Cuban Chicken & Black Bean Rice Bowls
Cilantro-lime rice and Cuban style black beans serve as the base for juicy chicken tossed in a blend of fresh orange juice, lime juice, garlic, smoked paprika, oregano, and cumin. If that’s not enough, the bowls are then topped with a mango salsa and some sweet fried plantains on the side, perfection.
Cuban Chicken & Black Bean Rice Bowls
Course: Main DishesCuisine: Cuban4
servings30
minutes30
minutes1
hour10
minutesCilantro-lime rice and Cuban style black beans serve as the base for juicy chicken tossed in a blend of fresh orange juice, lime juice, garlic, smoked paprika, oregano, and cumin. If that’s not enough, the bowls are then topped with a mango salsa and some sweet fried plantains on the side, perfection.
Ingredients
- Chicken
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 large chicken breasts, diced
2 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
4 garlic cloves
Zest and juice of 1 orange
Zest and juice of 1 lime
- Black Beans
2 tsp. vegetable oil
½ yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans black beans, drained
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. smoked paprika
salt and black pepper to taste
- Cilantro-Lime Rice
1 tsp. vegetable oil
½ yellow onion, diced
1 ½ cups Jasmine rice
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
Zest and juice of 2 limes
½ cup cilantro, chopped
salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
- Chicken
- To a blender, combine the ingredients for the chicken marinade. Add the cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, salt and pepper, 4 cloves garlic, zest and juice of 1 orange, and the zest and juice of 1 lime to the blender. Blend together until everything is finely chopped and smooth.
- Add the chicken to a bowl or a Ziploc bag and pour half the marinade over the chicken. Toss to coat and allow the chicken to sit for at least 30 minutes, or overnight in the marinade.
- Heat a large skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot add the chicken and cook, 10-12 minutes or until browned all over and cooked throughout. Add the remaining marinade to the skillet and cook until it has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Black Beans
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions and saute for 3-4 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and saute 30-60 seconds. Add the black beans and spices and cook for 5-10 minutes. Using a potato masher, mash about half of the beans in the pan, then mix it all together. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until soft. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil allowing to toast for about a minute. Add the chicken broth and increase the heat to high, allowing it to come to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and place the lid onthe pan. Cook for about 15 minutes, until most of the liquid has absorbed.
- Turn off the heat and allow rice to sit with the lid on for an additional 5 minutes. Add the lime, cilantro and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To serve, divide the cilantro lime rice among bowls. Top with chicken and black beans. Add mango salsa and fried plantains if desired!
Notes
These Cuban Chicken & Black Bean Rice Bowls are built around three main components: marinated skillet-cooked chicken, seasoned black beans, and cilantro-lime rice. The chicken is flavored with citrus juice, garlic, and dried spices, then cooked until browned and finished with reduced marinade. The rice and beans are prepared separately on the stovetop and combined in bowls for serving, with optional mango salsa and fried plantains added at the end.
The recipe works well because each component is prepared to complement the others without becoming heavy. The citrus-based marinade keeps the chicken flavorful while cooking quickly in a hot pan. Partially mashing the black beans creates a thicker texture that sits well over the rice instead of feeling loose or watery. The rice absorbs broth and lime juice, providing a mild base that balances the more seasoned toppings.
This dish fits well into everyday home cooking since the components can be made in stages or prepped ahead. Leftovers store well when kept separate and reheat evenly. The bowl format allows flexibility, such as serving without optional toppings or adjusting spice levels, without changing the overall structure of the meal.