Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

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

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 pounds 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

# Directions:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. 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 - 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 5 to 7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let rest 2 minutes, then slice.
03 - In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers and red onion, sautéing 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in corn and black beans, cooking 2 minutes until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with sautéed vegetables and beans, then sliced chicken. Garnish with avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 45 minutes, which means weeknight dinner without the stress.
  • The Cajun spice is bold enough to feel special but not so intense that it overpowers the freshness of the vegetables and beans.
  • You can prep this for meal prep or throw it together on a whim, making it genuinely flexible for real life.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice or you'll end up with a gluey, disappointing bowl that tastes like paste.
  • If your Cajun seasoning blend contains salt, go easy on the extra salt—tasting as you go keeps this from turning into a salt bomb.
  • The chicken needs those 2 minutes of rest after cooking so the juices redistribute instead of running all over your bowl.
03 -
  • Cook your rice in advance if you're short on time—reheated rice actually has better texture than freshly cooked in this application.
  • Toast your Cajun spice in the pan for 30 seconds before adding the chicken so it blooms and becomes even more fragrant.
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