Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Flavor-packed Cajun chicken over rice with beans and fresh vegetables

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

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

→ Rice

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

→ Vegetables and Beans

09 - 1 tbsp 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 canned
14 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Garnishes

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

# Steps:

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 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 1 tbsp 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 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers and red onion, then sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in corn and black beans and cook for 2 minutes until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with sautéed vegetables and beans, then sliced chicken. Garnish with avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges if desired.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • It's a complete meal in one bowl, so cleanup is mercifully simple and dinner feels substantial without being heavy.
  • The Cajun spice has this perfect warmth that builds as you eat, keeping things interesting from first bite to last.
  • You can prep everything separately and assemble while still hot, which means you actually get to sit down with your family instead of hovering over the stove.
02 -
  • Don't skip the five-minute rest after the rice finishes cooking, it lets the steam distribute evenly so you get fluffy grains instead of a dense blob.
  • The skillet you use for chicken becomes your vegetable pan too, so those caramelized bits stuck to the bottom are liquid gold for flavor, not something to wash off.
03 -
  • Let chicken rest for exactly two minutes after cooking before slicing, it keeps juices locked inside rather than bleeding onto the plate.
  • Taste the rice water before cooking, if it doesn't taste slightly salty, your finished rice will taste flat no matter what else you do.
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