1. Prepare the Cilantro Lime Marinade and Chicken: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add the cubed chicken breasts to the marinade, tossing to coat evenly. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes while you prepare other ingredients (or up to 30 minutes for deeper flavor).

2. Sear the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (preferably cast iron or a heavy-bottomed skillet with a lid) over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated chicken in a single layer, reserving any excess marinade. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until lightly browned. The chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through at this stage, just seared. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

3. Add Rice and Broth: To the same skillet, add the uncooked long-grain white rice. Stir it around for about 1 minute, allowing it to lightly toast in the residual chicken drippings. Pour in the 2 cups of chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

4. Combine and Cook: Once simmering, return the seared chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the rice and broth. Stir in the rinsed and drained black beans and the frozen corn. Bring the liquid back to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet tightly with a lid, and cook for 15-18 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Avoid lifting the lid too often during this time.

5. Rest and Finish: Once the rice is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes. This allows the steam to finish cooking the rice and helps it become fluffy.

6. Stir in Cilantro and Serve: Uncover the skillet, fluff the rice gently with a fork, and stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of fresh chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot with optional lime wedges, chopped avocado, and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.