The Best Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl Recipe You’ll Crave

Street corn chicken rice bowls blend vibrant Mexican-inspired flavors into a satisfying one-dish meal that upgrades ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience.

These hearty bowls capture the essence of street food with a delightful combination of textures and bold seasonings.

Each component brings its own unique character to the plate, creating a harmonious balance of comfort and excitement.

Creamy, charred corn adds a smoky sweetness that elevates the entire dish beyond simple weeknight cooking.

Tender chicken provides a protein-packed foundation that makes you crave every single bite.

Fluffy rice serves as the perfect canvas for these incredible flavor combinations.

The magic happens when all these elements come together in a way that feels both familiar and surprisingly innovative.

Why Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowls Are Loaded With Flavor

• Burst with Vibrant Flavors: This recipe combines smoky grilled chicken with zesty street corn salad, creating a taste explosion that dances across your palate with every bite.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: The build-your-own bowl concept allows endless personalization, letting you add favorite toppings like creamy avocado, tangy lime, or spicy jalapeños to match your mood.
• Grill-Mastery Made Easy: With simple grilling techniques that lock in moisture and char corn to perfection, even novice cooks can achieve restaurant-quality results without complicated cooking methods.
• Quick and Nutritious Meal Solution: Ready in under 30 minutes, this one-bowl wonder delivers a balanced meal packed with protein, vegetables, and exciting textures that will satisfy hunger and delight taste buds.

What You’ll Need for This Tex-Mex Chicken Bowl

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the main protein of the dish, best when fresh and boneless.
• Feta Cheese, Cotija Cheese: Tangy cheese options that add richness and depth to the street corn salad.

• Corn Ears: Fresh sweet corn that provides a charred, smoky flavor when grilled.
• Red Onion: Adds sharp, crisp texture and a mild pungent flavor to the street corn salad.
• Jalapeño, Cherry Tomatoes: Optional fresh toppings that bring heat and bright color to the rice bowl.

• Olive Oil: Used for grilling corn and adding moisture to ingredients.
• Mayonnaise: Creamy base for street corn salad that helps bind ingredients.
• Lime Juice: Adds brightness and acidity to balance the rich flavors.
• Cilantro: Fresh herb that provides a vibrant, citrusy note to the dish.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that enhances overall flavor profile.
• Chili Powder, Paprika, Salt, Pepper: Spice blend that creates depth and warmth in the street corn salad.
• Sour Cream, Avocado: Optional creamy toppings that add richness.
• Black Beans: Optional protein-rich topping for additional substance.

How to Build a Street Corn Bowl Layer by Layer

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Marinade

In a small bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. Place chicken breasts in a shallow dish and cover completely with marinade. Refrigerate for 15-60 minutes.

Step 2: Fire Up The Grill

Preheat grill to medium heat around 400-450°F. Clean and oil grill grates to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Grill The Chicken

• 4-6 minutes per side
• Move to indirect heat
• Cook additional 5-7 minutes
• Check internal temperature reaches 160°F

Step 4: Rest The Chicken

Transfer chicken off the grill. Let rest 5 minutes to redistribute juices. Temperature will naturally rise to 165°F. Slice or cube for rice bowls.

Step 5: Roast Street Corn

• Shucking ears
• Lightly drizzling with olive oil
• Sprinkling with salt

Grill on high heat 10-12 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes until charred.

Step 6: Create Street Corn Salad

• Grilled corn kernels
• Mayonnaise
• Feta cheese
• Chopped cilantro
• Lime juice
• Minced garlic
• Chili powder
• Paprika
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Diced red onion
• Cotija cheese

Stir and adjust seasonings.

Step 7: Assemble Rice Bowls

• Sliced grilled chicken
• Street corn salad

• Fresh cilantro
• Jalapeño slices
• Cherry tomatoes
• Black beans
• Lime wedges
• Sour cream
• Avocado slices

Step 8: Serve And Enjoy

Serve immediately and savor your delicious Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl!

Tips for Creamy Corn, Spicy Chicken, and Flavor Balance

• Marinate Wisely: Let chicken soak in marinade for maximum flavor, but don't exceed one hour to prevent meat from becoming tough.
• Grill with Precision: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches exactly 160°F for juicy, perfectly cooked meat without drying out.
• Corn Charring Technique: Rotate corn frequently while grilling to achieve even, beautiful char marks and prevent burning.
• Cheese Balance: Mix cotija and feta for a complex, tangy flavor profile that elevates the street corn salad's taste.
• Customize Creatively: Mix and match toppings to suit personal preferences, making each rice bowl a unique culinary experience.

How to Pack and Store Leftover Bowls

• Refrigerate: Transfer leftover chicken, corn salad, and rice into separate airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain optimal freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Microwave Reheating: Place individual portions in a microwave-safe dish. Add a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent dryness. Cover and heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring midway to ensure even warming.
• Skillet Reviving: Warm chicken and corn salad in a skillet over medium heat. Drizzle with a little olive oil to restore moisture and prevent sticking. Stir gently for 3-4 minutes until heated through, maintaining the ingredients' original texture and flavor.

Pairings and Garnishes for a Full Meal Experience

• Craft a Zesty Margarita Companion: Pair this vibrant street corn chicken rice bowl with a classic margarita. The citrusy lime notes in both the dish and drink complement each other perfectly, while the tequila's warmth cuts through the creamy street corn salad.
• Serve with a Crisp Mexican Lager: Choose a light Mexican beer like Modelo Especial or Corona. Its refreshing, clean flavor balances the rich, spicy elements of the chicken and corn, creating a harmonious culinary experience.
• Elevate with a Fresh Cucumber Agua Fresca: Blend a cooling cucumber agua fresca to counterbalance the bowl's bold flavors. The drink's light, herbal profile provides a refreshing contrast to the grilled chicken and charred corn, making each bite more enjoyable.
• Add a Tangy Mango Salsa Side: Prepare a quick mango salsa as a bright, fruity accompaniment. Its sweet and acidic notes will enhance the street corn salad's complexity, adding an extra layer of excitement to the rice bowl.

Custom Bowl Variations to Keep Things Fresh

• Spicy Southwest Fusion: Transform the bowl with blackened chicken seasoned with chipotle and cayenne, adding roasted bell peppers and black beans for extra heat and texture.
• Mediterranean Remix: Replace street corn salad with a Greek-inspired topping featuring cucumber, kalamata olives, tzatziki sauce, and crumbled feta cheese over lemon-herb chicken.
• Tropical Hawaiian Rendition: Swap marinade with pineapple-soy sauce, top with grilled pineapple chunks, add teriyaki glaze, and sprinkle with green onions for a sweet and tangy profile.
• Vegetarian Garden Bowl: Substitute chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or crispy tofu, maintain street corn salad, and add roasted zucchini and quinoa for protein-packed alternative.

Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl Recipe

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4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Mexican street corn meets zesty chicken in this irresistible rice bowl. Creamy, charred corn mingles with spiced chicken, delivering a flavor-packed meal that transports you to a Mexican street market.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Chicken Marinade:

• 1 batch chicken marinade

Mexican Street Corn Salad Ingredients:

• 2 cups (473 ml) grilled corn (approximately 3–4 corn cobs)
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) mayonnaise
• ¼ cup (60 ml) feta cheese, crumbled
• ¼ cup (60 ml) cotija cheese, crumbled
• ¼ cup (60 ml) red onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) lime juice
• ½ tablespoon (7.5 ml) garlic, minced

Spices and Seasonings:

• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) paprika
• ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 ml) ground black pepper

Rice Bowl Options and Toppings:

• 4 cups (946 ml) rice of your choice, cooked
• Black beans
• Cherry tomatoes, halved
• Jalapeño slices
• Lime wedges
• Additional fresh cilantro leaves
• Sour cream
• 1–2 avocados, sliced

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Instructions

1. Craft a zesty marinade in a compact vessel, blending all designated liquid and spice components thoroughly.
2. Submerge chicken breasts completely in the marinade, ensuring total coverage. Refrigerate for a minimum of 15 minutes, allowing flavors to penetrate deeply.
3. Heat grill to medium-high temperature, targeting 400-450°F for optimal cooking conditions.
4. Extract chicken from marinade, permitting excess liquid to drip away naturally. Position chicken directly over flame, grilling 4-6 minutes per side to develop robust caramelization.
5. Transition chicken to indirect heat zone, continuing cooking 5-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F at thickest portion.
6. Remove chicken from grill, allowing a 5-minute resting period for juice redistribution. Internal temperature will climb to safe 165°F during rest.
7. Prepare corn by brushing with olive oil and seasoning with salt. Place on direct high heat, rotating every 2-3 minutes to achieve uniform charring.
8. Carefully slice kernels from grilled corn cobs using a sharp knife, collecting them in a spacious mixing bowl.
9. Incorporate remaining corn salad ingredients: mayo, cheeses, herbs, spices, and aromatics. Blend meticulously, adjusting seasonings to personal preference.
10. Layer cooked rice as foundation in serving bowls, arranging sliced chicken atop grains.
11. Generously distribute street corn salad over chicken, creating vibrant visual appeal.
12. Garnish with optional embellishments like cilantro, jalapeños, tomatoes, beans, lime wedges, cream, and avocado slices.
13. Serve immediately, savoring the complex, layered flavors of this dynamic dish.

Notes

• Marinade Magic Elevates Chicken Flavor by infusing the meat with zesty, tangy ingredients that tenderize and boost taste before grilling.
• Grill Temperature Precision matters for perfectly cooked chicken, ensuring juicy meat without drying out by maintaining medium heat around 400-450°F.
• Resting Chicken is Crucial to allow internal juices to redistribute, resulting in moist, tender meat that continues cooking off the heat.
• Street Corn Salad Transforms Simple Corn into a vibrant, creamy side dish with multiple layers of flavor from herbs, cheese, and spices.
• Customizable Bowl Concept lets you personalize your meal with additional toppings like fresh herbs, beans, or creamy elements to suit individual tastes.
• Meal Prep Friendly recipe can be made ahead, with components like chicken and corn salad prepared in advance for quick assembly.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 600
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 700mg
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 70g
• Fiber: 8g
• Protein: 30g
• Cholesterol: 80mg