MeaningIn EveryMacro

Meal Prep

Smoky Chicken Mole Bowls

Name: Smoky Chicken Mole Bowls
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 lbs raw boneless skinless chicken breast; 1 tbsp olive oil or spray oil; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 2 dried guajillo chiles seeds removed; 1 dried chipotle chile or chipotle in adobo to taste; 1/2 small yellow onion roughly chopped; 2 cloves garlic minced; 1 tbsp pepitas dry toasted; 1 tbsp cocoa powder; 10 g 85% dark chocolate; 1/2 tsp cumin; 1/4 tsp cinnamon; 1/8 tsp ground clove; 1/4 tsp ground coriander; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp honey or raisins to taste; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth more as needed for texture; 1 red bell pepper chopped; 1 poblano pepper sliced; 1 small red onion sliced; 1 tsp olive oil spray; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp paprika; 1 cup dry jasmine rice

Smoky Mole Chicken Bowls are what happens when clean eating accidentally develops a personality - juicy spice-rubbed chicken, roasted peppers and onions, cilantro lime rice, and a smoky homemade mole sauce that somehow tastes rich enough to be illegal while still landing around 578 calories. This is one of those meal preps that makes you feel like you cooked something way fancier than you actually did.

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 30 min
Makes: 4 servings

578Calories

58gProtein

55.1gCarbs

13.6gFat

Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 55 mins

Servings

Ingredient unitsSwitch every measurable amount on this recipe.

Equipment

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Instructions

Rehydrate the Chiles:

Toast the guajillo and chipotle chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1- 2 minutes until fragrant. Then place them in a bowl with hot water and soak for 10 minutes.

2 dried guajillo chiles, 1 dried chipotle chile

Season the Chicken:

Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.

2 lb raw boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper

Make the Mole Sauce:

In the same skillet, dry toast onion, garlic, and pepitas (or almonds) until lightly browned. Transfer all toasted ingredients to a blender.

½ small yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp pepitas

Add the rehydrated chiles, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, cumin, cinnamon, clove, coriander, honey (or raisins/date), vinegar or lime juice, salt, and chicken broth.

1 tbsp cocoa powder, 10 g 85% dark chocolate, ½ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ⅛ tsp ground clove, ¼ tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp honey, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, ½ cup low sodium chicken broth

Blend until smooth, adding more broth as needed to reach a pourable consistency. Taste and adjust salt/sweetness as desired.

Roast the Vegetables:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Spread the vegetables on a baking sheet, spray with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20- 25 minutes, flipping halfway.

1 red bell pepper, 1 poblano pepper, 1 small red onion, 1 tsp olive oil spray, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika

Cook the Rice:

Cook the listed dry jasmine rice according to your preferred method (we recommend a rice cooker or stovetop method). Once cooked, stir in lime juice, chopped cilantro, and a pinch of salt.

1 cup dry jasmine rice, ½ limes, 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, ¼ tsp salt

Cook the Chicken:

Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the breasts for 5- 6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

1 tbsp olive oil

Assemble the Bowls:

Divide cilantro lime rice, roasted vegetables, and sliced chicken into individual meal prep containers. Spoon mole sauce generously over the chicken. Garnish with fresh lime wedges.

2 limes

Nutrition

Per serving

Estimates for one serving.

Calories: 578 kcal
Protein: 58 g
Fat: 13.6 g
Carbs: 55.1 g

Full nutrition and how it’s calculated

All values are per serving. Changing the recipe yield scales the ingredients and keeps these per-serving amounts the same.

Saturated Fat: 3.02 g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.22 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 5.83 g
Trans Fat: 0.02 g
Cholesterol: 166 mg
Sodium: 1,138 mg
Potassium: 1,216 mg
Fiber: 4.8 g
Sugar: 7.4 g
Added Sugar: 2 g
Vitamin A: 114 mcg RAE
Vitamin C: 128.35 mg
Vitamin D: 0 mcg
Calcium: 68 mg
Iron: 4.94 mg

Nutrition updated September 2026. We now calculate nutrition using our ingredient library, with USDA data, product labels, and documented estimates. Older Pinterest graphics and MyFitnessPal entries may show different numbers. Use the per-serving values above when tracking this recipe.

Brands, substitutions, and preparation can change these estimates.

View ingredient standards & nutrition methods

Estimated ingredient cost

$2.77 per serving · $11.08 for this batch

Ingredient costs and assumptions

Estimated US grocery prices for the amounts used, including purchase waste and discarded marinade. Your store, brands, and package sizes may cost differently. Buying full packages can cost more. Price sources and methodology.

Quantities without exact weights use the nutrition library’s portion estimates. Purchase yields are estimates. Separate citrus ingredients are costed independently; reusing the same fruit for juice and zest can lower your cost. Labor, utilities, and delivery are excluded.

raw boneless skinless chicken breast: $5.14
907.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
Authored ingredient weight. Variable-weight pack priced per pound, raw boneless skinless breast.
Walmart: Freshness Guaranteed Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast · Price checked 2026-09-21
olive oil: $0.18
13.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 13.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 17 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic powder: $0.03
3.1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 3.1 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Garlic Powder · Price checked 2026-09-21
smoked paprika: $0.04
1.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.3 g Four 2 oz jars; full multipack weight is 8 oz.
Walmart: (4 pack) Great Value Smoked Paprika, 2 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.00
3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
black pepper: $0.02
0.6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.3 g; texture=ground Ground black pepper reference; cracked pepper may cost differently.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Black Pepper · Price checked 2026-09-21
dried guajillo chiles: $0.03
1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 pepper = 0.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: El Guapo Whole Guajillo Chili Pods, 7.5 oz Bag · Price checked 2026-09-21
dried chipotle chile: $0.03
0.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 pepper = 0.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Chipotle Chile Peppers 4 oz - Rich Smoky Spicy Flavor, All Natural Great For Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes by. Amazing Chiles and Spices · Price checked 2026-09-21
small yellow onion: $0.06
38.9 g purchased · Editorial purchase-yield estimate: 90% usable; includes discarded peel, shell, or core.
1 onion = 70 g; USDA SR Legacy household weights used as an approximate physical conversion for the current ingredient profile; nutrition remains from its own mapped record. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Yellow Onions, 3 lb Bag · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic: $0.11
6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
3 clove = 9 g; USDA SR Legacy household weights used as an approximate physical conversion for the current ingredient profile; nutrition remains from its own mapped record. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Spice World Fresh Peeled Garlic, 6 oz, Pouch · Price checked 2026-09-21
pepitas: $0.14
8.1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 129 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Pepitas, 8 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
cocoa powder: $0.11
5.4 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 5.4 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Baking Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 8 oz Tub · Price checked 2026-09-21
85% dark chocolate: $0.45
10 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
Authored ingredient weight. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: bettergoods Premium Swiss 85% Dark Chocolate Bar, 3.5 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
cumin: $0.02
1.1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.1 g; texture=ground; Editorial ground-cumin estimate: 2.1 g/tsp. Grinding/packing varies; this is not a USDA ground-cumin portion. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Cumin, 2.5 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
cinnamon: $0.01
0.7 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.6 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Cinnamon · Price checked 2026-09-21
ground clove: $0.01
0.3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.1 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Cloves, 2 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
ground coriander: $0.05
0.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 1.8 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Organic Ground Coriander, 1.5 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.00
3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
honey: $0.09
7 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 21 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Raw Honey, 16 oz Bottle · Price checked 2026-09-21
apple cider vinegar: $0.04
14.9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 14.9 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Apple Cider Vinegar, 32 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
low sodium chicken broth: $0.20
120 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 240 g Liquid carton treated as 32 US fl oz; stock uses the broth reference where applicable.
Walmart: Great Value Reduced Sodium Gluten-Free Chicken Broth, 32 oz Carton (Shelf-Stable) · Price checked 2026-09-21
red bell pepper: $1.52
180 g purchased · Whole purchased item: 180 g each (estimated); includes shell, peel, or seeds.
1 pepper = 119 g; size=medium; USDA SR Legacy household weights used as an approximate physical conversion for the current ingredient profile; nutrition remains from its own mapped record. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Red Bell Pepper, Each · Price checked 2026-09-21
poblano pepper: $0.86
120 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 each = 120 g; Editorial fresh-poblano edible weight: 120 g. Nutrition is an explicitly disclosed raw green-chile proxy. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Poblano Peppers, 16 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
small red onion: $0.20
77.8 g purchased · Editorial purchase-yield estimate: 90% usable; includes discarded peel, shell, or core.
1 onion = 70 g; USDA SR Legacy household weights used as an approximate physical conversion for the current ingredient profile; nutrition remains from its own mapped record. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Red Onions, 3 lb, Bag · Price checked 2026-09-21
olive oil spray: $0.11
4.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 4.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cooking Spray, 7 oz Can · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.00
3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
black pepper: $0.05
1.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.3 g; texture=ground Ground black pepper reference; cracked pepper may cost differently.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Black Pepper · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic powder: $0.03
3.1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 3.1 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Garlic Powder · Price checked 2026-09-21
paprika: $0.04
2.3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.3 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Paprika · Price checked 2026-09-21
dry jasmine rice: $0.59
185 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 185 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Jasmine Rice · Price checked 2026-09-21
limes: $0.13
35 g purchased · Whole purchased item: 70 g each (estimated); includes shell, peel, or seeds.
Editorial medium/large edible fruit and juice-yield estimates. Juiced fruit uses 30 g each; the whole-fruit nutrition profile remains an approximate proxy. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Lime, Each · Price checked 2026-09-21
chopped fresh cilantro: $0.27
2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
0.25 cup = 4 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Cut Cilantro, 0.5 oz Clamshell · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.00
1.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
limes: $0.50
140 g purchased · Whole purchased item: 70 g each (estimated); includes shell, peel, or seeds.
1 lime (medium) = 67 g; size=medium; Editorial medium/large edible fruit and juice-yield estimates. Juiced fruit uses 30 g each; the whole-fruit nutrition profile remains an approximate proxy. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Lime, Each · Price checked 2026-09-21

Make it yoursRecipe notes & meal-prep tips

Macro breakdown

Protein58g41%
Carbs55.1g38%
Fat13.6g21%

Per serving · Share of calories from macros

Calculated using 4 calories per gram of protein and carbs, and 9 for fat. Rounding and fiber can affect the listed calorie total.

Triple B's Meal Prep Notes

Give the mole sauce its own little prep window. Toast and soak the dried chiles first, then blend them with the toasted onion, garlic, pepitas, cocoa, chocolate, and spices while the rice and vegetables cook. Measure those small spice amounts ahead so the blender stage is organized rather than a last-minute search through jars.

The sauce should be pourable enough to spoon over the sliced chicken and reach some of the rice. Add broth gradually if it is too thick, and taste before adding more sweetness. Cocoa and dark chocolate are part of the savory sauce here, so the goal is a balanced chile sauce rather than a chocolate-forward topping. This gives the chicken meal-prep collection a different direction from simple bottled glazes. Check the roasting peppers before they become completely soft. A little bite helps them hold up beside the mole, so pack them alongside the sauced chicken instead of burying them underneath it.

For a refrigerated serving, microwave on high for 90 seconds, stir, then heat for another 45 seconds. Use that as a starting point and continue in short intervals as needed until the food reaches 165°F throughout. Stir the rice through some of the sauce and reposition the chicken slices at the pause. Loosen with a small splash of water or broth if needed, then add fresh lime after heating. The recipe contains several optional swaps in the sauce; make one deliberate version first so you know what you want to adjust next time. Explore the Mexican-inspired recipes or other meal-prep bowls for a second meal with a simpler prep routine alongside it.

Notes from your kitchen

Tried it? Tell us how it went.

Leave a rating and tell us how it turned out. Swaps, tips, and questions welcome.

From the community

Triple B · Creator note2025-12-14

I built this recipe wanting to perfect my very own mole recipe. No two mole recipes are the same- but I think I love my slightly spicier, slightly lighter version than what you may have gotten from other moles. Let me know how mine stacks up!

Smoky Chicken Mole Bowls