Beef Burrito Bowl Rice (Printable)
Tender spiced beef, fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and classic toppings combine for a tasty, customizable bowl.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 2 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1 tsp chili powder
08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - 1 tsp salt
10 - ½ tsp black pepper
11 - ¼ cup tomato sauce
→ Rice
12 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
13 - 2 cups water
14 - ½ tsp salt
15 - 1 tbsp lime juice
16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
→ Toppings
17 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
18 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
19 - 1 cup sweet corn kernels, cooked or canned, drained
20 - 1 large avocado, diced
21 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
22 - ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
23 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
24 - Jalapeño slices (optional)
25 - Lime wedges
# Steps:
01 - Rinse rice under cold water until clear. Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, then stir in lime juice and cilantro if used.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking it apart, and cook 5 to 7 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Add tomato sauce and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
04 - Place black beans in a small saucepan with a splash of water. Heat over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until warmed through.
05 - Divide rice evenly among four bowls. Top with seasoned beef, warmed black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese, and a spoonful of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
06 - Add fresh cilantro leaves, jalapeño slices, and lime wedges. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under 45 minutes, which means weeknight dinner doesn't have to be complicated.
- Everyone customizes their own bowl, so nobody's complaining about onions or too much cilantro.
- The seasoned beef is deeply flavorful without being heavy, and it reheats beautifully for lunch the next day.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the excess fat from the beef—a quick pour-off keeps the bowl from feeling heavy and lets the spice flavors shine instead of getting muffled by grease.
- Add the lime juice to the rice while it's still warm so it absorbs the juice and the flavors marry together, rather than spritzing it on at the end.
03 -
- Toast your spices in the empty skillet for 30 seconds before adding them to the beef—it wakes them up and deepens their flavor without adding any extra time.
- If you're cooking for a crowd, prep all your toppings ahead of time and let people assemble their own bowls—it's interactive, fun, and guarantees everyone's happy with what they're eating.