Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printable View)

Cajun-spiced chicken over fluffy rice with black beans, corn, and bell 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 ounces) 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 medium 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 slices, cilantro, and lime wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The whole bowl comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you can have restaurant-quality food on the table before anyone gets hangry.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and packed with enough protein and fiber to actually keep you satisfied, not searching the fridge an hour later.
  • One skillet does most of the work, so cleanup feels like a minor inconvenience rather than a punishment.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned black beans—that starchy liquid is why canned beans sometimes taste tinny and heavy, and rinsing them makes a measurable difference in texture and flavor.
  • The chicken must rest before slicing, even for just 2 minutes, because this allows the muscle fibers to relax and reabsorb their juices rather than running all over the plate.
  • Your rice-to-water ratio is crucial: 1 cup rice to 2 cups water is the golden rule for long-grain white rice, and any deviation will throw off the cooking time.
03 -
  • Buying pre-diced vegetables saves serious time on weeknights and honestly tastes just as good as hand-cutting everything yourself.
  • Make the rice ahead of time and refrigerate it, then reheat gently with a splash of water to bring it back to life—this bowl actually works great for meal prep.
  • The lime wedge isn't decoration; squeeze it over everything before eating because that acid brightens all the flavors and prevents the bowl from feeling heavy.
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