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Make a healthy and delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl. This single serving meal is packed with tender chicken, sweet corn, hearty black beans, and juicy tomatoes. Simply add everything to a mini slow cooker or Crock Pot in the morning, and by dinnertime, you’ll have an irresistible chicken burrito bowl ready to enjoy. This is a scaled-down version of one of my family’s favorite recipes!
Looking for more single serving mini 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 You’ll Love This Recipe
- What Is A Chicken Burrito Bowl?
- The Best Slow Cooker For Single Serving Recipes
- Ingredients
- Recipe Variations
- How To Make A Chicken Burrito Bowl For One
- Expert Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Popular Single Serving Slow Cooker Recipes
- Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
- Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl For One Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 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.
What Is A Chicken Burrito Bowl?
A Chicken Burrito Bowl is a popular Mexican dish served deconstructed in a bowl. It starts with a base of lettuce or rice and is topped with tender chicken, sweet corn, black beans, and juicy diced tomatoes. Customize it with creamy sour cream, sharp cheddar cheese, fragrant cilantro, and rich avocados. Its versatility, delicious flavors, and convenience make the Chicken Burrito Bowl a favorite among food lovers.
If you’re looking for a simple, delicious recipe with perfect Mexican-inspired flavors, our Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl is just for you. We’ll guide you through the step-by-step process with detailed measurements and tips for personalizing your dish. We’ll also help you choose the right equipment, focusing on the ideal slow cooker size for single servings. Whether you want to spice it up or keep it mild, and even if you don’t have a slow cooker, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get cooking!
The Best Slow Cooker For Single Serving Recipes
Cooking for one doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste or variety. A small slow cooker, especially a 1.5 to 2-quart model, is perfect for preparing delicious single serving meals. This compact appliance is ideal for cooking smaller portions and allows for a slow cooking process that combines your ingredients beautifully, resulting in a deeply flavorful and satisfying meal. Whether you’re making easy slow cooker recipes for one or more elaborate dishes, a small slow cooker is a game-changer for cooking just for yourself.
Ingredients
- Chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. If you have extra chicken, you can use it in other recipes like Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Nuggets, and Kung Pao Chicken.
- Tomatoes: Use 1 cup of canned diced tomatoes with their juices. If you prefer fresh tomatoes, use 1 medium-sized tomato and add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of extra broth. Leftover diced tomatoes can be used in Chicken Tacos and Spanish Rice.
- Chicken broth: I recommend low-sodium chicken broth so you can control the salt. We use chicken broth in many single serving soup recipes. If you have leftovers, try 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 black beans, rinsed and drained. Leftover beans are perfect for Baked Black Bean Tacos and to a Guacamole Salad.
- Corn: Use fresh, frozen, or canned corn. I usually keep a bag of frozen corn in my freezer. You can add it straight to the slow cooker without thawing. Extra corn can be used in Mexican Street Corn Salad or 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 Burrito Bowl: Replace the chicken with tofu or a plant-based protein to create a hearty vegetarian burrito bowl.
- Seafood Burrito Bowl: 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 Bowl: 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 A Chicken Burrito Bowl For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make a chicken burrito bowl in a slow cooker. 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, mix together the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, chili powder, and cumin.
- Pour the tomato mixture over the chicken, cover with the lid, and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- After cooking, remove the lid and shred the chicken using two forks. Add the beans and corn, cover again, and cook for an additional hour.
- Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Serve the chicken, beans, corn, and tomato mixture over a bowl of rice.
- Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, and avocado slices if desired.
Expert Tips
- Trim the chicken of any fat before slow cooking.
- Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium.
- For the best flavor and texture, serve immediately.
- You can also spoon the chicken mixture into homemade tortillas.
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, leftover cooked chicken works beautifully in this recipe.
Add chopped jalapenos, cayenne pepper, or spicy salsa for a kick.
You can prepare this dish on the stovetop. Sauté the chicken in a medium-sized skillet until fully 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.
Yes, you can add rice to the slow cooker. Use 1/4 cup of instant brown rice. After the chicken has cooked for three hours, add the rice and stir it into the mixture. Regular long-grain brown rice takes too long to cook in the slow cooker, so instant brown rice is a better option.
Alternatively, you can cook the rice separately using our baked brown rice or our baked white rice recipes while the chicken is cooking.
Other Popular Single Serving Slow Cooker Recipes
Once you’ve mastered the single serving slow cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl, you might want to try more mini crock pot recipes perfect for a cozy meal for one. From tangy Chicken Piccata to savory Red Beans and Rice, these slow cooker recipes are both convenient and 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 the tomato mixture over the chicken, cover with the lid, and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- After cooking, remove the lid and shred the chicken using two forks. Add the beans and corn, cover again, and cook for an additional hour.
- Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Serve the chicken, beans, corn, and tomato mixture over a bowl of rice.
- Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, and avocado slices, if desired.
Notes
- Trim the chicken of any fat before slow cooking.
- Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium.
- For the best flavor and texture, serve immediately.
- You can also 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.
This is delicious and so easy to make. I will have leftovers to freeze for later. Thank you for all the great recipes and tips. You are my “go to” for recipes.
I love this recipe however can I you freeze after it’s cooked and if yes how should I wrap it up?
Store the burrito in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer.
I don’t like black beans. Can a girl please use the old-school stand-by of refrieds or canned pintos? If so, how would one adjust? Thanks!
p.s. ODK was a brilliant idea – the world needs this website and the fabulous woman who looks after so many people she doesn’t even know.
Another type of canned beans such as pintos or kidney beans would be absolutely fine to use. I would not recommend using refried beans in the slow cooker because they don’t do well when cooked with the mixture, but you could definitely add them to your bowl after it has cooked.
Can you use a 3 qt?
You can but you will need to add an extra 1/2 cup of chicken broth to the slow cooker. So, add a total of 3/4 cup of chicken broth in Step 2 instead of 1/4 cup.
Hi Joanie,
It’s me again. I don’t have a slow cooker because I’m traveling through Mexico and everything has to fit in my car when I move. Is there another way to cook this recipe? It sounds amazingly good.
Adios,
Teresa
Hi Teresa,
You could actually bake or grill the chicken with the spices separately, cook the rice separately, and then add the rest of the ingredients.
Looks great but can I use regular brown rice instead of instant?
Hi Maggie,
Yes, you can but you’ll need to allow more time for the rice to cook. I would suggest checking to see if the rice is done every 30 minutes after the the entire cooking time has finished.
Joanie
Winner winner chicken dinner. Faster and easier to shred chicken breast with portable mixer but definitely another keeper!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for letting me know!
I love my bitty Rival crockpot. 1 1/2qt. Going to try this recipe and look up the baked rice.
can't wait to try this! looks yummy and perfect for a cold day.
This is so delicious and the spices are perfect!