Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowls (Printer-Friendly)

Citrus-marinated chicken with charred corn, fluffy rice, and tangy crema inspired by Mexican street corn flavors.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken Marinade

01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
05 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
11 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Rice

13 - 1.5 cups long-grain white rice
14 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
15 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Charred Corn

16 - 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
17 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
18 - 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
19 - 0.5 lime, juiced
20 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Street Corn Crema

21 - 0.5 cup sour cream
22 - 0.25 cup mayonnaise
23 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
24 - 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
25 - 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
26 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Assembly and Garnish

27 - 4 ounces cotija cheese, crumbled
28 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
29 - Lime wedges for serving
30 - Sliced jalapeños, optional
31 - Sliced avocado, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Add chicken thighs, toss to coat thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, add rice, and stir for 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes. Remove from heat, let rest for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
03 - Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred, about 6 to 8 minutes. Season with chili powder and salt, drizzle with lime juice, and stir in cilantro. Keep warm.
04 - Preheat a grill or skillet to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and grill 5 to 6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Divide cooked rice among four serving bowls. Top each with chicken slices and charred corn. Drizzle each bowl with crema, sprinkle generously with cotija cheese and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges and optional sliced jalapeños or avocado.
07 - Serve immediately for optimal flavor and texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under 90 minutes, and most of that is hands-off marinating and resting time.
  • The flavors taste restaurant-quality without fussing—bright, smoky, creamy, and salty all at once.
  • You can prep each component ahead and assemble just before eating, making it perfect for busy weeknights or casual entertaining.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time after cooking the chicken—those 5 minutes let the juices redistribute so every bite stays tender instead of stringy.
  • If you assemble the bowls ahead of time, the rice absorbs all the crema and everything turns soft and mushy; wait until the last moment to put them together.
03 -
  • Store the rice, chicken, corn, and crema in separate containers in the fridge and assemble just before eating—this keeps everything fresh and prevents sogginess.
  • For extra smoky corn, char it directly over a gas flame if you have one, or use the grill instead of a skillet and let those kernels get dark and blistered.
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