Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printable version)

Vibrant Cajun-spiced chicken bowl with fluffy rice, black beans, corn, and peppers for a satisfying Southern-inspired meal.

# Needed ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 - 1.5 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
05 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Rice

06 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
07 - 2 cups water
08 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables and Beans

09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
11 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
12 - 1 small red onion, diced
13 - 1 cup sweet corn kernels, fresh or frozen
14 - 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Garnishes

15 - 1 avocado, sliced
16 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - Lime wedges

# How to make it:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water. Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat, keep covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
02 - Toss chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5 to 7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 2 minutes, then slice.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add bell peppers and red onion, sautéing for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in corn and black beans, cooking for 2 minutes until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top with sautéed vegetables and beans, followed by sliced chicken. Garnish with avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges as desired.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
  • Everything cooks in just two pans, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying your food.
  • The combination of warm spices, fresh vegetables, and bright lime makes every bite feel a little bit special without being fussy.
02 -
  • Don't slice your chicken immediately after cooking, let it rest for at least 2 minutes so the juices redistribute and stay in the meat instead of bleeding all over your cutting board.
  • The Cajun seasoning needs to actually stick to the chicken, so make sure your chicken is dry before you coat it, otherwise the spices slide right off and you end up with bland chicken.
03 -
  • Don't wash your skillet between cooking the chicken and the vegetables, those browned bits stuck to the bottom add depth and flavor that you'd be throwing away.
  • If your Cajun seasoning blend includes salt, reduce the additional salt you add to the chicken because seasoning blends vary and you can always add more salt but you can't take it out.
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