Beef Burrito Bowls Rice Beans (Printable version)

Savory beef, fluffy rice, black beans, and fresh toppings combine for a customizable, flavorful bowl.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tbsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - ¼ cup water

→ Rice

13 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
14 - 2 cups water
15 - ½ tsp salt
16 - 1 tbsp lime juice
17 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Beans

18 - 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
19 - ½ tsp ground cumin
20 - ½ tsp chili powder
21 - ¼ tsp salt
22 - 2 tbsp water

→ Optional Toppings

23 - 1 large avocado, sliced
24 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
25 - ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
26 - ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
27 - ½ cup corn, cooked or canned, drained
28 - Fresh cilantro leaves
29 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water until clear. Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork. Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking up with spoon, cook 5-6 minutes until browned. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Add water, reduce heat, and simmer 3-4 minutes until thickened.
03 - In a small saucepan, combine black beans, cumin, chili powder, salt, and water. Warm over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Divide rice evenly among 4 bowls. Top each portion with cooked beef and seasoned beans. Add optional toppings such as avocado, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, corn, cilantro leaves, and lime wedges to taste.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Everyone builds their own bowl, so picky eaters and adventurous ones both leave happy.
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent way longer on it.
  • Leftovers actually get better the next day when all those spices have really settled in.
  • You can make it lighter, heartier, spicier, or milder without changing the whole recipe.
02 -
  • Rinse the rice or it will turn out gummy and clumpy instead of light and fluffy.
  • Don't skip simmering the beef with the spices and tomato paste, that's when the flavors really deepen and come together.
  • Warm your beans with seasonings instead of serving them straight from the can, it makes them taste like part of the meal instead of an add-on.
  • Let the rice rest covered for five minutes after cooking, it finishes steaming and becomes perfectly tender.
03 -
  • Toast your spices in the pan for thirty seconds before adding the beef, it brings out flavors you didn't even know were hiding.
  • Use a fork to fluff the rice instead of stirring it with a spoon, it keeps the grains separate and light.
  • Set out the toppings in small bowls like a little burrito bar, it makes weeknight dinner feel like something special.
  • If you want extra heat, roast a jalapeño and chop it into the beef while it simmers.

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