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Chipotle veggie bowl is a family favorite since everyone can make what they want. This take on a chipotle salad is so delightfully fresh and filling I’ve added it to my 25 gluten-free dinners list. It’s loaded with vibrant veggies and is both satisfying and fun to eat, so get ready to dig into a weeknight staple!
Why This Chipotle Veggie Bowl Rawks
This Chipotle Veggie Bowl starts with brown rice and black beans, a hearty combination rich in fiber and plant-based protein. Brown rice can support sustained energy and support digestive health, making this bowl a satisfying and wholesome meal. It also delivers essential minerals like magnesium, while black beans are packed with antioxidants for overall wellness.
Colorful red bell peppers and yellow onions add a dose of vitamins A and C, along with natural sweetness and crunch. Romaine lettuce contributes freshness and hydration, enhancing the bowl’s light yet filling profile. Topped with guacamole, the healthy fats from avocado help your body absorb nutrients more effectively and keep you feeling full longer.
The finishing touches, like cashew cream or vegan sour cream, bring creaminess without the heaviness of dairy. Salsa adds a zesty kick while delivering antioxidants from tomatoes and herbs. Together, these toppings elevate the flavor and nutritional value of the bowl, making it a delicious, balanced meal that’s both satisfying and good for you.
Chipotle Veggie Bowl Ingredients
I often top my chipotle veggie bowl based on what is available in the fridge, yet the base ingredients remain the same.
- Brown rice: Buying rice in bulk from Costco is a great, cost-effective way to have it on hand anytime you need it. I like the taste and flavor of brown rice and my kids don’t mind it, so it’s my go-to base.
- Black beans: Beans are an easy protein to toss in and they are fairly mild in flavor. Swap with the beans of your choice.
- Olive oil: Since we aren’t baking in the oven on high heat, this is a great oil to use.
- Green bell peppers and yellow/red onions: This is a classic combo and easily sautéed to add flavor. You *could* add these veggies raw, yet why would you want to when they taste so much better in a bit of olive oil and heated on the stove?
- Romaine Lettuce: Look for fresh, vibrant green leaves to ensure the best quality and flavor. Chop it finely for easy layering or serve in larger pieces for extra bite.
This base is simple, warm and easy to top in almost any way you want. I also know that my kids will eat these ingredients, so it’s an automatic dinner win to get in some plant-based protein and vegetables, no matter how they choose to top theirs. Check out my guide to plant-based protein for some great info!
How To Make A Chipotle Veggie Bowl
There are a few ways to customize this chipotle salad bowl. Let’s start with the basic components and then let you top to your heart’s content.
- Cook the brown rice according to the package directions. This will take the longest to cook so it should be started first.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat while the rice is cooking.
- Add olive oil and warm for a few seconds then add in chopped bell pepper and chopped onion.
- Cook until the onions are translucent and the peppers are soft. Remove from heat.
- Assemble your bowl with the ready items. Add brown rice to the bottom of a bowl then layer with cooked veggies, drained and rinsed black beans and lettuce. Top with your preferred toppings and dig in!
Flavoring Rice
Want more flavorful rice? Use coconut milk or vegetable stock instead of water. If you like a more “refried beans” texture then empty an undrained can of beans into a small pot and heat on medium. Once it starts bubbling, stir well to keep the beans on the bottom from sticking. Once the desired consistency has been reached, remove it from the stovetop and allow to cool slightly.
Easy Swaps and Add-Ins
Veggie Bowl Options
- Swap rice: Replace brown rice with white rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa. If you want other grain-free options, use diced butternut squash, sweet potatoes or white potatoes. You can also use zucchini or yellow squash. There really are so many options.
- Swap oil: Use avocado oil instead of extra-virgin olive oil.
- Swap red bell pepper: Substitute with zucchini, carrots, or any fresh vegetable you have.
- Swap citrus: Lemon juice can take the place of lime juice.
- Swap pepper: Substitute jalapeño with serrano peppers for more heat or green bell peppers for less.
- Add dairy-free alternative: Coconut milk, cashew cream, or vegan yogurt can add creaminess. Greek yogurt works if dairy is fine.
- Add garlic/onion: Include a garlic clove or more onion for a different flavor profile.
Sauce Options
- Add Cashew Cream: This is the OG vegan sour cream and is excellent in a variety of Tex-Mex dishes.
- Add Vegan Avocado Crema: If you want a change from guacamole yet still want some creaminess in your bowl then this sauce is the winner.
- Add Creamy Hemp Sauce from my Hemp Hearts Veggie Bowl recipe. I love how versatile this creamy sauce is, if you want a warm option.
- Add Coconut Sriracha Sauce from my veggie bowl with coconut sriracha recipe. For those that love a spicy kick, this dairy-free sauce is queen.
- Add Chipotle Ranch Dressing: My dairy-free take on ranch dressing that has a little zest to it.
Common Questions
My bowl uses brown rice as the base then layers in black beans, sautéed onions and peppers as well as a good handful of lettuce. I top my bowl with guacamole, cashew cream and fresh salsa for a flavorful and dairy-free finish.
It all depends on what you put in it. These are not low carb chipotle bowls when you use rice as a base. My recipe is 692 calories and is guaranteed to keep you full of useable energy for hours. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be a salad!
Yes! Use whole food ingredients, mostly plants and stick to sauces that are as simple as possible. I love making sauces and dressings at home so that I know exactly what’s in them and I can control the amount of sugar in them. Use nutrient-dense ingredients with protein and healthy fat to help fill you up and keep you full.
Yes! The chipotle veggie bowl is vegetarian by default. For a vegan option, simply skip any dairy toppings like sour cream or cheese. Guacamole is vegan-friendly and makes a delicious addition.
Absolutely! You can choose from a variety of bases, proteins (like sofritas), toppings, and sauces to create your perfect bowl.
More Veggie Bowl Dinners
If you love the idea of an easy dinner win then try any one of these veggie bowls at your next family meal. Your family can decide how to top theirs and everyone enjoys a delicious meal:
Will this veggie bowl recipe make it onto your next meal plan? If so, don’t forget to rate + review it below. Especially if you customize it. I really love seeing your creative twists and ideas about these recipes! And if you’re interested in learning more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Chipotle Veggie Bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown rice uncooked
- ¼ cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ red bell pepper cut into strips
- ¼ yellow onion cut into strips
- ¼ cup romaine lettuce sliced
Toppings
- 2 tbsp guacamole
- 1 tbsp cashew cream or vegan sour cream
- 1 tbsp salsa
Instructions
- Cook brown rice as directed on packaging.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, then add chopped bell pepper and chopped onion. Cook until onions are translucent and peppers are soft. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the veggie bowl. Start with brown rice on the bottom, then layer with cooked veggies, lettuce, guacamole, cashew cream, salsa and black beans. Don't be afraid to add more of your favs. Add a fresh squeeze of lime juice before serving.
Notes
- Swap the rice with white rice, cauliflower rice or quinoa.
- Work with the veggies you have on hand. There is no need to buy extra ingredients if you’ve got some fresh produce at home.
- I love making the components of this bowl and then setting them out buffet-style so everyone can choose what they want in their own bowls.
- If you want a great vegan meat option for this bowl, add some walnut taco meat.
- Additional toppings include fresh tomatoes, hot sauce, chipotle ranch dressing, sliced avocado, chives and cilantro.
Thanks for giving us an easy dinner in a pinch! That cashew cream is still my favorite.
We love doing this fun bowls! We probably make this chipotle style bowl at least once a week, it’s so easy and delicious.
Thank you so much for this guide! I literally cannot make most of my fav recipes lately since items aren’t in my grocery store with this COV19 stuff. I also am impressed with the macros on this bowl: 15g protein is awesome for plant-based!!!! This would totally fuel me and be a great dinner (with leftovers).
Any chance you would share your sauce guide??
That would be quite helpful.
Hey Leigh– we have the Sauce Guide and few other guides available to Rawk the Year members. They are a part of our monthly meal planner program. I totally get wanting access to it and you can with our free 30-day trial (RTY 30-Day Trial).
And here’s a few of the sauces from recipes that are on the blog to get you started:
*Plant-based Veggie Bowl with Hemp Hearts Sauce Recipe
*Happy Veggie Bowl
*Simple Vegan Coleslaw
I plan to make the Teriyaki Veggie Bowl (it sounds delicious!). I have one question on the ingredients for the spice blend though. Is it 3 TABLESPOONS of fresh ginger or 3 TEASPOONS? It is abbreviated differently from the previous ingredients, which makes me wonder whether it was supposed to be tsp (rather than tbs)?
Lesley, it’s 3 Tablespoons of fresh ginger, grated.
Thank you for the wonderful recipes! They all look delicious! I am curious though, what kind of couscous are you using because it is normally not gluten free.
Yes, couscous is not gluten-free. There are a handful of gluten-free couscous options available, I think it would depend on what your local grocery store carries. But even if you’re not able to find any, you can sub gluten-free options like quinoa and brown rice. 🙂
Thank you, I was asking because in the recipes it say that it is gluten free in the portion explaining what couscous is. I just wanted to make sure.
There was a mistake in the article Angelic. I meant to write quinoa and said couscous… which explains the confusion. I’ve updated it now to make more sense. Great catch!
Hi! This is awesome, thanks for sharing!
The PDF says ‘see sauce guide’ in the toppings section, where can I find that?
Thank you!
Hi Elise! It’s part of the “mix and match” guides we’re creating for our members of Rawk the Year. Right now, we’re offering a free 7-day trial to our meal planner if you’re interested in giving it a try! Check out Rawk the Year Meal Planner.
Hi, The print button for the “build your own veggie bowl” sends you to a 404 error page.
Hi Nancy. I’ve reached out to the tech team to see what happened there. Thanks for letting me know. I am pretty confident we can have it working in a few hours.