Description
Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls combine tender, spicy buffalo chicken with savory black beans, fluffy brown rice, and melted cheddar cheese for a hearty and flavorful meal that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. This easy skillet and stovetop recipe is quick to prepare and ideal for meal prep, delivering a satisfying balance of protein, spice, and comfort in every bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 3 (8 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon olive or canola oil
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Beans and Sauce
- 1 cup canned low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (Frank’s)
Other Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked brown rice
- 1/2 cup part-skim cheddar cheese or dairy-free cheddar
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions
Instructions
- Cook Onions: Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-low heat. Add diced red onions and cook until they caramelize slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Add Beans and Spices: To the caramelized onions, add rinsed black beans, paprika, cumin, and kosher salt. Stir to combine and heat through for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Cook Chicken: While the beans are cooking, heat a large skillet over high heat. Spray lightly with oil, then add the diced chicken. Cook until browned on all sides and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes, flipping periodically.
- Toss Chicken in Buffalo Sauce: Transfer the cooked chicken to a medium bowl and toss with buffalo sauce until well coated.
- Assemble Bowls: Divide 3/4 cup cooked brown rice into each serving bowl. Top each with 1/4 cup of the black bean mixture, sprinkle with cheddar cheese, then add the buffalo chicken on top.
- Melt Cheese (Optional): If serving immediately, microwave the assembled bowl for about 30 seconds to melt the cheese.
- Garnish and Serve: Top each bowl with chopped scallions and serve warm.
- Meal Prep and Reheat: Store bowls in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, microwave for about 3 minutes or until heated through.
Notes
- Use dairy-free cheddar to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Adjust buffalo sauce amount based on desired spice level.
- Brown rice can be substituted with white rice or quinoa if preferred.
- For a vegetarian alternative, substitute chicken with tofu or tempeh.
- Microwaving to melt cheese is optional, but recommended for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
