Description
This Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl combines bold Mexican-inspired flavors in a satisfying and balanced meal. Tender, seasoned chicken is served over fluffy rice and topped with creamy, zesty street corn, fresh cilantro, and crumbled cotija cheese. A drizzle of lime crema adds the perfect finishing touch, making this dish a delicious and easy-to-make meal for any night of the week.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Juice of ½ lime
For the Rice:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tbsp butter
For the Street Corn Topping:
- 1½ cups corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ¼ cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
For the Lime Crema:
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
For Garnish:
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Extra cotija cheese
- Lime wedges
Instructions
-
Cook the Chicken:
- Preheat a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
- In a small bowl, mix chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
- Rub the spice mix over the chicken breasts.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes per side until fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F/75°C).
- Squeeze lime juice over the chicken, remove from heat, and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
-
Cook the Rice:
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
- In a pot, bring water or chicken broth to a boil. Add salt and butter.
- Stir in the rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
-
Prepare the Street Corn Topping:
- If using fresh or frozen corn, sauté in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until slightly charred.
- In a bowl, mix corn, mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder, smoked paprika, and lime juice.
- Stir in cotija cheese and cilantro.
-
Make the Lime Crema:
- In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt.
-
Assemble the Bowls:
- Divide cooked rice between bowls.
- Top with sliced chicken and a generous scoop of street corn topping.
- Drizzle with lime crema.
- Garnish with extra cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.
Notes
- Variations: Use grilled chicken, shrimp, or even tofu for a different protein option.
- Serving Tip: Serve with avocado slices for added creaminess.
- Spice Level: Add diced jalapeños or a drizzle of hot sauce for extra heat.
- Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free yogurt instead of sour cream and omit the cotija cheese.
- Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free!
- Prep Time: PT15M
- Cook Time: PT25M
- Category: Main Course, Rice Bowl
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: ~550 kcal
- Sugar: ~4g
- Sodium: ~750mg
- Fat: ~24g
- Saturated Fat: ~7g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~15g
- Trans Fat: ~0g
- Carbohydrates: ~52g
- Fiber: ~4g
- Protein: ~36g
- Cholesterol: ~95mg
Keywords: street corn rice bowl, Mexican chicken rice bowl, elote chicken rice bowl, street corn chicken, Tex-Mex rice bowl, easy chicken dinner, meal prep bowl, healthy chicken rice bowl