Why This Recipe Works:
- The Flavor is Amazing: The combo of charred tomato salsa, grilled chicken, and crisp zucchini noodles really takes this bowl to the next level.
- Easy & Adaptable: It doesn’t matter if you’re vegan, keto, or just plain indecisive. You can make this recipe whatever you want it to be. It’s flexible enough to throw in whatever you’ve got lurking in your pantry. You can even throw in leftover grilled chicken!
- It’s Healthy: Protein-packed chicken and vitamin-rich zucchini noodles make this a wholesome, nutritional meal that doesn’t skimp on taste.
How to Revere Meal Plan with this Bowl
Reverse Meal Planning is all about shopping backwards: start with what you’ve got, then plan around that. It’s the perfect way to save time, money, and waste less food!
This bowl was practically made for Reverse Meal Plan. The first thing to do before making it is take a little tour of your own kitchen. Got some boneless chicken (or leftover chicken)? Good! Ripe tomatoes lounging on your countertop? Perfect! Visit your pantry next. Got some olive oil, some garlic, and some spices? Done and done! Anything extra is just a bonus!
If you’re missing an item or two, don’t worry. This recipe is all about flexibility:
Ingredient Swap-outs:
- Grilled Chicken: If chicken’s not your jam, throw in some steak instead. Going green? Swap out that chicken for plant-based proteins like grilled tofu, tempeh, or portobello mushrooms.
- Zucchini Noodles: Are you a carb-lover or carb-cautious? Whatever you are, there’s a world of options to replace those zoodles, like rice, quinoa, couscous, farro, or even cauliflower rice.
- Crispy Onions: Don’t like onions, or maybe just find yourself onion-less? Bake thinly sliced cheese ’til crispy. For an even more effortless option, crushed tortilla chips are the way to go!
Build Your Charred Tomato Salsa Buddha Bowl:
Buddha Bowls are known for their healthy combo of grains, proteins, veggies, a flavorful sauce or dressing, and something a little crunchy on top. This Charred Tomato Salsa Chicken Bowl is perfect example of a great Buddha Bowl.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to make your own Charred Tomato Salsa Chicken Buddha Bowl:
- Base / Veggies: For this bowl, you’ve knocked out 2 requirements of a Buddha Bowl in one. Your zoodles act as both your veggies and your base!
- Protein: Lay out some strips of grilled chicken that you’ve cooked all those smoky spices.
- Sauce: Drizzle your Charred Tomato Salsa over your zoodles and chicken.
- Crunch: Top it off with some crispy fried onions for the perfect crunch and texture boost.
- Herbs: Don’t forget to add a little freshly chopped cilantro to enhance those flavors with an herby delight.
FAQs
Can I use store-bought salsa?
You can, but you’re just not gonna get the same satisfying flavors with store-bought. The homemade Charred Tomato Salsa is what makes this bowl what it is. It’s rich and smoky, and so good, we recommend making a big batch to use all week!
Can I use bone-in chicken?
Boneless chicken is the go-to because it’s easy to grill and serve, but bone-in is a great second! Whatever you have on hand will work for this bowl, even leftover proteins.
Can I make the Charred Tomato Salsa ahead of time?
Definitely! In fact, we recommend it! Just be sure to stash it in an airtight container in the fridge ’til your ready to use it (no more than a few days max). If you’re planning to make a big batch, you can even pop it into the freezer and thaw as needed.
Check Out Our Other Low Carb Buddha Bowls:
- Korean Zucchini Noodles Recipe
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp Bowl WIth Cilantro Jalapeño Yogurt Sauce Recipe
- Grilled Chicken Buddha Bowl Recipe WIth Sweet & Tangy Mango Sauce Recipe
Charred Tomato Salsa Chicken Bowl with Charred Tomato Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
Charred Tomato Salsa : Yields 1 ½ cups
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 roma tomatoes
- 1 jalapeno
- ¼ large red onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 small bunch fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Chicken Bowl
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts Boneless, skinless , cut into thin strips
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 16 oz zoodles
To Serve:Â
- Crispy Fried Onions
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Make tomato salsa. In a large saute pan over medium heat add oil, whole tomatoes, whole jalapeno, onion, and garlic cloves. Rotate the vegetables until blistered and charred all over, about 5-7 minutes. Be careful not to burn the cloves (remove them).
- Add all charred ingredients, plus the rest of the ingredients to a blender. Pulse until desired consistency. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper.
- To the same saute pan, over medium-high heat, add additional olive oil and the chicken strips. Sprinkle with all seasonings and toss to coat evenly. Pour salsa over chicken and cover and cook for 8-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- To your bowls add your zoodles, salsa chicken, cilantro, and crispy fried onions.
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