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Create a healthy, easy-to-make, delicious single serving Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl, brimming with tender chicken, sweet corn, hearty black beans, and juicy tomatoes. Irresistible!
This is a scaled-down version of one of my family’s favorite recipes! Add everything to the slow cooker in the morning and by dinnertime, you’ve got a fabulous meal for one.
Looking for more single serving slow cooker recipes? You’ll love our zesty Slow Cooker Italian Chicken, hearty Slow Cooker Pot Roast, and our classic Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili!
Table of Contents
- Why This Recipe Works
- What Is A Chicken Burrito Bowl?
- Choosing The Right Slow Cooker For Single Serving Recipes
- Ingredients
- Recipe Variations
- How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Expert Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Satisfy Your Cravings With These Single Serving Slow Cooker Recipes
- Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
- Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl For One Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple Preparation: Assemble the ingredients, set the slow cooker, and wait for the magic to happen.
- Adaptable: Customize the recipe with a variety of toppings and side options.
- Nutritionally Balanced: Offers a mix of proteins, carbs, and veggies for a well-rounded meal.
- Filling Yet Light: Satisfies without leaving you feeling overly full.
If you’re searching for a delicious and easy-to-follow recipe that delivers the perfect amount of Mexican-inspired flavors just for you, you’ve come to the right place. Our Slow Cooker Chicken For One Burrito Bowl recipe is designed to satisfy your cravings while providing the ultimate convenience.
Here, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process, provide detailed measurements and preparation methods, and offer plenty of tips for personalizing your dish. We will also guide you on the right equipment needed, specifically focusing on the ideal slow cooker size for single servings. Whether you’re aiming to spice things up or mellow it down, or perhaps you’re wondering how to go about it if you don’t have a slow cooker, we’ve got you covered. Let’s embark on this culinary adventure together!
What Is A Chicken Burrito Bowl?
The Chicken Burrito Bowl is a beloved staple of Mexican cuisine, served deconstructed, right in a bowl. It starts with a base of lettuce or rice, topped with a symphony of flavors including succulent chicken, sweet corn, black beans, and juicy diced tomatoes. To make it truly your own, garnish it with creamy sour cream, sharp cheddar cheese, fragrant cilantro, and rich avocados. The adaptability, tantalizing flavor palette, and convenience make the Chicken Burrito Bowl a favorite among food lovers.
Choosing The Right Slow Cooker For Single Serving Recipes
Cooking for one doesn’t mean compromising on taste or meal diversity. A small slow cooker, especially a 1.5 to 2-quart model, is the perfect kitchen appliance for preparing delicious, single-serving meals with ease. This compact slow cooker is well-suited for cooking smaller portions, offering a long, slow cooking process that beautifully combines your ingredients, resulting in a deeply flavorful and satisfying single-serving meal. From easy slow cooker recipes for one to more elaborate creations, this appliance is a game-changer for solo cooking.
Ingredients
- Chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. If you’ve got extra pieces of chicken, consider using them in Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Nuggets, and Kung Pao Chicken.
- Tomatoes: Use 1 cup of canned diced tomatoes with the juices from the can. I spoon the tomatoes from the can, ensuring I get some of the juices. Instead of canned tomatoes, feel free to use 1 medium-sized fresh tomato, but you will need to add about 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of extra broth. If you have leftover diced tomatoes, they can be used in Chicken Tacos and Spanish Rice.
- Chicken broth: I like using low-sodium chicken broth and adding additional salt if needed. We use chicken broth in many of our single serving soup recipes. If you have any leftover, use it in Lasagna Soup, Zuppa Toscana, and even Chicken Stew!
- Chili powder and cumin: These spices add a tremendous amount of flavor.
- Black beans: Use canned, rinsed, and drained black beans. Leftover beans can be added to Baked Black Bean Tacos and to a Guacamole Salad.
- Corn: Use fresh, frozen, or canned corn. I almost always have a bag of frozen corn in my freezer. Toss the frozen corn into the slow cooker, no need to thaw it first. Use extra corn in a Mexican Street Corn Salad and in a small batch of Corn Muffins.
- Optional toppings: shredded cheese, avocado, chopped cilantro, sour cream
- To serve: Serve with cooked rice or over lettuce.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this Chicken Burrito Bowl recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
Recipe Variations
- Vegetarian Variation: Replace the chicken with tofu or a plant-based protein to create a hearty vegetarian burrito bowl.
- Seafood Variation: Swap out the chicken for shrimp or fish for a refreshing seafood twist. Be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly as seafood cooks faster than chicken.
- Whole Grains Variation: Instead of serving over traditional white rice, try using brown rice, farro, or quinoa for added fiber and nutrients.
- Extra Veggie Variation: Incorporate additional vegetables into the mix like sautéed bell peppers, onions, or zucchini for an extra serving of veggies and added crunch.
How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make a chicken burrito bowl. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Place the chicken in the bottom of a 1.5 quart or 2 quart slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, stir together the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, chili powder, and cumin.
- Pour over the chicken, cover with the lid, and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- Remove the lid and using two forks, shred the chicken. Add the beans and corn. Cover with the lid and cook for an additional hour.
- After cooking, taste and season with additional salt, if necessary.
- Add rice to a bowl and pour the chicken, beans, corn, and tomatoes along with the sauce over the rice.
- Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, and avocado slices, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Trim the chicken of fat before slow cooking.
- Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium.
- For optimal flavor and texture, serve immediately.
- Or, spoon the chicken mixture into homemade tortillas.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this dish over rice for a traditional experience, or over lettuce for a low-carb option. Top with favorites like avocado, sour cream, or shredded cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
For this chicken burrito bowl recipe, I use a 1.5-quart slow cooker. For best results, use a slow cooker or Crockpot of similar size.
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
Yes, if you have leftover cooked chicken, you can certainly use it in this recipe.
Yes! Add chopped jalapenos, cayenne pepper, or spicy salsa for a kick.
You can prepare this dish on the stovetop. Sauté the chicken until cooked, then add the other ingredients and simmer until heated through.
Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. Always double-check your ingredient labels if you have a severe allergy.
Certainly. This recipe can indeed be made using 1/4 cup of instant brown rice. After the chicken has been slow-cooked for three hours, add the rice and ensure it’s thoroughly mixed with the other ingredients. I’ve experimented with regular long-grain brown rice, but found that it takes an inordinate amount of time to cook in the slow cooker. So, if you intend to cook the rice in the slow cooker, I recommend using instant brown rice.
Another option would be to use our baked brown rice recipe or our baked white rice recipe and bake the rice while the chicken is cooking.
Satisfy Your Cravings With These Single Serving Slow Cooker Recipes
After mastering the single serving slow cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl, you might be itching to try more recipes that are perfect for a cozy meal for one. From tangy Chicken Piccata to savory Red Beans and Rice, these slow cooker recipes are not only convenient but absolutely delicious.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
RELATED: How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
If you’ve tried this chicken burrito bowl or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it.
Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (6 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast or use boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes with the juice
- ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ½ cup canned black beans , drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup frozen whole kernel corn
- Optional: ½ to 1 cup of cooked rice , or serve with shredded lettuce
- Optional toppings: shredded cheese, avocado slices, chopped cilantro, sour cream
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the bottom of a 1.5 quart or 2 quart slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, stir together the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, chili powder, and cumin.
- Pour over the chicken, cover with the lid, and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- Remove the lid and using two forks, shred the chicken. Add the beans and corn. Cover with the lid and cook for an additional hour.
- After cooking, taste and season with additional salt, if necessary.
- Add rice to a bowl, if using and pour the chicken, beans, corn, and tomatoes along with the sauce over the rice.
- Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, and avocado slices, if desired.
Notes
- Trim the chicken of fat before slow cooking.
- Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium.
- For optimal flavor and texture, serve immediately.
- Or, spoon the chicken mixture into homemade tortillas.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
In the recipe, it says that the chicken broth is divided but does not say how much of it to use initially. Can you please clarify?
Oh, I apologize for the oversight! Thank you for bringing it to my attention. The chicken broth should actually all be added in step 2. There’s no need to divide it. I’ve gone ahead and updated the recipe to reflect this correction. Again, I appreciate your keen eye—mistakes happen, and I’m glad you caught that one!
Thank you for so many great recipes. The Chicken Burrito Bowl was delicious, easy to make and filling. I will make it again but there are more to make before I repeat.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Good recipe.
This was easy and delicious. It had a very nice flavor. I cooked brown rice separately using the baked brown rice recipe that was recommended. Definitely will make again.
Hi Joanie! I just want to say thank you so much for this great recipe. I absolutely love it. Easy, delicious and oh so filling. I love so many of your recipes as I am a retired, home alone senior and your recipes always hit the spot. This one I especially enjoy as I like burritos and don’t always like to go out to enjoy them. Thanks again and bless you.