Chicken Taco Bowl with Rice Alternative

Low-Carb Chicken Taco Bowl with Rice-Shaped Pasta

There’s nothing quite like a good taco bowl. The taco bowl and its many variations have become a popular dinnertime staple. Most taco bowls are filled with rice, protein, and Mexican flavors like jalapeno, chili powder, tomato, and cumin. They may include veggies, cheese, sour cream, and other taco-friendly fixings.

But despite ditching the taco shells and tortillas, most taco bowls are still quite carb-heavy thanks to the rice. Today, thanks to It’s Skinny, we’ve got a guilt-free, low-carb chicken taco bowl with rice-shaped pasta that will blow your mind! Get ready to dig into your new favorite dinner!

Tacos: Everyone’s Favorite Meal

It seems that everyone loves tacos—and for good reason. They’re delicious!

There are many origin theories and stories about the term taco. Some people believe that the word goes back to 1800s miners who would fold paper around gunpowder and other explosives. These little folded packs were called tacos; thus, the food received a similar moniker.

Tacos originated in Mexico. Small tortillas were used to scoop up different fillings and ingredients. Eventually, they made their way to the United States, gaining popularity. In the 1940s, the hardshell was patented—consisting of a tortilla fried into a U-shape to better hold the food.

Tacos became a popular fast-food item, growing ubiquity throughout the late 20^th century. Many taco chains feature a variety of options and styles of taco, including the beloved taco bowl.

As low-carb dieting was proven to be an effective way to lose weight, many people wanted to ditch the carb-heavy tortilla shell for a lighter taco bowl. Rice, despite also being high in carbs, became the preferred base for these bowls.

The origins of rice in Latin America go way back. Spanish colonizers brought rice to Mexico in the 1500s, where it quickly became a staple food. In many parts of South America, rice is served with almost every meal, including tacos. However, white or brown rice is still high in carbohydrates and can make your taco bowl less keto-friendly. 

Now, the many variations of tacos that we enjoy in the United States aren’t all authentic, but usually, there’s a variation in protein, rice, beans, and vegetables. One of the favorite taco options for almost everyone is chicken!

Today, we decided to give the classic chicken taco bowl a healthy makeover with It’s Skinny Rice-shaped Pasta. These low-carb chicken taco bowls have all the delicious flavors you love in your favorite Mexican dish but in a fast, easy bowl format that won’t derail your keto diet or low-carb lifestyle.

The Secret of it’s Skinny Rice-Shaped Pasta 

How do we make something so close to traditional rice in taste and texture but without the carbohydrates of the original dish? Meet It’s Skinny.

It’s Skinny shirataki rice-shaped pasta and noodles are extremely low carb. How low? ZERO net carbohydrates per serving! Thanks to satisfying and filling glucomannan fiber, It’s Skinny low-carb rice-shaped pasta lets you remake all your favorite foods with lightened-up stats.

Each It’s Skinny pack has only 9 calories. Even if you aren’t so concerned about cutting carbs, it’s the perfect option for weight watchers, calorie counters and those who follow intermittent fasting. There are even some dishes with It’s Skinny that won’t break your fast!

It’s Skinny is made from a root vegetable called konjac. Konjac is similar in shape and texture to a turnip or radish. It’s fibrous. It makes excellent pasta noodles and rice alternative, without gluten and other ingredients that can derail your diet.

We use traditional It’s Skinny Rice-shaped pasta for this dish, but you could also use our organic rice-shaped pasta if you prefer. We offer four styles of It’s Skinny:

• Spaghetti
• Fettuccine
• Angel Hair
• Rice-shaped Pasta

With two variations: traditional and organic. If you’re having a hard time settling on just one choice, why not try a variety pack? You’ll get to try each type of It’s Skinny product to scale up your recipes.

Speaking of recipes, if you’re wondering how to use It’s Skinny, it couldn’t be easier. Open the package, drain, rinse, and pat dry (if you like). Add the It’s Skinny to your other ingredients at the end of cooking and let it heat through. There’s no need to boil water or wait for the perfect texture. It’s Skinny is ready in just minutes. Unlike cauliflower rice and other rice swaps, It's Skinny won't overpower your other ingredients or become mushy during cooking.

Explore our recipe database for ideas on how to remake your favorite dishes with It’s Skinny. You’ll find options for many lifestyles and preferences. It’s Skinny is suitable for vegans, those who keep kosher, gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30, and many other diets.

What You Need to Know About Low-Carb Taco Bowls

Now, a taco bowl is open to a wide variety of interpretations and preferences. For our recipe here, we used chicken thighs to get extra juicy, flavorful chicken. We added many of our favorite taco ingredients, like avocado, jalapenos, and cheese. But there are plenty of ways you can play around with this recipe and make it your own. Here are a few questions and answers about customizing taco bowls.

Can I use a different protein in my taco bowl?

If chicken thighs aren’t your preferred option for taco meat, you can use any protein you like in your taco bowl. This low-carb taco bowl works well with ground chicken, chicken breasts, or shredded leftover rotisserie chicken.

But don’t limit yourself to just chicken. You could make this bowl with shredded beef or pork. Ground beef is a classic option as well. You could use ground turkey or even shredded extra firm tofu. Even shrimp makes a great addition to a taco bowl, or try salmon to get some heart-healthy fats. You could also use black beans for a vegetarian version. 

What other vegetables could I include in my taco bowl?

One great part of tacos is the crunch factor. Many times, this comes from added lettuce, peppers, or crunchy veggies. Add any fresh greens or shredded cabbage to these easy chicken taco bowls to increase the yummy crunch!

As far as other vegetables for this taco bowl, consider including olives, zucchini squash, or even jicama in your taco bowl. Any type of pepper is great here—poblano or habanero would be delicious instead of or in addition to jalapenos. All the fresh taco flavors play well together. 

How can I spice this up? Are there other flavors to add?

The truth is that the sky’s the limit when customizing your taco bowl with your favorite toppings. In fact, choosing topping might be the best part of making this family favorite meal. You could try a smoky salsa or a roasted pepper sauce instead of the traditional salsa. You could swap out the jack cheese for cheddar cheese, cotija, or spicy pepper jack. Colby cheese can work well in a taco bowl, too.

Cilantro may be a polarizing flavor, and if it’s not for you, consider swapping it with parsley for a milder option. You can use any variety of onions in lieu of shallots and play with your spice mix to meet your preference. Red onion or green onions work well here. Chili powder and cumin are a great combination, but you could use a taco seasoning blend, homemade taco seasoning, or any flavor enhancers you prefer.

How to Make a Low-Carb Chicken Taco Bowl

As you can see, this low-carb taco bowl is ready to customize! No matter how you make this delicious recipe, we know chicken tacos are a universal favorite. For this recipe, we use tender chicken thighs seasoned to perfection with zesty taco spices and salsa. This keto meal is a great option when you're looking for something fast and satisfying. 

We top our delicious taco bowl with a mixture of vegetables and cheese, sour cream, avocado, and jalapenos. When it goes over the top of It’s Skinny rice-shaped pasta, you have a taco bowl packed with flavors that won’t quit. Get ready to nom!