Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl (Printable Version)

Flavor-packed bowls with spiced chicken, smoky corn, and zesty crema-ready in 30 minutes.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1 teaspoon cumin
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For the Street Corn

09 - 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
13 - 1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese (or feta)
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
15 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
18 - 1 jalapeño, minced (optional)
19 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For the Creamy Sauce

20 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
21 - 1/4 cup sour cream
22 - 2 tablespoons lime juice
23 - 1 teaspoon Tajín seasoning (or chili powder)
24 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
25 - Salt, to taste

→ For Serving

26 - 3 cups cooked rice (jasmine, brown, or cilantro-lime rice)
27 - Sliced avocado
28 - Fresh cilantro
29 - Lime wedges
30 - Additional Cotija cheese
31 - Tortilla chips (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Cook the rice according to package directions. For cilantro-lime rice, stir in chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice after cooking. Keep warm.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, Tajín seasoning, garlic powder, and salt for the creamy sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
03 - Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
04 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 6–8 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove to a plate, let rest 5 minutes, then slice or dice.
05 - In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–8 minutes until charred and golden. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
06 - In a medium bowl, combine charred corn with mayonnaise, sour cream, Cotija cheese, lime juice, chili powder, cilantro, red onion, and jalapeño if using. Mix well and season with salt and pepper.
07 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top each with sliced chicken and a generous scoop of the street corn mixture. Add sliced avocado, extra cilantro, and Cotija cheese. Drizzle with creamy sauce and serve with lime wedges and tortilla chips, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every bite hits you with sweet corn, smoky chicken, and that tangy creaminess that makes street corn so addictive
  • You get all the flavors of elote without needing a grill or dealing with messy corn on the cob husks
02 -
  • The chicken needs those 5 minutes of resting time or all those juices will end up on your cutting board instead of in your bowl
  • Char your corn until it looks almost too dark, that is exactly when it develops the sweet smoky flavor that makes this dish special
03 -
  • Use a cast-iron skillet if you have one for the best char on both chicken and corn
  • Grate your own Cotija from a block instead of buying pre-crumbled, the texture and flavor are noticeably better
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