Sheet Pan Chicken Tinga Bowl (Print Version)

Smoky chipotle chicken and roasted veggies over rice with fresh avocado salsa. Ready in 50 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken & Vegetables

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 1 large red bell pepper, sliced
03 - 1 large yellow bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 medium red onion, sliced
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 2 tablespoons chipotle in adobo sauce, chopped
07 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Rice

13 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
14 - 2 cups water
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Avocado Salsa

16 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
17 - 1 medium tomato, diced
18 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
19 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
21 - Juice of 1 lime
22 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

23 - Lime wedges
24 - Extra fresh cilantro (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - In a large bowl, combine chicken pieces, bell peppers, and red onion. Drizzle with olive oil. Add chipotle in adobo, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss thoroughly to coat all components evenly.
03 - Spread seasoned chicken and vegetable mixture evenly on prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until chicken reaches internal temperature and vegetables are tender with light charring.
04 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork before serving.
05 - In a bowl, combine diced avocados, tomato, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño if using, lime juice, and salt. Gently fold together to preserve avocado texture.
06 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with roasted chicken and vegetables. Spoon avocado salsa over each bowl. Garnish with lime wedges and additional cilantro as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks on one sheet pan while rice simmers beside it, so cleanup doesn't steal your evening.
  • The smoky chipotle-spiced chicken hits different when roasted with those peppers until they char just right.
  • That fresh avocado salsa transforms the whole bowl from warm comfort food into something bright and alive.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and comes together in under an hour, perfect for the nights when you want bold flavors without the fuss.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—it removes starch and prevents gummy, stuck-together grains that ruin the whole bowl experience.
  • Make the avocado salsa last, right before serving, because avocado oxidizes quickly and turns brown and unappetizing if it sits around.
  • Chicken thighs are forgiving on a hot pan, but if you're using breasts, watch them carefully and consider cutting them thinner so they cook through without drying out.
03 -
  • Freeze leftover chipotle sauce in ice cube trays and pop them into soups, sour cream, or mayo for instant flavor bombs whenever you need them.
  • If your avocados aren't quite ripe, make the salsa while you wait, but hold off adding them until the last possible moment.
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