Southwest Chicken and Rice Bowls with Fresh Tomato Salsa and Lime Crema

These Southwest chicken and rice bowls are all about building your perfect bite. Fragrant turmeric rice, tender spiced chicken and colorful peppers come together with a bright tomato salsa and zesty lime sour cream. Every spoonful is a mix of textures and flavors that will make weeknight dinners feel special.

The best part? You can assemble your bowl any way you like. Start with a base of buttery rice, pile on the chicken and peppers, then add a generous scoop of salsa and a drizzle of creamy lime sauce. A dash of hot sauce and a squeeze of fresh lime finish it off. It’s a fun, interactive meal that everyone at the table can customize.

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Ingredients

1 unit Chicken Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon TurmericView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Jasmine RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Long Green PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Roma TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Southwest Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Chicken Breast StripsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon Vegetable OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. In a small pot, combine the chicken stock concentrate, ¼ teaspoon turmeric (use ½ teaspoon for 4 servings) and ¾ cup water (1½ cups for 4). Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice and a pinch of salt. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
2. While the rice cooks, wash and dry all produce. Halve, core and thinly slice the green pepper into strips. Dice the tomato. Trim and thinly slice the scallions. Zest the lime, then cut it into quarters.
3. Heat a large drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the green pepper and season with half the Southwest Spice blend, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes.
4. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season with the remaining Southwest Spice, salt and pepper. Add the chicken and another drizzle of oil to the pan with the green pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the pepper is caramelized, 4-6 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter (2 tablespoons for 4 servings) until melted. Turn off the heat.
5. While the chicken cooks, make the salsa: in a small bowl, combine the diced tomato, scallions, a squeeze of lime juice, salt and pepper. For the lime sour cream: in another small bowl, mix the sour cream, lime zest, a squeeze of lime juice, salt and pepper.
6. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in 1 tablespoon butter (2 tablespoons for 4 servings) until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the rice among bowls. Top with the chicken mixture, salsa and lime sour cream. Drizzle with hot sauce to taste. Serve with remaining lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of rice?

Yes, you can substitute jasmine rice with long-grain white rice or basmati. Adjust the cooking time and water ratio according to the package instructions.

What can I use instead of sour cream?

Greek yogurt or a dairy-free alternative like coconut yogurt works well as a substitute for the lime crema.

How do I store leftovers?

Store the rice, chicken, salsa and crema separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the rice and chicken before assembling.