High Protein Mexican Style Chicken & Rice Meal Prep
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Mexican rice gets its orange color from sautéing grains in oil first—skipping this step creates mushy, flavorless results.

High Protein Mexican Style Chicken & Rice Meal Prep

Get ready to spice up your meal prep with this zesty Mexican-inspired chicken and rice dish that's packed with protein! Featuring succulent grilled chicken marinated in vibrant lime and chili, paired with fluffy cilantro-lime rice, this recipe is a flavor fiesta that will keep your taste buds dancing all week long. Perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch or dinner, you'll love how easy it is to whip up a batch!

quickhealthy
gluten-freenut-freedairy-freeegg-free

Prep

15

min

Cook

30

min

Serves

4

people

Level

beginner

📝 Ingredients

Serves 4
Servings:

🥬Fresh Produce(4)

  • Garnish with Chopped Coriander/Cilantrooptional
  • 1 Whole Lime Juice
  • 1 Medium Onion Chopped
  • 1 Medium Red Bell Pepper Chopped

🥩Meat & Seafood(2)

  • 750g Raw Chicken Breast cut into cubes (1.65 lbs)
  • 300ml Water or chicken stock for more flavour (10.1 fl oz)

🫙Pantry Staples(3)

  • 210g Washed Uncooked Basmati Rice (7.41 oz)
  • 100g Black Beans (Brand: Freshona) (3.53 oz)
  • 2 tsp Olive Oil for cooking (10 ml)

🧂Spices & Seasonings(7)

  • 1 tsp Chilli Powder (5 ml)
  • 1 tsp Cumin (5 ml)
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder (5 ml)
  • 2 tsp Oregano (10 ml)
  • 2 tsp Paprika (10 ml)
  • 1 tap Salt & Pepper
  • 1 tsp of each seasoning used previously (5 ml)

📦Other(1)

  • 1 Can (400g) Chopped Tomatoes (14.1 oz)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

  1. 1

    Slice your chicken into cubes. Add oregano, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and squeeze of lime juice. Mix until well combined, then cook on medium heat for 8 minutes until golden brown.

  2. 2

    Set the chicken aside, then add onions and bell peppers. Cook for 2 minutes before adding black beans, washed rice, and more seasoning. Let it toast, then add chopped tomatoes with water. Bring to a light bubble, then cover and simmer for 12 minutes until fully cooked.

  3. 3

    Mix in the chicken with coriander, then distribute into 4 equal servings and enjoy.

💡 Pro Tips

  • Toast your rice for 2-3 minutes in the pan before adding liquid to develop nutty flavors through the Maillard reaction and create a firmer texture that prevents mushy meal prep containers.technique2-3 minutes
  • Use a 1.5:1 water-to-rice ratio instead of 2:1 for meal prep rice because it reduces excess moisture that causes sogginess during refrigerated storage over 3-5 days.ingredient1.5:1 ratio
  • Cook chicken cubes to exactly 165°F internal temperature, then rest 3 minutes before mixing with rice to prevent overcooking from residual heat and maintain 25% higher protein retention.timing165°F, 3 minutes
  • Add lime juice after cooking rather than during marinading because citric acid denatures proteins too aggressively when exposed to heat, creating a tough, rubbery texture.technique
  • Cool completely to room temperature before portioning into containers to prevent condensation buildup that reduces shelf life from 5 days to 2-3 days.timingRoom temperature
Cuisine: mexican
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