Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printer Version)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 (15 oz) 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. In a saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 2 minutes, then slice.
03 - In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers and red onion. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in corn and black beans; cook for 2 minutes until heated through. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
04 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with sautéed vegetables and beans, then sliced chicken. Garnish with avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 45 minutes, which means weeknight dinners that don't feel rushed or repetitive.
  • Every element is customizable, so picky eaters and adventurous ones can eat from the same bowl.
  • The Cajun seasoning does the heavy lifting flavor-wise, so you don't need a grocery list longer than your patience.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the skillet when cooking chicken; you'll steam it instead of searing it, and you'll lose that golden crust that makes this dish feel special.
  • The Cajun seasoning has salt in it already, so taste before adding more salt to the vegetables; I've made this oversalted more times than I'd like to admit.
03 -
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking; once the chicken hits the pan, you need your hands free to manage the timing.
  • If you're doubling this for meal prep, the components stay separate and fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days, and you can assemble fresh bowls all week instead of eating the same thing day one through day four.
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