The Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl
The Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl is a colorful and tasty mix of Mexican street corn’s rich, smokey flavor with the hearty goodness of a rice bowl. The chicken is juicy and grilled, and it’s placed on top of a bed of fluffy rice. The corn combination on top is creamy, tangy, and full of spices, lime, and cotija cheese. This dish is great for lunch, dinner, or meal prep since it has just the right amount of spice and comfort.
The first time I tasted this mix, I’ll always remember it. The sweet, charred taste of the maize and the sour taste of the lime took me right to a busy Mexican street market. The smell of chicken cooking on the grill, the bright colors of freshly chopped cilantro and red chile, and the pleasant pour of the creamy sauce over the completed bowl all made me feel like I was having a feast. It was fun to watch the whole dish come together in stages, and the first bite proved that it was something quite exceptional.
This Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl is great since you can make it your own. You can add black beans, avocado slices, or even change the protein to shrimp or tofu. This dish will make you want more, whether you want bright, summery flavors in the dead of winter or a meal that fills you up.
This recipe is great for weeknights when you don’t have much time, for casual family meals, or as a fun new dish to add to your meal rotation. It is a great alternative for people who want hearty, well-balanced meals with a Mexican twist.
Street corn, seasoned chicken, and rice all come together to make a delicious explosion in every bite.
This recipe is easy to make because it uses simple ingredients and comes together quickly.
You may make it your own by adding your favorite toppings or changing the spice level to suit your taste.
A dish full of protein, carbs, and vegetables that is good for you.
Nutritional Information & Time
Time to Get Ready: 15 Minutes
Time to cook: 25 minutes
The whole thing took: 40 minutes
Four servings
About 420 calories per serving
Important Nutrients in Each Serving:
32g of protein
38g of carbohydrates
14 grams of fat
4g of fiber
Vitamin C: 25 mg
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into pieces
- 1 tsp chile powder
- 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp of cumin
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1 cup of long-grain rice
- Juice from one lime
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 cups of corn kernels, either fresh, frozen, or canned
- 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup of crumbled cotija cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
- One lime’s worth of juice
- salt to taste
- Avocado cut into cubes
- Tomatoes cut up
- Jalapeños cut into pieces
- More cotija cheese
Cotija cheese is a crumbly, acidic cheese that makes the street corn taste better.
Lime juice gives the rice and street corn a fresh taste.
Chili powder gives the dish a smokey, spicy touch that links everything together.
Instructions
- Get the chicken ready
Add chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper to the cubed chicken.
In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 5 to 7 minutes, or until it is golden and done. Put aside.
- Make the rice
Follow the directions on the package to cook the rice.
After cooking, use a fork to fluff it up and mix in lime juice and chopped cilantro. - Prepare the Street Corn
Mix the corn kernels, mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, lime juice, and a little bit of salt in a bowl. Mix until everything is properly mixed. - Put the bowls together
Put the rice in serving bowls.
Put the cooked chicken and a big dollop of the street corn mixture on top.
For more taste and color, you can add any optional toppings, including diced avocado or sliced jalapeños.
Serve the Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl warm, with a lime wedge and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro on top.
Tips & Variations
- Cook the Corn: To make it taste better, cook the corn before adding it to the mayonnaise and cotija cheese.
- Change the Proteins: Instead of chicken, try shrimp, beef, or tofu for a new flavor.
- Meal Prep: You can keep the rice, chicken, and street corn in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready to eat, put them all together in new bowls.
- Hot Variation:
If you like things a little spicy, add more chili powder, cayenne pepper, or hot paprika to the mix. A drizzle of your favorite spicy sauce, like Sriracha or Tabasco, will give the dish both heat and a sour taste. Start with a little heat and add more as needed until you reach the amount you like. This variant is great for people who like intense flavors because it can make the dish more colorful and lively. - Option for vegetarians:
If you want to eat something without meat or just want to enjoy a dish full of vegetables, eliminate the chicken and either increase the number of grilled vegetables (such bell peppers, zucchini, and onions) or add a substantial legume like black beans. The black beans will give you a good protein boost, while the vegetables will offer color, texture, and a fresh taste. You may add more flavor by using a mix of roasted or sautéed vegetables, such as mushrooms, maize, and sweet potatoes. This will make a filling and tasty vegetarian supper. - Twist with Cheese:
Add shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese to the heated rice just before serving to make it creamier and richer. The cheese will melt and cover the rice in a silky, gooey layer that goes well with the other ingredients. You may even put more cheese on top after serving for an extra cheesy touch. You may also add a little Parmesan or pepper jack cheese to give it a sharper flavor and a little heat, depending on what you like. - Storage:
Put the different parts of your dinner in airtight containers in the fridge to keep them fresh and keep the tastes. This way, the chicken, rice, and other ingredients won’t get mushy or lose their texture. Each part will keep fresh for up to three days. You can make everything ahead of time and keep each part separate for added convenience. This way, when you’re ready to eat, everything will still taste fresh and delicious. - Reheating:
When it’s time to eat, put the chicken and rice in the microwave and heat them up individually until they are hot all the way through. This keeps the chicken moist and tender and the rice from being mushy. To keep the rice from drying out, you may also add a splash of broth or water to it. Stir it every so often to make sure it heats evenly. For an added taste boost, serve the reheated chicken and rice with freshly made street corn on the side. The street corn’s crisp and smokey flavor will go nicely with the chicken and rice’s rich, savory flavors, resulting for a tasty and filling lunch.
Tools Needed
- Skillet:
You need a skillet to sauté the chicken or vegetables in this recipe. A heavy-bottomed skillet makes sure that the heat is spread evenly, which is important for achieving chicken that is ideally seared on the outside and tender on the inside. For this, a non-stick or cast-iron skillet works great. A skillet helps bring out the taste by letting the contents brown and create a rich, flavorful base. This is true whether you’re pan-searing the chicken or sautéing the vegetables for your rice. - Bowls for Mixing:
You need mixing bowls to get the ingredients ready and mix them together, like spices, rice, or any marinade for the chicken. Having mixing bowls of different sizes is helpful for keeping track of the different parts of the recipe and making sure the spice and consistency are right before cooking. Pick bowls that are big enough to toss your ingredients about without spilling, and make sure they are constructed of strong materials like glass or stainless steel so they last a long time and are easy to clean. - Pot or Rice Cooker:
A rice cooker is the best way to make rice that is always precisely cooked. It makes sure your rice is fluffy and cooked uniformly, plus it often keeps the rice warm until you’re ready to serve it, which is nice. A ordinary saucepan will work just as well as a rice cooker. Just follow the directions for the rice-to-water ratio and let it simmer slowly. To keep the steam and moisture in the rice, you need to use a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Is it okay to use rotisserie chicken that has already been cooked?
A: Yes, shredded rotisserie chicken is a good alternative. Lightly season it and reheat it up before putting it in the bowl. - Q: Is it okay to use brown rice instead of white rice?
A: Yes, of course! Adding brown rice gives the dish a nutty taste and more fiber. - Q: Is it possible to create this dish without dairy?
A: You may either leave out the cotija cheese or use a dairy-free cheese instead.
Conclusion
The Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl is a tasty and filling meal that combines spicy street corn, seasoned chicken, and rice that is cooked just right. It’s a terrific choice for lunch or dinner because it has strong spices, creamy toppings, and a lot of different textures. Its bright tastes make it a hit with both foodies and people who love comfort cuisine.
This bowl is both tasty and useful. You may add your own vegetables, protein, or extra toppings like avocado, lime, or hot sauce to make it more interesting. It’s an easy way to make a healthy and enjoyable supper, whether you eat it right now or save it for later.
Make this colorful dish today and put your own spin on it! Don’t forget to send me a picture of what you made. Tag me so we can celebrate your delicious success. Savor every bite!