Burrito bowls loaded with chipotle grilled chicken, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, cheese, and corn. These burrito bowls are super easy to make and tastes a lot better homemade! 
Wednesdays just got a whole lot better! Who wouldn’t want this fresh and flavor-packed burrito bowl on their lunch break?
So let me tell you how it all started… My husband and I are huge fans of chipotle right, so I decided to go and try out Chiptole’s biggest competitor, Qdoba. Other than the fact that it’s just a few blocks away from my house, I really wanted to try them out because they don’t charge extra for guacamole and they have queso.
I arrived there and it’s JUST like Chipotle. I ordered the chicken burrito bowl; they offered cilantro lime rice and brown rice (just like chipotle). I went with the chipotle lime because it’s my personal favorite. Topped my burrito bowl with everything; Chicken, Pico de gallo, salsa, fiesta corn, black beans, guacamole, and shredded cheese.
If you’ve been there you know how GOOD it feels to get that big bowl stuffed to the top with a whole bunch of delicious fresh food.
The verdict.. it was AMAZING. I honestly can’t compare it with Chipotle because they both tasted just as good!
So I went home and decided to replicate the recipe because burrito bowls are great on the go. I usually make a few bowls and store them in the fridge for the week. I place the hot ingredients in one bowl (rice, chicken, beans, etc..) and the cold ingredients in another bowl (salad, sour cream, guacamole, cheese) so that when we heat it up we heat up the hot bowl and then toss the cold salad on top.
Plus, you can actually place all the ingredients into a large tortilla and turn this whole dish into a burrito instead!
The basic essentials are the rice, chicken (or steak), beans, pico de gallo, and then you can top off the bowl with guacamole, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, cheese, corn, etc..
Go ahead, I highly recommend everyone try burrito bowls because once you do I promise there’s no going back! 
Copycat Qdoba Chicken Burrito Bowls
Ingredients
Pico de Gallo Ingredients
- 1/2 cup red onion, chopped (about half a medium onion)
- 1 cup roma tomatoes, diced (about 4 to 5 tomatoes)
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped (about 1/2 cups)
- 1 diced jalapeño, optional
- juice of a lime
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Rice
- 2 cups long grain rice
- 3.5 cups water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ lime
- bunch of cilantro
Burrito Bowl ingredients
- 4 cups cooked and diced Qdoba Chicken breasts
- 1 15 oz canned corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup chopped lettuce, any type
- Optional toppings: Cheese, sour cream, guacamole, grilled veggies, salsa
Instructions
- Wash rice in a large bowl under cold water for 2-5 minutes until the water runs clear. Allow to soak for at least 5 minutes. Boil 3.5 cups of water in a large sauce pan, pour rice and let simmer on low heat for 10 minutes or until the water has dried into the rice and the rice is soft. Place 2 tablespoons of butter on the rice to melt with the heat off, Cover and set aside.The cilantro and lemon will be added later before serving. begin working on the chicken while the rice is cooking.
Pico de gallo
To Assemble
- When the rice and chicken are done, assemble your Burrito Bowls. Start with rice in the bottom of the bowl, then top with the chicken, pico de gallo, beans, corn lettuce and any other ingredients you’re using (guacamole, sour-cream, cheese)
Have you ever considered the environmental impact of creating such a loaded burrito bowl, with its various ingredients sourced from different regions and possibly contributing to deforestation or other sustainability issues? How can we enjoy these delicious meals while still being mindful of the planet?”,
“refusal
I made this recipe and want to make it again, now the recipe for the chicken marinade isn’t there.
Never tells you what to do with the lime…and it mentions lemon?!
Drizzle ontop for garnish!
I’ve made this several times and it is really good! The link is not working for the chicken marinade though. I was able to go into your recipes and find it that way however, but thought I’d let you know.
Thanks for letting me know! I just updated the link 🙂
The recipe for the chicken is still not there.
The recipe is Closely correct i work at Qdoba and i can tell since me making the food this is the close thing youll get in some parts but i see its more TOWARDS home cooking which i do respect but other than that great job!!
So happy to head that! 😉
THis recipe is amazing! I made 2 changes that I think really nails it. First, use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. Second, grill it. Preferably over charcoal. My wife and I are still reeling over HOw amazingG this chicken was!!!
bummed. I can’t get the chicken marinade recipe to open on the “click here” Do share! 🙂 Thank you!! I can’t wait to try it.
Sorry about that, I’ve updated the post and the link is now there. Enjoy!
I’m confused as to why all of the ingredients get prepared restaurant style but you’re using canned corn. Qdoba has corn salsa, not just plain corn and definitely not canned. This recipe would be greatly improved by the addition of a corn salsa recipe, but short of that even frozen corn is an improvement on canned.
This recipe is geared towards home cooks. Not everyone has access to fresh corn year round and most prefer canned corn. You are free to use whichever type of corn you prefer!
I can’t find the chicken marinade recipe. Would you please tell me where I can get it?
It’s in the recipe box at the bottom of the page just above the comment section.
What ingredients are used to marinate the chicken? And how much.
Thanks for sharing your work in finding this collection of food to make a good dinner! Enjoyed!
I made your version, but added some fajita veggies as I get those at Qdoba. So good. Very close…and I also used Basmati Light Brown Rice. Yummy. Nice recipe. Now I have something yummy to eat at work this week.