This Taco Bell Power Bowl is the perfect meal prep idea and is a healthier copycat recipe you can easily make at home in just 30 minutes!
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Ingredients and substitutions
Chicken
- Olive oil – use any neutral cooking oil like avocado or canola oil.
- Chicken cutlets – you could also make your power bowl with steak, ground beef of shrimp.
- Chili powder – you can mix together cumin, cayenne and paprika instead.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
Quick guacamole
- Avocado – you can use store-bought guacamole, but the homemade version is healthier.
- Red onion – you could also add in a clove of minced garlic. White onion will work in a pinch, but has a milder flavour.
- Lime juice – use freshly squeezed or bottled lime juice or even lemon juice.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
Rice
- White rice – use any rice of your choice like basmati, jasmine or brown rice.
- Pico de gallo – diced tomatoes or salsa would also be good here.
- Romaine lettuce – swap out for another leafy green such as iceberg, butterhead or even kale.
- Shredded cheese – use any cheese blend you’d like. Tex Mex, Monterey Jack or cheddar are all great options.
- Sour cream – substitute for lime crema or leave this off altogether.
How to make a Taco Bell power bowl
Step 1: Season the chicken.
Preheat oven to 425 F. Rub chicken cutlets with olive oil, chili powder and cumin then season with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Make the guacamole.
Meanwhile, mash avocado and make the quick guacamole.
Step 3: Cook the chicken.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until fully cooked (will depend on thickness of cutlets).
Step 4: Slice the chicken.
Once chicken is fully cooked, remove from oven and slice.
Step 5: Prep your toppings.
Cook rice in a rice cooker or on the stovetop and prepare all the toppings.
Step 6: Assemble and serve!
Layer rice in the bottom of meal prep bowls, then divide all other ingredients evenly. Leftovers will keep in the fridge 4-5 days.
How much protein is in a Taco Bell power bowl?
According to the nutritional information on the Taco Bell website, the amount of protein in a power bowl varies depending on the meat you choose.
- Fire grilled chicken bowls have 26 grams of protein
- Shredded chicken bowls have 22 grams of protein
- Seasoned ground beef bowls have 19 grams of protein
- Steak Power Bowls have 25 grams of protein
My bowls have 24 grams of protein so you are getting more wholesome ingredients while still retaining a high protein count.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to make my Taco Bell bowl with homemade guacamole, rice, black beans, pico de gallo, romaine lettuce, shredded cheese and sour cream, but you can add on pretty much anything you’re craving. Just keep in mind that the total calorie count will vary based on what you put in your bowl.
In comparison to the other menu items, a Taco Bell power bowl is relatively healthy, and it's even healthier when you make it at home! This power bowl includes a lot of fresh, healthy ingredients and is full of good-for-you fats, lean protein and plenty of fibre to keep you feeling full.
The total calories depends entirely on which ingredients you add to your bowl. If you order a Taco Bell power bowl from the restaurant, the calorie count is between 450 and 490 calories. My homemade Taco Bell power bowl has about 450 calories, but it's made with healthy whole ingredients and less sodium overall.
Storing and reheating
You can store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days in airtight glass containers. Keep in mind that when you first serve the meal, some of the ingredients, like the chicken, are warm.
If you combine the warm ingredients with the cool ones, it will be impossible to reheat the meal without the fresh produce getting hot as well. The good news is, as long as the chicken is properly cooked, it’s perfectly safe to eat cold. You could also store the chicken separately and reheat is in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes before adding it to your bowl.
Freezing components of this recipe
While you can’t freeze these bowls whole, you can freeze components of this recipe. You can prepare any of these items ahead, then freeze them for later use:
- Cooked chicken cutlets
- Cooked rice
- Black beans
The night before you want to make your bowl, move the containers to the fridge to defrost overnight.
Wanna Learn How To Meal Prep?
My meal planning service, Dinner Prep Pro, removes the guesswork and helps you get dinner on the table in 15-20 minutes each night. My meal prep checklists only take 1 hour each week!
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these power bowls into your weekly lunches.
- I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
Taco Bell Power Bowl {Copycat Recipe}
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 chicken cutlets
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Quick guacamole
- 1 avocado
- 1 tbsp finely chopped red onion (and/or 1 clove garlic, minced)
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 pinch salt
Toppings
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup pico de gallo storebought or homemade
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 tbsp shredded cheese
- 2 tbsp sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Rub chicken cutlets with olive oil, chili powder and cumin then season with salt and pepper. Bake for 12-15 minutes until fully cooked (will depend on thickness of cutlets). Once chicken is fully cooked, remove from oven and slice.
- Meanwhile, mash avocado and make the quick guacamole, then cook rice in a rice cooker or on the stovetop and prepare all the toppings.
- Layer rice in the bottom of meal prep bowls, then divide all other ingredients evenly. Leftovers will keep in the fridge 4-5 days.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The post Taco Bell Power Bowl {Copycat Recipe} appeared first on The Girl on Bloor.