Blackened Chicken Bowl with Lime Crema (Printer View)

Spiced chicken breast over rice with vegetables and lime crema

# What you'll need:

→ Blackened Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Rice

11 - 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
12 - 3 cups water or chicken broth
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

14 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
15 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
16 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
17 - 1 red onion, sliced
18 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Lime Crema

20 - 1/2 cup sour cream
21 - Zest and juice of 1 lime
22 - 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
23 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

24 - Fresh cilantro leaves
25 - Lime wedges

# Method:

01 - In a medium saucepan, bring water or broth and salt to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
02 - In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Pat chicken breasts dry, drizzle with olive oil, and rub spice mixture evenly over all sides.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side until blackened and cooked through with internal temperature reaching 165°F. Transfer to a plate and rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
04 - In the same pan, add olive oil. Sauté bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes until tender and slightly charred. Season with salt and pepper.
05 - In a small bowl, mix sour cream with lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, and a pinch of salt. Stir until smooth.
06 - Divide rice among four bowls. Top with sautéed vegetables and sliced blackened chicken. Drizzle with lime crema, garnish with cilantro leaves, and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under 45 minutes, and most of that is hands off while the rice steams.
  • The lime crema pulls the whole bowl together with a tangy coolness that balances the heat.
  • You can prep the spice rub and crema ahead, making weeknight assembly almost effortless.
  • It reheats beautifully, so leftovers taste just as good the next day.
02 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before seasoning or the spices will slide right off and pool in the pan instead of forming a crust.
  • Let the chicken rest after cooking, slicing it too soon releases all the juices and you end up with drier meat.
  • Don't overcrowd the vegetable pan, they'll steam instead of char if they're piled on top of each other.
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat better and gives the chicken an even deeper crust.
  • Zest the lime before you juice it, trying to zest a juiced lime is a frustrating mess.
  • If your chicken breasts are uneven, pound the thicker parts gently so they cook at the same rate as the thinner ends.
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