spicy chipotle bbq jackfruit and white bean burrito bowls

I will always remember our stop at a San Jose Chipotle after a long travel day before the 2022 Big Sur Marathon.

We’d been carb loading for a few days, and while to some that sounds like the ideal dietary phenomenon – wow, ALL THE CAKE AND PIZZA! – it actually fucking sucks. The worst part of marathon training, those final 4-5 days before the race. Worse than even 20 mile runs. Fun foods are practically off limits, unless you think plain bagels and salted baked potatoes with nothing on them are fun.

Maybe I’m being extreme, but carb loading all in all is not glamorous, and we’d been munching things like pretzels and Clif Bars and sipping orange juice most of the day. I was actually on the verge of tears due to the bland strictness of the occasion. The strategy is proven to work and definitely helped me before all three of my marathons, but still, you never quite get used to the ever-present feeling of fullness yet still-hungry feeling.

Anywho, not to make this about marathon running. Our first sidetrack once we landed in California was to find a Chipotle, since the food is easily customized and relatively easy on the stomach if you don’t overload the toppings. The one we chose was actually out of a lot of shit, but my god, were we relieved to throw down some real food. I don’t think beans and rice and salsa ever tasted so fucking amazing. The shop was pretty much dead and sort of dingy relative to other Chipotle’s I’ve visited, but having a plate of fare that wasn’t plain bread basically made my whole year.

I thought about this day when meal planning for the week, and came up with my own dupe for those of ya’ll looking for an at-home alternative to the pricy bowl. These vegetarian Spicy Chipotle BBQ Jackfruit and White Bean Burrito Bowls and full of jackfruit simmered in my homemade barbecue blend, piled atop rice with a variety of toppings you can easily switch up if you’re feeling something else you’ve got squirreled away in your fridge.

I kept mine pretty simple, with shredded lettuce, avocado salsa, and cheese, but for shizzy – load ’em up however you please! A fuss-free weeknight meal everyone will love, and far cheaper than a trip out to a storefront.

Jack on the Barbie

Well that sounds dirty.

These bowls are so fast, you’ll wonder if you were bestowed with Flash powers. All you need is to gather up some pantry ingredients, drain some jackfruit and beans, and you’re on your way to dinner.

I first like to cook up the jackfruit in some oil to steam out a good amount of the liquid. Drying the jackfruit a bit helps it absorb the sauce and gain a little crisp.

Once you’ve given the jackfruit some time in the skillet on its own, to ruminate over its life choices, toss in the beans and the bbq blend. This sauce appears in many of my bbq recipes, and you can adjust components based on your own preferences:

…Want it vegan? Find a vegan Worcestershire sauce or use soy sauce (not quite the same, but suitable in a pinch).

…Don’t want to cook with beer? Use vegetable broth instead. Beef broth works well too if you aren’t vegetarian/vegan!

Top O’ the Bowl To Ye

While the jackfruit simmers away, prep your toppings.

For these bowls, I chopped up some lettuce, since I like a good cronchy romaine base, and whipped together a simple avocado salsa: avo, lime juice, cilantro, and a diced jalapeno for some bite. I don’t usually go hogwild with my Chipotle bowls in general, so as a finisher I like a dollop of plain Greek yogurt (sour cream is great too) and a sprinkle of cheese. White cheddar or Monterey jack are my favorites.

Pile all your shit atop a base of steamed rice, white or brown, and serve. Or, divvy up a few meal prep containers with your goodies so you can grab one on the way out the door for your lunch that afternoon.

If you need more protein, some rotisserie chicken works for omnivores, or I like to cook up some chipotle shrimp. If I have pineapple around I might do a salsa, too, which is pretty regular this time of year when I always seem to keep a random pineapple on my countertop.

Go crazy or go simple. That’s the beauty of the bowl, my dudes.

Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!

Bad to the bowl (nana nanana):

Spicy Sesame Orange Tempeh Bowls

Sesame Crusted Salmon Salad Bowls

Maple Chipotle Salmon and Avocado Rice Bowls

Spicy Buffalo Shrimp Bowls with Creamy Lime Ranch