Sheet Pan Chicken Tinga Bowl (Printable)

Smoky chipotle chicken with roasted peppers and onions over rice, topped with fresh avocado salsa for a satisfying Mexican-inspired meal.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken & Veggies

01 - 1 lb 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 tbsp olive oil
06 - 2 tbsp chipotle in adobo sauce, chopped
07 - 2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1 tsp ground cumin
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
11 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Rice

13 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
14 - 2 cups water
15 - 1/2 tsp 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
21 - Juice of 1 lime
22 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Garnish

23 - Lime wedges
24 - Extra cilantro

# How to Make It:

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 well to coat evenly.
03 - Spread the chicken and veggie mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender with slight char.
04 - 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.
05 - Combine diced avocados, tomato, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Gently toss to combine.
06 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with roasted chicken and vegetables. Spoon avocado salsa over each bowl. Garnish with lime wedges and extra cilantro.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • One sheet pan means you're not drowning in dishes at 9 p.m., which honestly might be the best part.
  • The chicken comes out impossibly tender while the vegetables char just enough to taste like they matter.
  • Everything tastes bold and intentional, but the ingredient list is short enough that you won't second-guess yourself halfway through.
02 -
  • Don't skip the halfway stir when roasting; the chicken thighs on the edges will cook faster than the ones in the middle, and this one flip keeps everything even.
  • Make the avocado salsa last, just before serving, because avocado oxidizes and turns sad-looking if it sits too long, even with lime juice protecting it.
03 -
  • Pat your chicken dry before tossing it with the seasoning oil; wet chicken won't caramelize, it'll just steam itself.
  • If you prefer brown rice or cauliflower rice, use those instead of white rice, but adjust the cooking time and water ratio accordingly because they cook differently.
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