broiler until the skin is blistered. Place it in a bowl, cover with a lid, and let it sit for 10 minutes before peeling and finely chopping it.
Make the Corn Salsa: Microwave the corn for 1 ½ minutes or until defrosted and slightly warm. Let it cool, then add the chopped poblano, jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, lemon juice, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Cook the Chicken: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until it reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before slicing or dicing it.
Assemble the Bowls: Serve the cooked rice or quinoa in bowls. Top with sliced chicken, corn salsa, avocado slices, and garnish with lime wedges and cilantro.

Per Serving (1/5 of the recipe)

Calories: 589 kcal
Total Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: ~4g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~21g
Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugars: ~12g
Protein: 45g
Cholesterol: ~110mg
Sodium: ~900mg
Potassium: ~800mg

This nutritional information includes the marinade, though most of the marinade is discarded after use. For a more accurate nutritional breakdown, you can input the exact ingredients into a nutrition calculator based on your preparation.

The Magic of Chipotle-Honey Marinade

The heart of this dish lies in the marinade, which combines the smokiness of chipotle peppers with the sweetness of honey. Chipotle peppers are dried, smoked jalapeños that bring a deep smoky flavor with just the right amount of heat. When combined with the adobo sauce from the peppers, the marinade gains additional depth and complexity, infusing the chicken with bold, smoky notes.

Honey brings sweetness to the table, balancing the heat and smokiness of the chipotle peppers. This balance of flavors makes the chicken incredibly flavorful and tender. The sweetness of the honey also helps to caramelize the chicken slightly when grilled, creating a beautiful golden brown exterior. Red wine vinegar provides a tangy element that helps cut through the richness of the chicken, while garlic, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper round out the seasoning, creating a marinade that’s both well-seasoned and aromatic.

The combination of these ingredients creates a marinade that’s simple yet incredibly flavorful. With only a short marination time needed—just 30 minutes to 4 hours—the chicken is infused with a depth of flavor that makes this dish stand out.

Grilling the Chicken to Perfection

After the chicken marinates, it’s time to cook it to perfection. Grilling the chicken on a grill pan over medium-high heat is the ideal method to achieve a crispy, slightly charred exterior and juicy interior. The grilling process also intensifies the flavors of the marinade, adding a subtle smokiness from the char marks.

Cooking the chicken for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, ensures that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160°F, guaranteeing it’s fully cooked but still tender and juicy. After grilling, it’s important to let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. This resting period helps the juices redistribute within the chicken, ensuring it remains moist and flavorful when sliced or diced.

The Vibrant Corn Salsa

A key component of the Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls is the corn salsa. The corn adds sweetness and texture, creating a perfect balance to the smoky and spicy chicken. The addition of charred poblano pepper enhances the salsa with a smoky flavor, while the red onion provides a sharp contrast and crunch. The jalapeño adds a hint of heat to complement the chipotle in the chicken marinade, giving the salsa a zesty kick.

Cilantro brings a burst of freshness and a citrusy note, while lime and lemon juices offer acidity and brightness to the salsa. Combining these ingredients creates a refreshing salsa that’s both flavorful and cooling, which works as a fantastic contrast to the spicy chicken.

The corn salsa can be made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, making it even more delicious by the time it’s ready to be served.

The Creamy Avocado Touch

Avocado slices are the finishing touch for these bowls. Their creamy, buttery texture offers a delightful contrast to the smoky chicken and spicy salsa. The richness of the avocado also helps mellow the heat from the chipotle and jalapeño, creating a harmonious balance in the dish. Additionally, the vibrant green of the avocado adds a beautiful pop of color to the meal, making it even more visually appealing.

You can serve the avocado slices whole, or, if you prefer, mash them slightly with lime juice, salt, and pepper for a more spreadable topping. Either way, the avocado adds richness and a satisfying creamy texture that complements the rest of the bowl perfectly.

Assembling the Bowls

Once the chicken is cooked, it’s time to assemble the bowls. Start with a base of rice or quinoa, depending on your preference. Both provide a hearty, satisfying foundation that complements the other ingredients. The chicken is then sliced and arranged on top, followed by a generous serving of the vibrant corn salsa and creamy avocado slices. A few lime wedges and a sprinkle of cilantro finish off the dish, adding brightness and extra freshness.

These bowls are incredibly customizable—if you want to add more texture or flavor, consider topping the bowls with some crushed tortilla chips for a crunchy element or even a dollop of sour cream for added richness. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to tailor the dish to your preferences while keeping the main components intact.

A Balanced and Flavorful Meal

Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls are not just delicious; they are also balanced and nutritious. The chicken provides lean protein, which helps build and repair muscles. The corn salsa offers fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins from the vegetables and fruits, while the avocado adds heart-healthy fats and potassium.

Rice or quinoa serves as a great source of carbohydrates, providing energy and making this dish satisfying enough for a full meal. With the perfect balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbs, this dish can fit into many different dietary plans, from paleo to gluten-free and beyond.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

These bowls are incredibly versatile and can be served in a variety of ways. For a more substantial meal, consider adding a side of grilled vegetables or a simple green salad. If you want to increase the spice level, you can add a few extra jalapeños to the salsa or drizzle the chicken with a bit of hot sauce.

If you’re looking for a lighter version, serve the bowl with a smaller portion of rice or quinoa, and load up on the salsa and avocado. You can also use cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. For a more robust flavor, try marinating the chicken for a longer period, up to 4 hours, to allow the chipotle and honey to penetrate the meat more deeply.

Conclusion

Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls are the perfect blend of sweet, smoky, and spicy, making them a stand-out dish for any occasion. The marinated chicken, grilled to perfection, is complemented by a refreshing corn salsa, creamy avocado, and your choice of rice or quinoa. The combination of flavors and textures in these bowls makes for a satisfying and nutritious meal that’s perfect for summer BBQs, weeknight dinners, or meal prep. The versatility of the dish allows for customization to suit a variety of tastes and dietary preferences, ensuring it will be a hit with everyone. Whether you enjoy it on its own or paired with a refreshing drink, Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls are a flavorful, satisfying, and vibrant meal that brings bold flavors to your table.

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