Citrus Chicken Bowls with Black Beans, Plantains and Green Sauce
Bursting with bright flavors, these Citrus Chicken Bowls are a delicious Cuban-inspired meal. Topped with black beans, sweet plantains and a creamy green sauce, these bowls are sure to please!
Matt and I got to sneak away for a quick little getaway last week – without kids!! It was so much fun and so nice to have time for just the two of us.
We are lucky enough to have super awesome grandparents who are able and willing to watch Jack and Will. Sneaking away for a little (kid-free) vacation feels like such a luxury.
For this trip, we wanted to go somewhere that was WARM – we do live in Minnesota after all! We hopped on the plane and headed to South Beach (in Miami). It was amazing, 80 degrees amazing.
It was such a great trip – we went to the beach, we biked down Ocean Drive, we lounged by the pool, we enjoyed each other’s company and we ate some delicious food.
In Miami, there is a large Cuban influence. My favorite part of the Cuban influence is the food (I bet you could probably guess that). We tried some incredible Cuban food in Miami and those delicious flavors influenced this post!
In this post: everything you need for these citrus chicken bowls with black beans, plantains and green sauce
- Citrus Chicken Marinade
- Ingredients for Citrus Chicken Marinade
- How Long Should I Marinate the Chicken?
- Black Bean Ingredients
- Let’s Talk Green Sauce
- Creamy Green Sauce Ingredients
- How Do I Cook Plantains?
- Plantains: FAQ’s
- Tips for cooking with kids
citrus chicken marinade
This citrus marinade is super simple and so incredibly delicious. I love when simple ingredients can truly shine. The simpler the ingredients, the more each individual flavor can be tasted.
ingredients for citrus chicken marinade
The ingredients for this citrus chicken marinade are super simple but so delicious!
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- orange juice
- lemon juice
- lime juice
- dried oregano
- garlic
- salt
how long should I marinate the citrus chicken?
At a minimum, you should marinate the chicken for 30 minutes. This will definitely infuse the flavors, but the longer you marinate the chicken, the better the flavor will be.
And, let me tell you, the flavor is so incredibly delicious! Garlic, lots of fresh citrus juices, and some dried oregano to add some tasty umami flavor to the marinade.
black bean ingredients
And, no, the only ingredient isn’t black beans! I think the tendency when cooking with canned black beans is to rinse and drain the beans. But, don’t do that here. The liquid is used to cook the beans and keeps them from getting dried out and crunchy.
These beans are insanely easy to make (literally just throw everything into a saucepan). They are the perfect set it and forget it addition to any meal – especially this one!
let’s talk green sauce
There is something about a green sauce that makes me weak in the knees. Dramatic much? Yes, a little bit, but I really do love a good green sauce.
Whether it is olive oil based, like a delicious chimichurri, or mayo-based, like this creamy green sauce, it is all delicious!
creamy green sauce ingredients
- fresh cilantro
- plain Greek yogurt
- mayonnaise
- olive oil
- jalapeno
- garlic
- fresh lime juice
- salt
All you have to do is s throw all those ingredients into the blender and blend away!
how do I cook plantains?
If you want to take a deep dive into the ins and outs of plantains, check out this article. But, if you just want a surface level explanation, then stick around!
Plantains are in the banana family, but are much easier to cook (they can hold their own when heat is applied). On the contrary, bananas tend to get mushy when you cook them (which is why they are often used in baking).
plantains: faq’s
How do I know if a plantain is ripe?
With plantains, you want the outer skin to be almost all black, with just a few yellow spots. This gives you the sweetest tasting plantain. If the plantain peel is too yellow, they can taste a little bitter when cooked.
How do I peel a plantain?
Peeling a plantain is not the same as peeling a banana. With a plantain, you want to score the peel (typically on all 4 sides of the plantain), and then you can take off each individual section of the plantain peel.
What is the best way to cook plantains?
That depends – do you want the healthiest way or the best tasting way? The best tasting way (and the least healthy – go figure!), is to deep fry the plantains. I think the perfect mid-way point of cooking plantains is to air fry them. They still get that delicious crispy/crunchy exterior with a soft and sweet interior (with a lot less oil)!
Tips for involving your kids
- Let them blend the creamy green sauce for you – what kid doesn’t like pushing buttons?
- Have them assist you with slicing the plantains. These knives work great for little kids and these knives work even better for older kids.
Citrus Chicken Bowls with Black Beans, Plantains and Green Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Citrus Chicken Marinade
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup orange juice
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp salt
Black Beans
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 15 ounce can black beans
Plantains
- 3 plantains extra ripe (almost black)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Creamy Green Sauce
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ jalapeno
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Citrus Chicken Marinade
- Pound the chicken breasts until they are evenly thin. You can do this by sealing them in a ziplock bag and using a meat tenderizer (or a rolling pin).2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- In a measuring cup, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, oregano, garlic and salt.½ cup orange juice, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp dried oregano, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tsp salt
- Pour the marinade into the ziplock bag with the chicken and let marinate for at least 30 minutes (preferably, let the chicken marinate in the fridge overnight).
- When ready to prepare, heat a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken until no longer pink.
Black Beans
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, add the olive oil, garlic, oregano and cumin powder. Saute until the garlic is fragrant.1 tbsp olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp cumin powder
- Add the entire can of black beans (do NOT drain) and season with salt.15 ounce can black beans, ½ tsp salt
- Simmer for 5 minutes. Cover and remove from heat until ready to serve.
Plantains
- Peel the plantains and slice them about ¼ inch thick (read this to learn how to peel a plantain).3 plantains
- Spray with olive oil* (or lightly drizzle) and cook in an air fryer for 10 minutes at 400F, flipping halfway through.*1 tbsp olive oil
Creamy Green Sauce
- In a blender, add all of the ingredients (except for the olive oil). Blend until smooth and creamy.1 cup fresh cilantro, ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup mayonnaise, ½ jalapeno, 1 clove garlic, 1 tbsp lime juice, ¾ tsp salt
- Add the olive oil and blend again. If you would like a thinner sauce, you can add water.2 tbsp olive oil
Bowl Assembly
- When all components of this recipe are prepared, you can assemble the bowls.
- Place beans on the bottom and top with sliced chicken. Add the plantains and drizzle with the creamy green sauce and enjoy!
