Zoomed in image of a Mexican Street Corn Rice Bowl

Mexican Street Corn Chicken & Rice Bowls

If you're stuck in a lunch or dinner rut, make these easy Mexican Street Corn Chicken and Rice Bowls. They are vibrant and flavorful, combining Mexican street corn's rich, smoky flavors with tender, seasoned chicken and hearty wild rice, creating a satisfying and nutritious meal in a bowl.

This recipe stars California Wild Rice and comes to us from our friend Tawnie of @Krolls_Korner in partnership with USA Rice and the California Wild Rice Advisory Board.

  • Servings
    4
  • Serving Size
    1 bowl
  • Total Time
    1 hr

Ingredients

Rice

  • 2 cups cooked wild rice 

Mexican Street Corn Mixture

  • 4 ears corn, husked
  • 1-2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
  • 2 green onions, diced
  • 3 tbsp. mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Black pepper
  • ¼ tsp. Chili powder 
  • Juice and zest from 1 lime
  • ½ cup Cotija or feta cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste.

Chicken

  • 4 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces or sliced. 
  • Season with ⅛ tsp of each: garlic powder, chipotle chili powder, onion powder,
  • smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Adjust to taste. 

Sauce

  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tbsp Mayonnaise 
  • 1 tbsp Taco seasoning 
  • 1-2 tsp. Lime juice
  • Salt to taste 

Garnish

  • fresh cilantro, cotija cheese, lime wedges.

Directions

  • Cut the corn off the cob.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the corn. Cook the corn, stirring occasionally, until the kernels become slightly charred, ~10 minutes. Let the corn cool for a few minutes.
  • Allow the corn to cool. Then, add the corn and remaining ingredients to a large bowl and toss to combine.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Chill.
  • Divide the cooked wild rice into four bowls. Top each bowl with the chicken, the Mexican street corn mixture, your choice of toppings (cilantro, cotija, lime), and drizzle the creamy sauce over the top. Enjoy!
 

Recipe Notes

Choose Fresh Corn: For the best flavor and texture, use fresh corn on the cob.

Add more herbs: Experiment with different herbs like parsley, basil, or chives in addition to or instead of cilantro for a different twist.

Add bacon or other proteins: Add crumbled cooked bacon to the toppings for a smoky, savory addition that complements the sweet corn. Or instead of chicken, use steak!

Prep in advance: make each component of the bowls in advance, so when it's time to assemble, the wait time is over, and you can simply build your bowl and enjoy!

Properly stored in an airtight container, it will last 3-5 days. 

Nutrition Facts

  • Serving 1 bowl
  • Calories 596kcal
  • Total Fat 27g
  • Saturated Fat 11g
  • Carbohydrates 65g
  • Dietary Fiber 8g
  • Sugar 4g
  • Protein 31g