Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl (Printable version)
Juicy spiced chicken, charred corn with cotija, fluffy rice, avocado, and fresh toppings make this colorful bowl irresistible.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - Juice of 1/2 lime
→ Rice
10 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
11 - 2 cups water
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Street Corn
13 - 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned and drained)
14 - 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
15 - 1 tablespoon sour cream
16 - 1/4 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta)
17 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
18 - Juice of 1/2 lime
19 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Toppings
21 - 1 avocado, sliced
22 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
23 - Extra cilantro, for garnish
24 - Lime wedges, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Combine rice, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - In a bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Add chicken breasts and coat evenly. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes.
03 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill chicken breasts for 6-7 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and juices run clear. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
04 - In a skillet over medium-high heat, add corn kernels and cook for 3-4 minutes until lightly charred. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Stir in mayonnaise, sour cream, cotija cheese, chili powder, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
05 - Divide rice among three bowls. Top each with sliced chicken, a generous scoop of street corn, avocado slices, and diced red onion. Garnish with extra cilantro and lime wedges.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The combination of smoky grilled chicken and creamy street corn hits every craving at once, making it the kind of meal you actually want to eat for leftovers the next day
- Everything comes together in under an hour, and most components can be prepped ahead, meaning dinner is basically done before you even start cooking
02 -
- Letting the chicken rest before slicing is nonnegotiable, cutting too early releases all the juices and leaves you with dry meat no matter how perfectly you cooked it
- The street corn mixture tastes even better after sitting for 10 minutes, giving the flavors time to mingle and the cheese to soften slightly into the cream
03 -
- Cast iron skillets produce the best char on corn and chicken, developing those deep flavors that make the dish taste authentic
- Seasoning each component individually rather than just at the end means every bite is properly balanced