Our family loves Chipotle. I would have been devastated if our small town did not have one here…that along with Chick-fil-A, but I digress. Most people do not know that the flour tortillas have 290 calories, the serving of white rice has 130 calories and the chips have 570 calories! Tack on sour cream and guacamole and you could easily create a 1000 calorie burrito if you are not careful. I started making these burritos at home after I had them at my cousins house. They are reminiscent of those at the restaurant but with a few healthy alternatives. I make brown rice with cilantro and lime instead of white and I substitute whole wheat tortillas for white flour tortillas. These are just as good and you can feel good knowing you’re serving your family a healthy alternative!

Chicken Burritos
Recipe Courtesy of Deepa Thomas Miller

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
salt and pepper
1 red pepper, cut into strips
1 medium red onion, sliced
1 cup cooked brown rice
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon reserved
juice of 1 lime
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup jarred salsa
1/2 cup water
1 jalapeno pepper, split in half
shredded lettuce
diced tomatoes
sour cream
cheese

In a bowl, combine olive oil, cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add chicken breasts and coat evenly and marinate in fridge for at least 2 hours.

About 30-45 minutes before you are ready to serve, prepare outdoor or indoor grill. Place chicken breasts on medium flame and grill until juices run clear, about 20 minutes.

In a small sauce pan, add drained black beans, salsa, water and jalapeno pepper along with 1 tablespoon cilantro and cook over medium low heat for 20 minutes.

In a saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add peppers and onions and cook until softened, about 30 minutes.

Add the juice of lime and 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro to cooked brown rice along with a pinch of salt, fluff with a fork and set aside until ready to serve.

You can build these burritos with your favorite toppings and whole wheat tortillas or you can serve them as a burrito bowl along with your favorite tortilla chips.