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Home Meal Prep Chicken Meal Prep Recipes
5
/5
50 minutes

Mexican Chicken Parm Meal Prep Bowls (+ video)

Low Carb Low Carb Nut Free Nut Free Meal Prep Meal Prep
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard8 Comments
Posted: 5/15/17 Updated: 8/28/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Mexican chicken parm and cauliflower rice meal prep bowls make for a tasty, low carb work lunch that can be prepped on the weekend. Topped with jalapeño Monterey Jack cheese for a little kick!

Mexican chicken parm and cauliflower rice meal prep bowls in glass containers

We've just wrapped up our second Lunch Prep Challenge, and it was an absolute blast!

I love the challenges because I learn so much about different people's likes/dislikes, dietary needs, and how other families eat. This time around, there were some requests for lower carb meal prep lunch recipes.

Now as a hungry carb-loving pregnant lady, the thought of cutting carbs made me worried it would mean going hungry.

Luckily, these Mexican chicken parm and caulifower rice meal prep bowls are not going to leave you feeling hungry! They are filling, and full of flavor, and have a little kick thanks to Armstrong Cheese's new Monterey Jack with Jalapeño.

Two packages of Armstrong Monterey Jack Jalapeno cheese and a cheese grater

four breaded chicken breasts topped with shredded cheese on baking dish

This post is brought to you in partnership with Armstrong Cheese, a Canadian heritage brand that I've loved and eaten as far back as my memory stretches. Armstrong Cheese has taken new, exciting flavors and put them into our favourite family-friendly block. I can't wait to try the Garden Herb and Havarti...hello heaven!

To pair with the Monterey Jack with Jalapeño, I created this 'chicken parmesan' inspired Mexican chicken served in some cauliflower rice meal prep bowls. I added some ground cumin and coriander to the breadcrumb mixture, topped with some salsa in place of marinara, and smothered it with the Monterey Jack with Jalapeño cheese.

And I think I might just like this version better than traditional chicken parmesan!

close up shot of a hand sprinkling shredded cheese onto chicken breast

overhead view of riced cauliflower in cuisinart

You could enjoy these as dinner or as meal prep bowls. The chicken is crispy and delicious right after cooking, and while the texture will soften slightly in the fridge, the awesome flavours stick around for good!

I was happily surprised with how well the cauliflower rice held up in the fridge. I cooked mine al dente, so that as it cooks in the microwave as you re-heat the meal prep bowls, it won't get mushy.

Another tip: don't over process your cauliflower. Cutting the cauliflower into smaller chunks (rather than larger ones) before processing helped me get uniform, larger cauliflower rice.

Don't forget to pin this recipe to save it for later!

Large saute pan filled with all ingredients for cauliflower rice

Overhead shot of four glass containers filled with Mexican chicken parm and cauliflower rice

I kept the flavours of the cauliflower rice really simple because with this dish, it's all about that Mexican chicken parm...and that cheese!

Thank you to Armstrong Cheese for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own.

Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped these Mexican Chicken & Cauliflower Rice Meal Prep Bowls. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.

Tips for your perfect Mexican Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Meal Prep Bowls

  • I used my trusty food processor to make my cauliflower rice, but you can now often find pre-riced cauliflower in the grocery store
  • for other breaded chicken ideas, check out these Healthy Homemade Freezer Chicken Strips and these Lime Tortilla Chicken Strips or try one of these 7 Freezable Chicken Marinades
  • these are my favourite meal prep lunch containers

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

glass meal prep container with mexican chicken cauliflower rice bowl

Mexican Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Meal Prep Bowls

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Print Rate
Mexican chicken parm and cauliflower rice meal prep bowls make for a tasty, low carb work lunch that can be prepped on the weekend.  Topped with jalapeño Monterey Jack cheese for a little kick!
4

Ingredients

Mexican Chicken

  • 12-14 oz chicken breast roughly 2 large chicken breasts, sliced in half to make 3 oz portions
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup cornmeal
  • ¼ cup Panko or regular breadcrumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander

After baking

  • ½ cup salsa
  • 1 cup Armstrong Monterey Jack with Jalapeño Cheese

Cauliflower Rice

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ onion small dice
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 bell pepper small dice
  • 3 cups riced cauliflower roughly 4-5 cups florets chopped small
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • additional salsa & cheese optional

Instructions 

  • Heat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
  • In three separate bowls combine: 1) flour 2) egg 3) cornmeal, panko, salt, cumin and coriander.
  • Prepare the chicken breast, cutting large portions in half (the way you would if you were butterflying it). Dip first in the flour, shaking off excess, then in the egg to coat, and finally, roll in the cornmeal mixture until fully coated.
  • Place chicken breast on the baking sheet and repeat with remaining portions.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, flip, then bake for another 10 minutes.
  • Spread with 2 tablespoons of salsa, and sprinkle with 2-4 tablespoons of cheese.
  • Return to oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Cauliflower RiceWhile chicken is baking, prepare the cauliflower rice.
  • Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and cook for 5 or so minutes, until soft. Add the garlic and cook for a minute.
  • Add the bell pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes, until slightly soft.
  • Add the riced cauliflower and salt, and continue cooking for 3-4 more minutes. You want your veggies to be al dente and not completely soft.
  • Remove from heat and cool.
  • Lunch BowlsDivide the cauliflower rice between four 2 cup capacity storage containers. Top each with a portion of chicken.
  • Store for up to 4 days.
  • To Re-heatHeat in the microwave until heated through.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1lunch bowl, Calories: 420kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 37g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 146mg, Sodium: 1118mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g
Author: Denise Bustard
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Mexican

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

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Recipe Rating




  1. Iris says

    Posted on 4/22/22 at Posted on 4/22/22

    5 stars
    This recipe is super easy to prepare , very tasty & a big hit with the family

    Reply
    • Ben | Sweet Peas & Saffron says

      Posted on 5/3/22 at Posted on 5/3/22

      Hi Iris,
      We are happy to hear you are enjoying our recipes. Thank you for sharing

      Reply
  2. Marissa says

    Posted on 1/3/20 at Posted on 1/3/20

    This is my first-time meal prepping and this recipe made it so simple. I even got up the courage to make the cauliflower rice by hand! Thank you for this delicious recipe! I have been taking notes about which one I want to do next!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 1/13/20 at Posted on 1/13/20

      Wow, great job Marissa! I hope you enjoyed your meals!

      Reply
  3. Amanda says

    Posted on 1/27/18 at Posted on 1/27/18

    How many calories would it be with just grilled chicken instead of all the bread crumbs/flour/cornmeal?

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 1/28/18 at Posted on 1/28/18

      Hi Amanda, unfortunately I don't have that information...you could try running it through the My Fitness Pal calorie counting program?

      Reply
  4. Molly says

    Posted on 7/31/17 at Posted on 7/31/17

    Third time making this recipe Denise, we love it! My chicken breasts tend to be a bit larger so I find I need two eggs and a bit more flour and bread crumb mix. .I make it for dinner for two of us and then have the other two servings for my lunch later in the week. Thanks for giving us more variety in our meals!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 8/2/17 at Posted on 8/2/17

      Hi Molly, I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipe! Thanks so much for reporting back 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Denise

Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too! Read more ...

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