Easy BBQ Chicken Bowl

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. They’re so tasty, you’ll wanna make these again and again!

About this Recipe

Is there anything more satisfying than a fully loaded BBQ Chicken Bowl?

Shredded 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!

Process & Tips

These healthy BBQ 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!

To make a loaded BBQ Chicken Salad, swap out the rice and serve everything over a bed of fresh greens tossed with ranch dressing, tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese and crushed corn chips.

Fun Variations to Try

Consider this easy healthy bowl recipe as a jumping off point, and one that you can customize based on your taste preferences and what you have on hand. 

Don’t like corn? Go ahead and skip it! 

Want to use quinoa in place of rice? Do it! 

Feeling like a vegan BBQ bowl? Swap in Slow Cooker BBQ Chickpeas. 

The options are really endless so let your imagination run wild in the kitchen!

Ingredients & Modifications

Shredded chicken: I used this recipe for 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! For a vegan and vegetarian option, use Slow Cooker BBQ Chickpeas instead.

Cabbage slaw: I used this recipe for 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). For a paleo and refined sugar free version, look for a BBQ sauce with paleo friendly ingredients.

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.

Green onions: I like the subtle flavor of the chopped green onions in these bowls. But if you prefer something with a little more punch, you could also use something like sliced red onion in its place. If you don’t like or can’t have green onions, feel free to omit them from this recipe.

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.

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