Cheesy Ground Chicken and Rice Burritos Recipe

Introduction

Cheesy Ground Chicken and Rice Burritos are a delicious, satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with flavorful spices, melted cheese, and a hint of spice from jalapeños and chipotle sauce, these burritos are easy to make and sure to please the whole family.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. Avocado Oil (or Olive Oil)
• 8 oz. Ground Chicken
• 1/2 cup chopped Red Bell Pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped White Onion
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped Jalapeño Pepper (optional)
• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp. Chili Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt (or Sea Salt, plus more to taste)
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Cumin
• 1 cup Cooked White Rice
• 1/4 cup Salsa Verde (or your favorite salsa)
• 1 tbsp. Chipotle Sauce
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
• 4 Extra Large (Burrito-Sized) Flour Tortillas

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the ground chicken, chopped red bell pepper, white onion, and jalapeño. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and cook for 7–8 minutes, breaking the chicken into small pieces until it is cooked through and the vegetables are softened.
2. Step 2: Stir in the garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and ground cumin. Cook for 1–2 minutes to toast the spices and enhance their flavor.
3. Step 3: Add the cooked rice, salsa verde, and chipotle sauce to the skillet. Mix well to combine evenly, then taste and adjust salt if needed. Turn off the heat.
4. Step 4: Stir in both shredded cheeses until melted and evenly distributed in the filling.
5. Step 5: Warm the flour tortillas briefly to make them pliable. Spoon the filling onto each tortilla, then fold and roll them into burritos.
6. Step 6: Optional: For a crispy finish, place burritos seam-side down in a hot skillet for 1–2 minutes per side until golden brown.
7. Step 7: Serve hot with extra salsa, sour cream, or guacamole if desired.

Tips & Variations

• Substitute ground chicken with ground turkey or lean ground beef if preferred.
• Use green bell pepper instead of red for a less sweet flavor, or omit bell peppers entirely if you don’t like them.
• Try cooked brown rice instead of white rice for a nuttier taste and added fiber.
• If you can’t find chipotle sauce, use finely chopped chipotles in adobo sauce cautiously to control the heat.
• For extra freshness, add chopped cilantro or a squeeze of lime before rolling your burritos.

Storage

Store leftover burritos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for 1–2 minutes until warmed through, or reheat in a skillet over medium heat to maintain crispiness.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these burritos ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the filling ahead and assemble the burritos when ready to eat. Burritos can also be wrapped individually and frozen for up to 1 month. Reheat from frozen in the microwave or oven.

What can I use if I am sensitive to spicy foods?

Omit the jalapeño and chipotle sauce, or replace chipotle sauce with a mild salsa to reduce the heat while keeping great flavor.

Cheesy Ground Chicken and Rice Burritos Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 144 reviews

These Cheesy Ground Chicken and Rice Burritos combine tender ground chicken sautéed with bell peppers, onions, and spices, mixed with flavorful salsa verde, chipotle sauce, and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, all wrapped in large flour tortillas for a hearty and delicious Tex-Mex meal perfect for any time of day.

• Author: liam
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 burritos 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein and Vegetables

• 1 tbsp. Avocado Oil (or Olive Oil)
• 8 oz. Ground Chicken
• 1/2 cup chopped Red Bell Pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped White Onion
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped Jalapeño Pepper (optional)

Spices and Seasonings

• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp. Chili Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt (or Sea Salt, plus more to taste)
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Cumin

Filling

• 1 cup Cooked White Rice
• 1/4 cup Salsa Verde (or your favorite salsa)
• 1 tbsp. Chipotle Sauce
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Wrap

• 4 Extra Large (Burrito-Sized) Flour Tortillas

Instructions

1. Cook the Ground Chicken and Vegetables: Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the ground chicken, chopped red bell peppers, chopped white onions, and chopped jalapeño. Add a pinch of salt, and cook for 7-8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables have softened. Break the chicken into small pieces as it cooks to ensure even mixing with the vegetables.
2. Add Seasonings: Stir in the garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and ground cumin to the skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes to toast the seasonings and enhance their flavor.
3. Add Filling and Flavor: Add the cooked white rice, salsa verde, and chipotle sauce to the skillet. Stir everything together evenly, then taste and adjust salt if needed. Turn the heat off.
4. Assemble Burritos: Place a large flour tortilla on a flat surface. Spoon an equal portion of the chicken and rice mixture onto the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle a mixture of shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the filling.
5. Fold and Serve: Fold in the sides of the tortilla and then roll it tightly from one end to the other to form a burrito. Optionally, you may place burritos seam-side down in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes to crisp the exterior and melt cheese further before serving.

Notes

• Ground chicken can be swapped for ground turkey or lean ground beef depending on preference.
• Red bell pepper provides sweetness that complements the spicy elements, but green bell pepper or no peppers can be used as well.
• Both white and yellow onions work equally well in this recipe.
• Cooked brown rice can replace white rice with a slightly nuttier flavor.
• Salsa verde can be substituted with red salsa or green chiles based on availability and taste preference.
• If chipotle sauce is unavailable, finely chopped chipotles in adobo sauce can be used cautiously as they may be spicier.
• For a crispier burrito, grill or pan-fry after assembly to melt cheese and create a golden crust.

Keywords: ground chicken burrito, cheesy chicken burrito, chicken and rice burrito, easy Tex-Mex recipe, skillet burritos