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Fresh street corn chicken rice bowl with grilled chicken, corn, and creamy sauce in a bowl

High Protein Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl

Avatar photoAlice Yowell
This High Protein Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl combines tender, juicy grilled chicken with smoky charred corn and cilantro lime rice, all topped with a creamy white sauce and crumbled cheese. It's a perfectly balanced, one-bowl meal that delivers on flavor, texture, and nutrition in just 30 minutes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 4
Calories 650 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot with lid (for rice)
  • Cast-iron skillet or grill pan
  • Cutting board
  • Chef's knife
  • Small Bowl (for sauce)
  • Fork (for rice)
  • Tongs
  • Meat thermometer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Serving bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup long-grain white rice or jasmine rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 lime, juiced plus extra for serving
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro plus more for garnish
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ears fresh yellow corn, husked
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for corn
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for chicken
  • ½ cup Mexican crema or sour cream
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ lime, juiced for sauce
  • ¼ cup crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese

Instructions
 

  • Cook the rice: In a medium pot, combine 1 cup rice and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes until tender. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and stir in the juice of 1 lime, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Keep warm.
  • Char the corn: Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan over high heat. Drizzle the corn with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place the corn in the hot pan and cook, turning occasionally, for 3-4 minutes per side, until deeply charred and blackened in spots. Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then cut the kernels off the cob and set aside.
  • Season and cook the chicken: In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pat the chicken dry and rub the spice mixture all over. In the same hot skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Transfer to a cutting board, let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
  • Make the creamy white sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup crema, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, the juice of 1/2 lime, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Add a tablespoon of water or milk if a thinner consistency is desired.
  • Assemble the bowls: Divide the cilantro lime rice among four serving bowls. Top with sliced chicken and charred corn. Drizzle generously with the creamy white sauce. Sprinkle with crumbled queso fresco and additional fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

Notes

For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in lime juice and chili powder for 30 minutes before cooking. To make a smoky chipotle crema, blend one chipotle pepper in adobo sauce into the sauce. This bowl can be meal-prepped: store components separately in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the rice, chicken, and corn, then add fresh sauce and cheese before serving. For a low-carb version, use cauliflower rice. For a vegetarian option, substitute black beans for the chicken.