Easy BBQ Chicken Bowl
Developed and tested by Robyn Conley Downs
on Aug 8, 2022 (last updated Jun 5, 2026) 
Packed with color and flavor, these BBQ chicken bowls are perfect for a quick dinner or meal prep, and can be simply assembled with homemade or store bought ingredients. Made with bbq chicken, rice, a quick slaw, and black beans, they’re so tasty, you’ll wanna make these again and again!
Barbecue Chicken Bowl for the Weeknight Dinner Win!
Is there anything more satisfying than a fully loaded BBQ Chicken Bowl? Shredded pulled chicken, sweet corn, hearty rice & black beans, crunchy cabbage slaw, green onions and creamy avocado all combine into this protein-packed, nourishing bowl.
The real star is the chipotle BBQ sauce that ties all the ingredients together and wraps every bite in a sweet, slightly spicy & smokey flavor. This recipe leans heavily on three other recipes including Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken, Purple Cabbage Slaw and Chipotle BBQ Sauce that can easily be prepped ahead. Don’t worry, though, if you don’t have one or more of these recipes on hand, as this recipe will work with store bought ingredients like rotisserie chicken, slaw mix (or coleslaw), and any type of BBQ sauce!
These pulled chicken bowls couldn’t be easier to throw together, making them a great last minute dinner idea for busy weeks! Since we’re using already prepped ingredients (like cooked chicken, cooked rice and cooked beans) it keeps prep to a minimum and the assembly goes very quickly. Simply divide the rice, beans, corn slaw, and chicken evenly among four bowls. Then top with your green onion, sliced avocado, and a drizzle of BBQ sauce – and just like that you’re ready to dig on in!
Welcome to My Kitchen, Let’s Make BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls!
Robyn’s Testing Tips for Barbecue Chicken Bowls
Pulled chicken: I used my Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken but you could also use any cooked shredded chicken in its place. Leftover rotisserie chicken would be a great, quick & easy option!
Cabbage slaw: I used my Purple Cabbage Slaw but you could also use a bag of slaw mix or store bought coleslaw in its place.
Barbecue sauce: I like to use my homemade chipotle BBQ sauce for the best flavor but store bought barbecue sauce also works great (and is a great shortcut ingredient).
Corn: This recipe works great with either fresh corn or frozen defrosted corn kernels, so feel free to use whichever you have on hand.
Canned black beans: I love the ease and convenience of using already cooked canned black beans. I always have at least one can on hand in my pantry. Just be sure to drain and rinse them before using.
Cooked rice: White rice or brown rice (or even quinoa or cauliflower rice) will work great in these bowls. For an even quicker option, look for frozen cooked rice in the freezer aisle of your local store.
Avocado: Fresh avocado works best for this recipe. If you’re meal prepping these ahead of time, I like to cut avocado just before serving so it doesn’t brown.
Easy BBQ Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups BBQ Chicken , (or cooked shredded chicken tossed with ⅓ cup BBQ sauce of choice)
- 2 cups Purple Cabbage Slaw
- 1 cup fresh or frozen-defrosted corn kernels
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 4 tablespoons BBQ sauce
Equipment
Instructions
- Divide the rice, beans, corn slaw, and chicken evenly among four bowls. Top with green onion, sliced avocado, and drizzle with BBQ sauce.
Notes
- Nutrition information calculated using shredded chicken breasts, coleslaw mix and store bought bbq sauce.
