Salads & Bowls

Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls – Healthy Chicken Rice Bowl Easy Recipes

This cilantro lime chicken bowl checks all the boxes—juicy grilled chicken, sweet peach salsa, a bed of fluffy rice, and a zesty lime kick. It’s one of those meals that feels like summer in a bowl. We’re talking about bold flavors that wake up your taste buds without weighing you down. The best part? You can throw this together even when you’re too tired to think straight. We love a meal that hits all the high notes—tangy, sweet, smoky, and fresh. Plus, it works for just about any occasion. Lazy weekend? Check. Last-minute weeknight dinner? Absolutely. Meal prep for the week? You got it. Everything cooks up quickly, and the peach salsa can easily be made ahead. Trust me, once you try this combo, you’ll be looking for excuses to make it again. I made this for a Sunday backyard lunch with friends, and let’s just say, there were zero leftovers. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.

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Table of Contents

  • 1) Key Takeaways
  • 2) Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa Recipe
  • 3) Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa
  • 4) How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa
  • 5) Tips for Making Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa
  • 6) Making Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa Ahead of Time
  • 7) Storing Leftover Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa
  • 8) Try these Salads & Bowls next!
  • 9) Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa
  • 10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

  • These bowls combine grilled chicken, fluffy rice, and sweet peach salsa.
  • A healthy chicken rice bowl easy recipe perfect for busy weeknights or relaxed weekends.
  • Quick to prep, simple to customize, and delicious hot or cold.
  • Meal-prep friendly and fridge-stable for several days.

2) Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa Recipe

We all have those days where we want dinner to just cook itself. This easy cilantro lime chicken bowl isn’t magic, but it’s pretty close. With juicy chicken seasoned to perfection, fluffy rice underneath, and sweet peach salsa spooned over the top, this is the kind of meal that tastes like you spent hours on it—even if you only spent thirty minutes.

What I love about this healthy chicken rice bowl easy recipe is how it gives you a little bit of everything. There’s the smoky chicken, fresh citrus, a hit of sweetness from the peaches, and the kind of clean, satisfying finish that makes you feel like you did something right.

Whether you’re looking for quick and easy chicken dinner recipes or something that works for meal prep, this bowl ticks the boxes. Even my pickiest eater asked for seconds. That never happens. Ever.

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3) Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: I like thighs here because they stay juicy and soak up all the spices. Breasts work too, but they cook faster and can dry out if you blink for too long.

Olive Oil: Just a couple tablespoons to get the marinade going and lock in flavor while the chicken grills.

Ground Cumin: Earthy and warm. Adds that smoky background that makes this bowl feel full and grounded.

Paprika: Not too spicy, just enough to wake up the flavor. Smoked paprika is great if you want extra depth.

Chili Powder: Gives the marinade a little heat and pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the salsa.

Salt and Pepper: Always start here. It’s the base of everything good in the kitchen.

Lime Juice and Zest: This is where the zing comes in. Bright, fresh, and totally necessary.

Fresh Cilantro: A handful chopped and tossed over the top right before serving makes all the difference. It’s not optional for me.

Cooked White Rice: Any rice works, but white rice is the classic here. Fluffy and neutral, it lets everything else shine.

Avocado Slices: Creamy, cool, and rich. The perfect counterbalance to grilled chicken and tangy salsa.

Peach Salsa: Sweet, bright, and a little bit unexpected. You can make it from scratch or grab your favorite store-bought version.

Fresh Lime Wedges: Serve with a wedge on the side for a fresh hit just before you dig in.

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4) How to Make Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa

Step 1. Mix olive oil, cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, lime juice, and zest in a small bowl. Stir until it becomes a thick, rich marinade.

Step 2. Coat the chicken thighs with the marinade and let them sit. If I’m in a rush, 15 minutes will do, but an hour or more in the fridge makes it even better.

Step 3. Grill the chicken on medium-high heat until cooked through. It should be a little charred around the edges and juicy in the middle—about 5 or 6 minutes per side.

Step 4. While the chicken rests, cook your rice. Or better yet, pull it from the fridge if you already had it made. Warm it gently, or serve it room temp if that’s your style.

Step 5. Slice the chicken into strips. Build your bowl with rice, chicken, a scoop of peach salsa, sliced avocado, and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

Step 6. Finish with a squeeze of lime. Pause to admire your work. Then dig in.

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5) Tips for Making Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa

Marinate your chicken early if you can. Even 30 minutes gives the spices time to settle in. Overnight? Even better. It’s like giving the chicken a flavor bath.

Don’t skip the lime zest. Juice is great, but the zest packs a stronger citrus punch. It’s where the oil lives, and that’s the stuff that smells and tastes like sunshine.

Make sure the rice isn’t hot when you build the bowl. If it’s too warm, the avocado softens too much and the salsa loses its brightness. Cool or warm rice works best here.

6) Making Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa Ahead of Time

This bowl loves meal prep. You can grill the chicken, cook the rice, and even mix up the salsa ahead of time. Just keep the avocado and cilantro out until right before you eat.

I like to pack everything in separate containers. It makes reheating easier and helps things taste fresher. When I do this for lunch, I grab one container of rice, one of chicken, and a little jar of salsa to mix in when I’m ready.

This healthy chicken rice bowl easy recipe actually gets better with time. The flavors mellow and mix, and the chicken soaks up even more of that lime marinade.

7) Storing Leftover Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa

Store the leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge. Rice, chicken, salsa—they all do well for up to four days. Keep the avocado separate to avoid that weird color change.

When reheating, I microwave the rice and chicken for a minute or so. Then I add fresh salsa and avocado on top. It feels like a brand-new meal every time.

This is one of those quick and easy chicken dinner recipes that doesn’t fall apart in the fridge. That’s a big deal in my house.

8) Try these Salads & Bowls next!

9) Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls with Peach Salsa

Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowls – Healthy Chicken Rice Bowl Easy Recipes

This cilantro lime chicken bowl checks all the boxes—juicy grilled chicken, sweet peach salsa, a bed of fluffy rice, and a zesty lime kick. It’s one of those meals that feels like summer in a bowl. We’re talking about bold flavors that wake up your taste buds without weighing you down. The best part? You can throw this together even when you’re too tired to think straight. We love a meal that hits all the high notes—tangy, sweet, smoky, and fresh. Plus, it works for just about any occasion. Lazy weekend? Check. Last-minute weeknight dinner? Absolutely. Meal prep for the week? You got it. Everything cooks up quickly, and the peach salsa can easily be made ahead. Trust me, once you try this combo, you’ll be looking for excuses to make it again. I made this for a Sunday backyard lunch with friends, and let’s just say, there were zero leftovers. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Salads & Bowls
Cuisine: American
Keywords: chicken and rice casserole recipe, easy chicken dinner recipes for family, easy chicken recipes for dinner, easy dinner recipes with chicken tenders, grilled chicken recipes easy air fryer, healthy chicken rice bowl easy recipes, quick and easy chicken dinner recipes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lila

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Juice and zest of 2 limes
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 cups cooked white rice
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • Fresh lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, lime juice, and zest.
  2. Rub this marinade all over the chicken thighs. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, or up to overnight.
  3. Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, or until nicely charred and fully cooked.
  4. Let the chicken rest before slicing it into strips.
  5. Assemble bowls with a scoop of rice, grilled chicken, avocado slices, a generous spoonful of peach salsa, and a lime wedge.
  6. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve warm.

10) Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl | Calories: 450 | Protein: 28g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Carbohydrates: 35g | Sugar: 9g | Fiber: 4g | Sodium: 420mg

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