Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Spicy Cajun-seasoned chicken over rice with peppers, corn, and black beans for a hearty Southern-inspired meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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:

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, keep covered, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5-7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and 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, sautéing 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 evenly among 4 bowls. Top each with sautéed vegetables and beans, then sliced chicken. Garnish with avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Cajun seasoning does all the heavy lifting, making ordinary chicken taste like it took hours to plan.
  • Everything cooks in one skillet plus one pot, which means cleanup doesn't erase the joy of eating well.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and adapts to whatever you have in your pantry without losing its soul.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting step for the rice after it's done cooking, because that five minutes of sitting covered actually makes it fluffier and less mushy.
  • The chicken will keep cooking a tiny bit after you pull it off the heat, so if it looks barely done, that's actually when it's perfect.
03 -
  • Cook your chicken and vegetables in the same skillet without washing it in between, because those browned bits left behind add depth to everything that touches that pan.
  • If you want to meal prep this, brown the chicken in batches the day before and store it separately, then assemble fresh bowls each morning and they'll feel like you just cooked them.
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