BBQ RANCH BOWL - CORELIFE COPYCAT

Craving a meal that's both hearty and flavorful? Look no further than this BBQ Ranch Rice Bowl! Packed with tender chicken, smoky barbecue sauce, creamy tomatillo ranch, and fresh veggies, this dish is the ultimate comfort food mash up. Perfect for lunch or dinner, it's a deliciously satisfying bowl that brings together all your favorite flavors in one easy to make meal!

(Instagram Video)

Why we love this BBQ Ranch Bowl:

We love BBQ Ranch Rice Bowls because they bring together the best of both worlds—comfort and flavor. The smoky, tangy BBQ sauce pairs perfectly with the creamy ranch dressing, creating a deliciously rich and satisfying combination. The hearty rice serves as a perfect base, soaking up all those bold flavors, while the addition of grilled chicken or veggies adds a perfect balance of protein and freshness. It's customizable, easy to make, and the perfect meal to satisfy your cravings for something comforting yet full of bold, savory flavors! Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing dish, this rice bowl checks all the boxes.

Ingredients:

• Chicken - Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein, which is essential for muscle repair, tissue growth, and overall body function. Adding chicken to your BBQ salad boosts its protein content, helping you feel fuller longer and supporting muscle development.
• BBQ Seasoning - BBQ seasoning typically includes a combination of spices. These spices provide a balance of smoky, sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors, which infuse the chicken and elevate the entire salad.
• Black Rice - Black rice has a slightly nutty flavor and a chewy texture, which provides a nice contrast to the tender chicken and crisp vegetables in your BBQ chicken salad. This variation in texture makes the salad more interesting and satisfying.  
• Jicama - Jicama has a satisfying crunch that contrasts beautifully with the tender chicken, leafy greens, and other salad ingredients. Its crisp texture adds variety to the salad and makes each bite more enjoyable. Adding fiber-rich ingredients like jicama can make the salad more satisfying. 
• Cheddar Cheese - Cheddar cheese adds a rich, creamy, and slightly tangy flavor that complements the smoky, savory BBQ chicken. It helps balance out the bold flavors in the salad and adds a layer of indulgence without overpowering the other ingredients. For dairy free cheese, by favorite is Violife.
• Black Beans - Black beans are high in dietary fiber, which supports digestive health, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and promotes satiety. Adding black beans helps to make the salad more hearty and keeps you feeling full without overeating.
• Corn - Corn is a good source of essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins (especially B vitamins like folate), and minerals like magnesium and potassium. These nutrients support digestive health, energy production, and heart health, adding to the nutritional profile of the salad.
• Edamame - Edamame contains healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart health by reducing inflammation and improving cholesterol levels. Adding edamame to your salad can enhance its cardiovascular benefits.
• BBQ Sauce - BBQ sauce is the key ingredient that imparts the characteristic smoky, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor to BBQ chicken. Adding it to your salad ensures that the chicken and other ingredients are coated in that bold BBQ flavor, making the dish cohesive and flavorful. My all time favorite BBQ sauce is Stubbs Smoky Mesquite. For a lower sugar option, I we enjoy Noble Made. 
• Tomatillo Ranch Dressing - Tomatillo ranch dressing combines the creamy richness of traditional ranch with the tangy, slightly citrusy flavor of tomatillos. This contrast complements the smoky, sweet BBQ chicken by adding a fresh, zesty twist that cuts through the richness of the BBQ sauce and balances the overall flavor profile of the salad. 
• Lime - Fresh lime juice adds a burst of citrusy freshness, which helps to brighten and lift the overall flavor of the salad. The tanginess cuts through the richness of the BBQ chicken and dressing, adding a refreshing contrast that enhances the other ingredients.
• Cilantro - Cilantro’s bright, zesty notes pair well with the smoky, sweet BBQ chicken, creating a more complex flavor profile. It adds a fresh, aromatic element that enhances the BBQ flavors without overpowering them.
• Tortilla Chips - Tortilla chips add a satisfying crunch to the salad, providing a contrast to the tender BBQ chicken and soft vegetables. This added crunch enhances the overall texture of the dish, making it more interesting and enjoyable to eat.
• Tomato - The freshness of tomatoes brightens up the salad, providing a crisp bite that contrasts nicely with the tender chicken and crunchy toppings like tortilla chips. This fresh flavor helps to lighten up the heavier elements of the salad.
• Bell Pepper - Bell peppers come in vibrant colors—red, yellow, and orange—adding a beautiful pop of color to the salad. This makes the dish look more appealing, vibrant, and appetizing, increasing its visual appeal.
• Avocado - Avocados are packed with healthy fats, particularly monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart health. They’re also a good source of vitamins like K, C, and E, as well as potassium and fiber, contributing to a more nutritious and filling salad. The mild, savory flavor of avocado adds depth and complexity to the salad. It complements the BBQ chicken, vegetables, and any tangy or spicy elements like lime or dressing, making each bite more interesting and flavorful.

{BBQ RANCH BOWL - CORELIFE COPYCAT}

332 cal | 46g C | 4g F | 26g P
Serves 4

Rice Bowl:
12oz chicken breast, cut in bite size pieces
BBQ seasoning, I used @traegergrills
1/2c black rice
40g jicama, shredded
1/4c cheddar cheese, I used @violifeus for #df
1c black beans, not drained
80g corn
1/2c edamame
8 Tbs @stubbsbbqsauce Smokey Mesquite BBQ sauce
Tomatillo Ranch dressing
Lime
Cilantro

Optional:
@sietefoods chips or tortilla strips 
tomatoes
chopped red bell pepper 
avoacdo

DIRECTIONS:
Cook black rice as desired.

1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a baking sheet lightly with oil. Place cut up chicken on sheet pan and sprinkle with BBQ seasoning. Bake for 7 minutes. Flip and sprinkle with more seasoning if desired. Continue to cook for another 7 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

2 ) Heat up a cast iron skillet on the stove top. Spray lightly with cooking oil. Add corn. Do not toss. Allow the corn to char for a few minutes. Rotate and let it char on the other side.

3) Add beans to a small pot with the liquid. Allow the beans to heat up while you prepare everything else.

4) In the cast iron, lower the temperature and move the corn to the side. Add the cooked chicken and drizzle with BBQ sauce, allowing it to cook on. You can also add this to the sheet pan if you desire.

5 ) Assemble bowls. Top with Cilantro Lime Ranch dressing. Drizzle with lime and sprinkle with cilantro. 

6) If desired, top with tomatoes and avocado. Add some corn chips or tortilla strips.

If you try this recipe, leave a comment and let me know what you think! I also love seeing what you make, please tag me on Instagram! This helps me to create more for each of you!