Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant Cajun-spiced chicken over fluffy rice with black beans, corn, and peppers creates a satisfying Southern-inspired meal.

# What You 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
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, 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 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 2 minutes, then slice into strips.
03 - In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers and red onion, sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened. Stir in corn and black beans, 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 arrange sliced chicken on top. Garnish with avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The entire meal comes together in under 45 minutes, which means weeknight dinners stop feeling like a chore.
  • Those Cajun spices wake up your palate in a way that proves you don't need complicated techniques to make food taste incredible.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and packed with vegetables, beans, and protein, so you actually feel nourished after eating it.
02 -
  • Rice waits for no one—if you don't start it first, you'll be standing around watching everything else get cold while it finishes cooking.
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice or you'll end up with something that's more paste than grain, and rinsing the canned beans cuts the sodium significantly and actually improves the whole bowl.
03 -
  • Don't let the chicken crowd the pan—work in batches if needed so each piece gets proper contact with the heat and develops that golden exterior.
  • The real secret is tasting and adjusting as you go; Cajun seasoning can vary between brands, so season boldly but taste before serving and add more salt or spice if your batch seems milder than expected.
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