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Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl

Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl: A Creamy, Spicy, and Irresistible Dish


  • Author: Janet
  • Total Time: 45M
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

This Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl is a flavorful, protein-packed meal featuring juicy grilled chicken, smoky charred corn, creamy cotija cheese, and zesty lime rice. Inspired by Mexican street corn (elote), this dish is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or a healthy, satisfying meal. It’s easy to make, customizable, and full of bold flavors that will keep you coming back for more!


Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken & Marinade:

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

For the Street Corn Topping:

  • 2 ears fresh corn, grilled and cut off the cob (or 1 ½ cups canned or frozen corn)
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • ¼ cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta)
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 tbsp diced red onion (optional)

For the Rice Base:

  • 2 cups cooked jasmine rice (or brown rice, or cauliflower rice for low-carb)
  • 1 tbsp butter or olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • ½ tsp salt

Optional Garnishes & Toppings:

  • Avocado slices or guacamole
  • Pickled red onions
  • Fresh pico de gallo
  • Shredded lettuce or sliced radishes
  • A squeeze of lime juice
  • Hot sauce or sriracha

Instructions

 

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Add the chicken and coat well. Cover and let marinate for at least 15 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor).

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

  • Grill Method: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 8-10 minutes per side, until 165°F internal temperature is reached.
  • Skillet Method: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan. Cook over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes per side.
  • Oven Method: Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes.

Once done, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice.

Step 3: Make the Street Corn Topping

  1. Grill the corn over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. If using canned or frozen corn, sauté it in a dry skillet until lightly charred.
  2. In a bowl, mix grilled corn, mayo, sour cream, cotija cheese, lime juice, chili powder, salt, cilantro, and red onion.

Step 4: Prepare the Rice

  1. Cook jasmine rice according to package instructions.
  2. Once cooked, fluff the rice and mix in butter, lime juice, cilantro, and salt.

Step 5: Assemble the Bowl

  1. Divide the cilantro lime rice into bowls.
  2. Top with sliced grilled chicken.
  3. Spoon on street corn topping.
  4. Add your favorite garnishes and toppings.

Step 6: Serve & Enjoy!

Enjoy warm and pair with a side of black beans, tortilla chips, or a crisp salad.

Notes

  • For extra spice, add diced jalapeños to the street corn topping or sprinkle cayenne pepper over the chicken.
  • Dairy-free option: Swap sour cream for dairy-free yogurt and use nutritional yeast instead of cotija cheese.
  • Low-carb alternative: Serve with cauliflower rice instead of jasmine rice.
  • Meal prep tip: Store the chicken, rice, and corn topping separately in airtight containers and assemble before serving.
  • Prep Time: 20M
  • Cook Time: 25M
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Pan-Frying, Baking
  • Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 512 kcal
  • Sugar: 5.2g
  • Sodium: 680mg
  • Fat: 28.2g
  • Saturated Fat: 8.6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 17.4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 43.5g
  • Fiber: 5.8g
  • Protein: 22.6g
  • Cholesterol: 78mg

Keywords: Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl, Mexican Rice Bowl, Elote Chicken Bowl, Grilled Chicken Rice Bowl