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Jalapeno Popper Burrito Bowls are exactly what you want for dinner! It’s comforting, and absolutely delicious while still packing in nutrients. You’ll love the creamy and “cheesy” based jalapeño sauce that takes center stage here as it smothers chicken and bacon in the most delicious way! Less than 30 minutes and a skillet is all you need!
If your family is anything like mine, Mexican food such as tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, are always met with enthusiasm! So today, we’re doing burrito bowl time with all the feels! This recipe starts with some crispy bacon and flavorful chicken pieces, then gets a HUGE upgrade with a “cheesy” cashew based jalapeño sauce. Oh yes, maximum dinner accomplishment without much work.
Reasons these Jalapeno Popper Burrito Bowls are healthy for your body!
As a nutritionist, I often see clients who are trying to “eat better” by packing in protein and vegetables. Grilled chicken or fish with a side of vegetables is always popular. But you know what I tell them? There is not enough in that meal to make you feel satisfied and full for several hours! In fact, the boring and bland meal of lean protein and veggies is bound to make you hungry within an hour or two.
My solution? Let’s add some decadence, healthy fats, and fiber!
The blender cashew based queso in this recipe gives this recipe that extra flavor bomb that makes your body happy. It’s loaded with healthy fats, and also makes you feel fuller for longer! The bed of cauliflower rice gives us the texture of a satisfying burrito bowl, but with additional fiber that is so good for our bodies. There’s a reason cauliflower makes a regular appearance in so many of my recipes. Oh and the bacon? Just for added crunch and everyone’s favorite ingredient!
How to make Jalapeno Popper Chicken Burrito Bowls
You’ll love that this one pan meal comes together in a skillet and less than 30 minutes! We start by gathering up these ingredients:
- Chicken breast (cut into bite sized pieces)
- Bacon
- Raw cashews
- Water or chicken broth
- Nutritional yeast
- Garlic
- Jalapenos
- Cilantro
- Hot sauce
- Riced cauliflower or a head of cauliflower (you can also use my Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice recipe!)
- Romaine, chopped onion, tomatoes for serving 😉
Before getting started, ensure that you soak your cashews in hot water for at least 10 minutes, then drain.
The Directions
- Start by cooking your bacon in a skillet. Keep 1-2 tbsp of the bacon fat to cook the chicken.
- Cook the chicken breast for 3-4 minutes per side, add salt and pepper. If you prefer sautéed cauliflower rice, add into the skillet with the chicken after a few minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the cashew sauce. Add drained cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic, jalapenos, cilantro and hot sauce to a high powered blender.
- Pour the cashew sauce into the skillet with the chicken and let it heat up for a few minutes.
- You can warm up your cauliflower rice in the microwave, or enjoy raw with toppings like guacamole, tomatoes, onion, and cilantro. Add the chicken, with sauce and bacon!
Storing and re-heating
If you have leftovers, or want to use with meal prep, you can definitely do that with this dinner! I would keep the cauliflower rice separate from the chicken and sauce. Store in the fridge, this will not freeze well.
Gently reheat the chicken and sauce on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave over medium power.
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Burrito Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 5 slices thick bacon
- 1.5 lbs raw chicken breast, cut into bit sized pieces
- pinch of salt and pepper
For the Cashew Sauce:
- 1 cup raw cashews*
- 2/3 cup water or chicken broth
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 jalapeno, diced and seeds removed
- 3 tbsp fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp buffalo hot sauce
For the bowls:
- 4-5 cups cauliflower rice**
- 1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 large avocado, diced
Instructions
- Heat up a large skillet to medium heat. Once hot, coat the pan with oil or cooking spray and add bacon. Cook the bacon for 3-5 minutes per side (cooked to your liking), and set aside. Reserve one tablespoon of the bacon fat in the pan and keep the pan hot.
- Add the chicken to the pan. Let cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. If you want to saute your cauliflower rice, feel free to add it when you have a few minutes left of cooking the chicken.
- Meanwhile, in a blender, blend cashews, water, nutritional yeast, garlic, salt, jalapeño, cilantro, and hot sauce. Continue to blend for several minutes, or until mixture is smooth and creamy. You may need to pause several times and scrape down the sides of the blender with a rubber spatula.
- Reduce the heat on the skillet to low. Add the cashew sauce to the chicken mixture and stir frequently for 3-5 minutes so the cashew sauce doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Once cashew sauce is hot, prepare to serve.
- Assemble the burrito bowls. Begin with cauliflower rice, top with chicken and sauce, then bacon. Now add in any extra toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, cilantro, and avocado. Salt to taste and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi I’m making this for my first time. Question what can I substitute the nutritional yeast for. I’m having a hard time finding it.
Thank you
You can omit this, but it won’t have that cheesy flavor. The cashews still give it a creamy flavor, there isn’t really a replacement for nutritional yeast. I do see it in every grocery store now, but it may be hard to find in certain areas– I’m sorry!
I love all of your recipes! However, my daughter has a nut allergy, specifically cashews, which makes a great sauce, but we can’t use. Is there a different way to make the cashew sauces you have in different recipes? Thanks!
Is there something else to use in place of raw cashews? If we eat cheese what kind of cheese would you suggest?
Hi Monica, check out this variation with a cream cheese sauce. It’s really yummy! https://www.wholesomelicious.com/chicken-jalapeno-popper-burrito-bowls/
Absolutely delicious. I read this recipe 4 times and somehow STILL missed that you need to soak the cashews ahead of time, making my sauce not 100% smooth but still delicious. So if you make this, SOAK YOUR NUTS! Will definitely make again 🙂
Is there something else I can use in place of the raw cashews bc my daughter has a nut allergy.
Hi Shannon, I would try this Creamy Avocado Dressing and add in a jalapeño! There really is no sub for the cashews to create the creaminess, so it’s best to go a whole different route. Hope that helps!
https://www.wholesomelicious.com/creamy-avocado-dressing/
This recipe is incredible! My husband and I are towards the end of our second round of whole30 this year (so we’ve made a LOT w30 recipes) and we both agreed this has been our favorite, hands down! Can’t wait to make this again. Thank you!!!
So glad you love it, Chelsea!!
Hi there, my I’ve recently been making your recipes for my family. Love how your site is put together. Plus makes finding recipes for my specific diet restrictions so easy. I do see on a few we’ve made, such as this one, vitamin A is 510% is this accurate and a safe amount to consume? But also love every recipe we’ve made of yours! Even my toddler. Thank you sincerely
Hi Alisha! The vitamin A listed is actually the amount of IUs, not the percentage. I am not sure why it shows up that way, because on my end it shows up as IUs. I can’t figure out how to fix it! So, it is a perfectly safe amount, around 20% of your daily value.
I can’t believe there aren’t more reviews. This dish is incredible!! That cashew sauce is to die for! I am so happy I decided to give this a try. I did omit the bacon, but made everything else as directed. I will be making this again soon! Thank you!
Thank you! It’s a new recipe so will take time before the reviews come in. So glad you loved it!
I couldn’t find nutritional yeast. Is it a critical ingredient? I’ve never used it before.
Hi, nutritional yeast is found in the health food section of most grocery stores. I also buy at Trader Joe’s. You can go without it, but it gives a “cheesy” flavor.
Do you not cook cauliflower rice???
I use a frozen cauli rice (because it’s cheap organic at trader joe’s) and just defrost/heat in the microwave! I also like it raw. You can also sauté or roast yours.