Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls

Serves 8

This is my favorite kind of slow cooker recipe: one that requires very little prep in the morning, so it’s easy to pull together before heading out the door, and at the end of the day it rewards you with a delicious meal that the whole family loves. The burrito mixture couldn’t be simpler, and the taste is delicious. Once it’s done, you pile everything into bowls and dig in!

CHICKEN
11⁄2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
1 teaspoon kosher salt
11⁄2 cups store-bought chunky medium salsa
11⁄4 cups canned black beans,* rinsed and drained
11⁄4 cups frozen corn kernels
1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

PICO DE GALLO
1 cup chopped tomato
1⁄4 cup chopped scallions
1⁄4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1⁄2 fresh jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt

BOWLS
4 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups shredded reduced-fat
Mexican cheese blend*
2 cups finely shredded romaine lettuce

*Read the labels to be sure these products are gluten-free.

For the chicken: Season the chicken with the salt, put it in a slow cooker, and top with the salsa, black beans, corn, garlic powder, and cumin.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Transfer the cooked chicken to a large plate. Shred with 2 forks and return to the slow cooker. Add the cilantro.

For the pico de gallo: In a medium bowl, combine the tomato, scallions, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, and salt. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

To serve, place 1⁄2 cup brown rice in each of 8 serving bowls. Top with 2⁄3 cup chicken, 1⁄4 cup shredded cheese, and 1⁄4 cup shredded lettuce. Divide the pico de gallo among the bowls and serve.

 

Nutrition Information:

PER SERVING 1 bowl
CALORIES 379
FAT 11 g
SATURATED FAT 4.5 g
CHOLESTEROL 98 mg
CARBOHYDRATE 40 g
FIBER 5.5 g
PROTEIN 30 g
SUGARS 3 g
SODIUM 782 mg

Recipe reprinted from Skinnytaste Fast and Slow by Gina Homolka (Clarkson Potter, 2016).