- The chicken and veggies roast on one sheet pan for quick cleanup.
- Guacamole as the base not only adds creaminess, but fiber and heart-healthy fats from the avocado.
- Customize these bowls with your favorite toppings like radishes, cilantro or sour cream.
Our Chicken Guacamole Bowl is the fajita meets trendy “bowls” mash-up you’ve been waiting for. This meal is also easy on cleanup when you roast deliciously juicy chicken thighs with sweet bell peppers and crisp red onions. The chicken is seasoned with smoky spices, and the veggies still have a little bite when they come out of the oven. They pair perfectly with the creamy, velvety guacamole. The cotija cheese gives a nice cool, saltiness to pull all the flavors together—a total hit! Keep reading for our expert tips on roasting, ingredient substitutions and more.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
- Our recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but you can also use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or chicken breasts. Keep in mind that the cooking time may vary, so use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. To save time, you can opt for a low-sodium rotisserie chicken from the supermarket.
- We cook the vegetables first to soften them, then add the chicken and broil briefly to enhance flavor and browning without overcooking the meat.
- To reduce preparation time, consider using store-bought guacamole, available in both mild and spicy varieties.
- You can serve the chicken and guacamole in soft tortillas for a change of pace.
Nutrition Notes
- Chicken thighs are high in protein—one of the nutrients to help increase your satiety after this meal. Chicken thighs are slightly higher in fat, because they contain a mix of white and dark meat. This also means they are slightly higher in iron than chicken breast.
- Avocados are another satiety component to this delicious bowl, because of their healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and fiber. Avocados are also a source of potassium and folate, two nutrients important for heart health.
- Bell peppers have more vitamin C than an orange, but some of this may be lost in the roasting process. They are also rich in other antioxidants, such as beta carotene and quercetin, which are important for protecting cells from damage that can lead to heart disease and cancer.
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless.
