Panera's Southwest Chicken Bowl: Worth The Hype?

how is the southwest chicken tortilla bowl at panera

Panera Bread's Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl has been a popular item on the menu, with many people requesting a copycat recipe to try at home. The dish includes a variety of ingredients, such as chicken tortilla soup, fire-roasted tomatoes, cooked chicken, onions, corn, poblano peppers, and more. The bowl is served with tortilla strips and a slice of lime on top. The recipe can be adapted to individual preferences, such as using smoked salt instead of regular salt for a smokier flavour. The dish is considered healthy by 71% of voters, containing 250 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 32 grams of carbohydrates.

Characteristics Values
Calories 250
Fat 8 grams
Carbohydrates 32 grams
Weight Watchers Freestyle Points 5
Weight Watchers SmartPoints 7
Weight Watchers PointsPlus 7
Allergens Soy
Ingredients Chicken, Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Onions, Corn, Poblano Peppers, Black Beans, Green Chilies, Cilantro, Garlic, Tomato Concentrate, Cumin, and more
Preparation Bring chicken, broth, and tomatoes to a boil, add corn, peppers, rice, and quinoa, simmer, add onions, spinach, and serve with tortilla strips and lime

cychicken

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • Chicken broth
  • Fire-roasted tomatoes
  • Cooked chicken (white and dark meat)
  • Onions
  • Corn
  • Hominy
  • Poblano peppers
  • Black beans
  • Corn starch
  • Corn masa flour
  • Sea salt
  • Chicken stock
  • Green chilies
  • Cilantro
  • Garlic
  • Chicken fat
  • Tomato concentrate
  • Soy sauce
  • Yeast extract
  • Lime juice concentrate
  • Paprika
  • Cumin
  • Onion powder
  • Dried chilies
  • Coriander
  • Chipotle base
  • Oregano
  • Black pepper
  • Tortillas
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Spinach
  • Pickled onions
  • Roasted red peppers
  • Adobo corn
  • Chili lime rojo sauce
  • Fresh lime
  • Quinoa
  • Brown rice
  • Napa cabbage blend
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Masa crisps (tortilla strips)

Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Stack the tortillas and slice them in half. Cut the halves crosswise into 1/2-inch strips.
  • Place the tortilla strips on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add salt to taste.
  • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • In a pot, add canned tomatoes, chicken, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes.
  • Stir in the corn, red peppers, rice, and quinoa. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Add the pickled onions and spinach. Stir well and remove from heat.
  • Serve immediately with the baked tortilla strips and a slice of lime on top.

Note: This recipe is a close replica of Panera's Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl, but some ingredients, like smoked chicken, have been omitted or substituted to make it more accessible for the home cook. Feel free to use smoked chicken and include tortilla strips in the bowl if desired.

cychicken

Nutritional value

The nutritional value of the Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl from Panera varies depending on the specific option chosen. The Southwest Chicken Tortilla Soup Bowl contains 250 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 32 grams of carbohydrates. The majority of these calories (48%) come from carbohydrates. To burn off these calories, one would need to run for 22 minutes or walk for 36 minutes.

The Southwest Chicken Tortilla Soup Cup contains fewer calories at 150, while the Southwest Chicken Tortilla Soup Bread Bowl has the highest calorie count at 820 calories, with 9 grams of fat and 150 grams of carbohydrates. Similarly, most of these calories (73%) come from carbohydrates. Burning off these calories would require running for 72 minutes or walking for 117 minutes.

The Panera Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl also comes with a broth option. The Southwest Chicken Tortilla Broth Bowl has 480 calories, 16 grams of fat, 1690 mg of sodium, 51 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of sugar, and 19 grams of protein.

The dish contains soy and does not contain egg, fish, gluten, milk, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, or wheat. However, it is important to note that fast-food restaurants often use shared equipment for food preparation, so they cannot guarantee that a product is entirely free of allergens.

cychicken

Allergy information

The Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl at Panera contains soy. It does not contain egg, fish, gluten, milk, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, or wheat. However, it is important to note that most fast-food restaurants cannot guarantee that any product is entirely free of allergens due to shared equipment for preparing foods.

The bowl includes smoked pulled chicken, quinoa, a tomato sofrito blend, brown rice, spinach, an Napa cabbage blend, fresh lime, pickled red onions, roasted red peppers, adobo corn, and chili lime rojo sauce. It is topped with fresh cilantro and "masa crisps," which are tortilla strips.

The tortilla strips are made by stacking tortillas, slicing them in half, and then cutting the halves crosswise into 1/2-inch strips. They are then tossed with olive oil, seasoned with salt, and baked in the oven until golden brown.

The bowl contains a variety of vegetables, including fire-roasted tomatoes, roasted corn, onions, poblano peppers, black beans, green chilies, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice. The ingredients are combined with chicken broth and seasoned with spices such as cumin, paprika, and oregano.

cychicken

Taste

The Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl from Panera is a flavourful and colourful dish. It features pulled smoked chicken, a quinoa tomato sofrito blend, brown rice, spinach, napa cabbage blend, fresh lime, pickled red onions, roasted red peppers, adobo corn, and chili lime rojo sauce. The dish is topped with fresh cilantro and tortilla strips, also known as "masa crisps", and is served in a bowl made of tortilla. The tortilla strips are made by cutting tortillas into strips, tossing them with olive oil, adding salt to taste, and baking them in the oven until golden brown. The chicken is cooked in a broth with fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, corn, poblano peppers, black beans, and various spices. The dish also includes a slice of lime on top.

While the dish typically uses smoked chicken, one recipe variation does not include smoked chicken as not everyone has access to a smoker. Instead, the recipe suggests using smoked salt to add a similar smoky flavour to the dish. This recipe also does not include the tortilla strips.

The Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl is considered a healthy and nutritious option by many. The dish contains 250 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 32 grams of carbohydrates. The bread bowl option contains significantly more calories at 820 calories, with 9 grams of fat and 150 grams of carbohydrates.

cychicken

Similar dishes

The Southwest Chicken Tortilla Bowl at Panera is a delicious and healthy meal, and there are several similar dishes that you can try.

One similar dish is the Southwest Chicken Burrito Bowl, which is a gluten-free meal prep option. It includes cilantro-lime rice, chipotle-seasoned chicken, black beans, corn, and a variety of toppings such as avocado, guacamole, cheese, crushed tortilla chips, and sour cream. You can also add your own twist with different types of rice, such as jasmine or brown rice, and customize the toppings to your preference.

Another option is the Southwest Chicken Bowl with a spicy chipotle twist. This bowl is loaded with chipotle-seasoned chicken, southwest-style sauteed veggies, fluffy rice, and a cilantro lime crema. The chicken is seasoned with chipotle chili powder, salt, and pepper, and can be cooked in the oven or air fryer.

Additionally, you can explore different variations of the Southwest Chicken Bowl, such as the Hot Honey Chicken Bowl, Greek Chicken Meatball Bowls, Mediterranean Bowl, and Nourish Bowl with Chickpeas. These bowls offer a range of flavors and ingredients, allowing you to customize your meal according to your taste preferences and dietary needs.

Similar to the Panera bowl, these dishes incorporate a variety of bold and flavorful spices, beans, bell peppers, corn, and other southwest-style ingredients. They provide a well-rounded and nutritious meal that can be easily prepared and customized, making them perfect for meal prep and satisfying your cravings for southwest-inspired flavors.

Family Chicken Pack: How Many Pounds?

You may want to see also

Frequently asked questions

The bowl contains smoked pulled chicken, quinoa tomato sofrito blend, brown rice, spinach, napa cabbage blend, fresh lime, pickled red onions, roasted red peppers, adobo corn, and chili lime rojo sauce, topped with fresh cilantro and tortilla strips.

The bowl contains 480 calories.

There are 5 Freestyle Points, 7 SmartPoints, and 7 PointsPlus.

The bowl contains soy. It does not contain egg, fish, gluten, milk, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, or wheat.

The bowl has more calories than the cup, with 480 and 150 calories, respectively.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment