I love Taco Bell as much as the next person, but making my own versions of their popular picks is so much tastier and more affordable. This copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl recipe is easy, hearty, and perfect for the whole family. And, the whole recipe costs about as much as buying 1 bowl! Skip the run to the border, and head into your kitchen instead!
Taco Bell has made a token effort to add healthier options to the menu with their line of cantina chicken offerings, but they’re pricy and still tastier when you make them at home! Take the Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl. I love that I can control the amounts, with my son and husband doubling up on the protein and carbs, while my daughter and I roll our eyes at their caveman bowls and opt instead for more veggies.
My Slow Roasted Mexican Chicken is perfect in this recipe, but you can easily use leftover grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken. I love that I can make the rice, beans and pico ahead of time so it’s all ready to go. Sometimes, I’ll even cheat a bit and buy them prepared from the store. Even doing that, these bowls are still cheaper to make at home. The recipe makes enough for 2 hearty bowls, but it is easily doubled or tripled.
Bursting with flavor and freshness, these copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowls are delish!
Ingredients
- Cooked chicken – Mexican slow roasted chicken or any cooked chicken.
- Mexican rice
- Red cabbage
- Shredded lettuce
- Cheddar cheese – Shredded.
- Black beans
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
How to Make the Perfect Copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl
- Heat the rice, beans and chicken if needed, then add a layer of hot rice on the bottom of a bowl.
- Top the rice with chicken, black beans, red cabbage, lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole.
- Serve with your favorite hot sauce or salsa verde and dig in!
Step-By-Step Process
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- I love setting all the ingredients out and letting people build their own bowls.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese or for a bit of a kick, use a Tex-Mex blend. Pre-shredded cheese is just fine.
- You can use drained and rinsed black beans right from the can, or dress them up with your favorite homemade Mexican black beans.
Recommended
Menu Ideas
Wondering what to serve with copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowls? Each bowl is a complete meal, but you can make it even more special by serving it with a side of tortilla chips and salsa. A cold, refreshing beverage like a margarita or a glass of iced tea is the perfect touch to this flavor-packed meal!
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
The Perfect Copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked chicken Mexican slow roasted chicken or any cooked chicken
- 1 cup Mexican rice
- ½ cup red cabbage shredded
- ½ cup lettuce shredded
- ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup black beans
- ¼ cup Pico de gallo
- ¼ cup guacamole
- ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Heat the rice, beans and chicken if needed, then add a layer of hot rice on the bottom of a bowl.
- Top the rice with chicken, black beans, red cabbage, lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole.
- Serve with your favorite hot sauce or salsa verde and dig in!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- I love setting all the ingredients out and letting people build their own bowls.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese or for a bit of a kick, use a Tex-Mex blend. Pre-shredded cheese is just fine.
- You can use drained and rinsed black beans right from the can, or dress them up with your favorite homemade Mexican black beans.