These Chipotle Lentil Burrito Bowls are a must make for a delicious and healthy meal that’s easy to make and packed with flavor! With so many tasty toppings to choose from, these beautiful burrito bowls are a breeze to customize and they can even be meal prepped for the week!
For food bloggers, making the same dish several times is usually only done for the sake of recipe testing.
If you make it any more than that then it’s totally taking time away from developing new recipes and content. We’re expected to come up with new recipes on a pretty regular basis, constantly testing, shooting, then moving on to the next thing.
Hard pass.
If I love a dish, I crave it. If I’m craving it… it pretty much goes without saying that I’m going to make it, even if that means whipping it up once a week.
These chipotle lentil burrito bowls, for instance, have been on crazy repeat around here and I regret nothing!
These baller burrito bowls make a fantastic weeknight dinner and they’re so easy to customize with your favorite toppings and mix-ins.
Why Lentils?
Lentils are an excellent source of plant-based protein, with one cup of cooked lentils containing about 18 grams of protein. They’re also low in fat, high in fiber, iron, and because lentils are so versatile, they can be used in a variety of recipes like soups, stews, salads, and, of course, burrito bowls!
If you’re new to the world of lentils, this is an excellent recipe to start with! You can also check out my recipe collection of 7 Lentil Recipes Vegans and Vegetarians will Adore!
Can I use the chipotle lentils as taco filling?
Yes! Yes! 1000x YES! The chipotle lentils make an excellent burrito and taco filling. I love using it to make Chipotle Lentil Tacos as the lentils make a perfect swap for taco meat.
You can also use them on tostadas and taco salads and they taste amazing in a cheesy chipotle lentil quesadilla too. I’ve even been known to use the filling for easy cheesy nachos when the craving strikes. The possibilities are endless!
Tasty Burrito Bowl Toppings – choose your favorites!
As always, get creative with your toppings and add as much or as little as you like. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Diced tomatoes
- Pico de Gallo
- Sliced avocado or guacamole
- Shredded lettuce or cabbage
- Salsa or hot sauce
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Black beans or pinto beans
- Diced red onion or pickled red onions
- Corn or chipotle copycat corn salsa
- sliced jalapeño peppers
- Cilantro and/or green onion
- Lime wedges
You can also add some crunch to your lentil burrito bowl by topping it with some crispy tortilla chips.
OPTIONAL SAUCE: Chipotle Aioli
- 1/4cupquality mayo
- 2-3TBSPsour cream
- 1tspfresh lemon or lime juice
- 1small chipotle pepper
- 1/2tspchipotle adobo sauce
- 1/4tspground cumin
- 1/4 chili powder
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- pinch of salt
To make the chipotle sauce, simply combine ingredients and blend in a small food processor or with an immersion blender. You can also smash and finely mince the pepper and whisk together by hand. Feel free to add extra chipotle pepper or adobo to taste if you like a crazy strong chipotle kick. It’s best to start out small and then add as you go, adjusting to your liking. I usually dive in with a tortilla chip and then adjust as desired.
Chipotle Lentil Burrito Bowls
These chipotle-kissed Lentil Burrito Bowls are packed with plant-based protein and fiber. Factor in variety of healthy toppings and mix-ins and you’ve got the perfect meal for anyone looking to add more plant-based options to their diet. Even my T-Rex of a husband loves this recipe!
Burrito bowls are easy to customize to your liking, so feel free to experiment with different spices and toppings to find your perfect combination. And because it’s so easy to make, it’s a great option for meal prep or a quick weeknight dinner.
Can I meal prep these burrito bowls?
Of course you can! This recipe makes enough for 2 burrito bowls and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a larger family.
In fact, the leftover lentils are fantastic the next day and can be used as easy meal prep to make meal prep burrito bowls or repurposed into tacos, nachos, and more! Store chipotle lentils in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Need a freezer option? Lentils freeze like a champ for up to a month.
Chipotle Lentil Burrito Bowls
These Chipotle Lentil Burrito Bowls are a must make for a delicious and healthy meal that's easy to make and packed with flavor! With so many tasty toppings to choose from, these beautiful burrito bowls are a breeze to customize and they can even be meal prepped for the week!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Keyword: Chipotle Lentil Burrito Bowls
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Jenn Laughlin – Peas and Crayons
Ingredients
CHIPOTLE LENTILS
- ½ cup dried lentils (brown or green)
- 1 ½ cups water or vegetable broth
- ¾ cup enchilada sauce
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo plus 1 tsp adobo sauce
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
BURRITO BOWLS
- 1 cup cooked yellow rice (or extra if a larger portion is desired)
- 1 cup finely chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup chopped tomato
- ½-¾ cup black beans
- ½-¾ cup corn (canned or steamed from frozen)
- 1 small jalapeño pepper sliced
- 2-4 TBSP guacamole
- 2 TBSP sour cream (regular or vegan) plus extra to taste
- 2 TBSP fresh cilantro leaves
EXTRA TOPPING OPTIONS
- tortilla chips for added crunch
- chopped green onion
- sliced bell pepper raw or sautéed
- salsa
- pico de gallo
- pickled red onions
- hot sauce and/or taco sauce
Instructions
Rinse and prep 1/2 cup of lentils
In a medium pot, bring 1 + ½ cups of water to a boil, then add lentils and reduce to simmer. Add enchilada sauce and spices and stir to mix. Cover with the lid slightly tipped to vent and simmer for 20 minutes or until lentils are tender and cooked though.
While the lentils cook, you'll have enough time to cook rice (via package instructions) and prep the remaining burrito bowl ingredients and toppings.
Once the lentils are ready, remove from heat and stir. The mixture will thicken as it cools. Add any additional seasoning to taste during this step. Sometimes I'll add an extra pinch of salt and cumin. If you'd like the lentils spicy you could add hot sauce, spicy taco sauce, or cayenne pepper.
Now it's time to get our burrito bowl on! Divide lentil mixture, cooked rice, and lettuce between bowls. Top with black beans and veggies all your favorite toppings and extras, saving the guacamole and sour cream for last. Dive in while it's hot and enjoy!
MEAL PREP INSTRUCTIONS
Leftover lentils will keep for up to 4 days (or the same as typical leftovers) in the fridge and can be frozen for up to a month. Whenever I make lentils for burrito bowls or tacos I always make some extra so I have lunch sorted for the following day or two.
You can assemble your bowls in meal prep containers and keep extras like sour cream, guac, tortilla chips and strips, etc… in little baggies or lidded containers on the side so you can heat up the hot components of the bowls then pile on the fresh toppings at the end.
Notes
No enchilada sauce? Sauce-ify your lentils using your favorite salsa or taco sauce. Add a little and increase to taste.
Prepping all the toppings and extras while the lentils cook will save on time – which is always a plus!
Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed based on any swaps or additional topping added and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 486kcal, Carbohydrates: 87g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 1563mg, Potassium: 1139mg, Fiber: 25g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 3265IU, Vitamin C: 28mg, Calcium: 120mg, Iron: 8mg
Did You Make This Recipe? Leave a Comment and Rating!
Loving Lentils? Try These Recipes Next!
- Slow Cooker Lentil Taco Chili
- Lentil Minestrone
- Italian Lentil Soup (Instant Pot and Crock-Pot)
- Vegetarian Lentil Tacos
- READER FAVORITE: Madras Lentils
If you get a chance to try these chipotle lentil burrito bowls, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
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