Sheet Pan Chicken Tinga Bowl (Printable)

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

# 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 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 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 and slightly charred.
04 - While the chicken bakes, rinse the 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 - In a bowl, combine diced avocados, tomato, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño if using, lime juice, and salt. Gently toss to combine.
06 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top each with roasted chicken and vegetables. Spoon avocado salsa over each bowl. Garnish with lime wedges and extra cilantro as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks on one pan while rice simmers beside it, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
  • Those smoky, charred edges on the chicken and peppers taste like you've been cooking for hours, but you haven't.
  • The bright avocado salsa cuts through the heat in the most satisfying way, making each bite feel balanced and alive.
02 -
  • Chipotle in adobo is spicy, so taste your salsa before serving if you're cooking for people who don't like heat, then adjust or offer hot sauce on the side.
  • Cut your avocado right before you serve, because oxidation is real and there's nothing sadder than brown guac.
  • If your rice turns out a little wet, just uncover it for a minute or two to let steam escape, problem solved.
03 -
  • Don't crowd your baking sheet, because steam needs room to escape if you want those charred, crispy edges.
  • Prep everything before you turn on the oven so you're not chopping vegetables while your oven preheats.
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