Description
These Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls are a perfectly balanced meal with spicy buffalo chicken, seasoned black beans, and wholesome brown rice. Topped with melty cheddar cheese and fresh scallions, this recipe is quick to prepare and great for meal prep. The bold flavors and hearty ingredients make it a flavorful and satisfying dish for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3 8 ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon olive or canola oil
Vegetables & Beans
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1 cup canned low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions
Spices & Sauces
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (Franks)
Other
- 3 cups cooked brown rice
- 1/2 cup part-skim cheddar cheese or dairy-free cheddar
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-low heat. Add diced red onions and cook until they have caramelized slightly, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Prepare Beans: Add rinsed black beans, paprika, cumin, and kosher salt to the pot with caramelized onions. Stir everything to combine and heat through for 3 to 4 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Cook Chicken: While beans cook, heat a large skillet over high heat. Spray with oil and add the diced chicken breasts. Cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through in the center, about 5 minutes, flipping to evenly cook all sides.
- Toss Chicken in Buffalo Sauce: Transfer the cooked chicken to a medium bowl and toss with the buffalo sauce until evenly coated and hot.
- Assemble Bowls: Pour 3/4 cup cooked brown rice into each serving bowl. Top each with 1/4 cup of the black bean mixture and sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheddar cheese divided among bowls.
- Melt Cheese (optional): If serving immediately, microwave each bowl for about 30 seconds to melt the cheese for a gooey texture.
- Add Chicken and Garnish: Divide the buffalo chicken evenly over each bowl and top with chopped scallions for freshness and color.
- Meal Prep and Storage: Refrigerate the assembled bowls for up to 4 days. To reheat, microwave each bowl for about 3 minutes or until heated through.
Notes
- You can substitute dairy-free cheddar to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce to your preferred spice level.
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in buffalo sauce for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Use low sodium ingredients to better control salt content.
- This dish reheats well, making it ideal for meal prep and packed lunches.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
