Burrito bowl, chicken, with rice
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
A burrito bowl is a deconstructed, customizable Mexican-inspired dish featuring a base of seasoned rice, topped with tender chicken, and often finished with fresh salsas, beans, and greens. The chicken provides a lean, savory protein, while the rice offers a fluffy, comforting carbohydrate base. Nutritionally, it's a balanced, macro-friendly meal with a solid protein-to-calorie ratio.
💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its vibrant, layered flavors and the fun of building their own perfect bowl with endless topping combinations. It captures the beloved essence of a burrito in a fork-friendly, often lower-carb format.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
A standard bowl can be high in sodium from seasoned rice and salsas, and may cause blood-sugar spikes if heavily loaded with white rice and sugary sauces. To counteract this, opt for brown rice or cauliflower rice, load up on non-starchy vegetables like fajita veggies and lettuce, and choose fresh pico de gallo over creamy, salty dressings.
Key benefits
- High-quality lean protein for muscle maintenance.
- Good source of energy from complex carbohydrates.
- Highly customizable for dietary needs (low-carb, high-fiber).
- Supports satiety due to protein and fiber content.
- Can be a balanced single-dish meal.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The burrito bowl is a relatively modern, Americanized invention, popularized by fast-casual chains like Chipotle in the early 2000s as a lower-carb alternative to the wrapped burrito.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 67.4 g |
| Energy | 155 kcal |
| Protein | 12.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 5.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 14.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.20 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.09 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 63.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.87 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 17.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 135 mg |
| Potassium, K | 125 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 277 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.0 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.05 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 15.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.12 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.10 mg |
| Niacin | 3.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.28 mg |
| Folate, total | 31.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 27.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 4.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 51.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 33.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 21.0 ug |
| Retinol | 21.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 1.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.14 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.5 ug |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.2 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.24 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.2 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.37 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.6 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.20 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.5 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.64 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.54 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 49.0 mg |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is a burrito bowl healthier than a burrito?
Often, yes. Skipping the large flour tortilla can save 200-300 calories and significant carbs, allowing you to fill that space with more nutrient-dense vegetables and protein.
How can I make a burrito bowl at home?
Start with a base of rice (white, brown, or cauliflower). Top with seasoned grilled chicken, black beans, corn, fresh salsa, avocado or guacamole, shredded lettuce, and a squeeze of lime.
What's a good low-carb version?
Replace the rice entirely with a base of shredded lettuce or cauliflower rice. Load up on protein (chicken, steak, or tofu), fibrous veggies like peppers and onions, and healthy fats from guacamole or cheese.