Sheet Pan Chicken Tinga Bowl (Printable)

Smoky chipotle chicken roasted with peppers and onions over rice with fresh avocado salsa.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken & Veggies

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

→ To Serve

23 - Lime wedges
24 - Extra cilantro (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine chicken pieces, bell peppers, and red onion. Drizzle with olive oil and add chipotle in adobo, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
02 - Spread the seasoned chicken and vegetable mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender with slight charring.
03 - While chicken roasts, rinse rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - In a bowl, combine diced avocados, tomato, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño if using, lime juice, and salt. Gently toss to combine without breaking down the avocado.
05 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with roasted chicken and vegetables. Spoon avocado salsa over each portion. Garnish with lime wedges and extra cilantro as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • One pan means one cleanup, which is the kind of honesty you need on a weeknight when you're tired.
  • The chicken gets crispy edges while staying juicy inside, something I learned happens when you use thighs instead of playing it safe with breast meat.
  • That avocado salsa tastes like you spent way more time than you actually did, and nobody needs to know the truth.
02 -
  • Stirring halfway through roasting isn't optional—it's the difference between evenly caramelized chicken and unevenly cooked pieces.
  • Don't make the avocado salsa too far ahead or it'll oxidize and lose that fresh, creamy appeal that makes people reach for seconds.
03 -
  • Line your sheet pan with parchment or foil before mixing anything on it—cleanup happens instantly and nothing sticks.
  • The lime juice in the avocado salsa does more than add flavor; it slows down oxidation and keeps your salsa looking green and fresh for longer.
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