Beef Burrito Bowl with Brown Rice (Printable)
Tender spiced beef paired with fluffy brown rice and vibrant toppings for an authentic Tex-Mex experience.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1.1 lbs lean ground beef
02 - 2 tsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1/3 cup beef broth or water
→ Rice
13 - 1 cup uncooked brown rice
14 - 2 cups water
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Toppings
16 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
17 - 1 large avocado, diced
18 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
19 - 1 cup corn kernels, cooked or thawed
20 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
21 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
22 - 1/4 cup sour cream
23 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
24 - Lime wedges for serving
# Steps:
01 - Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until completely browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Add tomato paste and beef broth. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until the mixture thickens and flavors fully develop.
05 - Heat the black beans in a small saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.
06 - Divide cooked brown rice equally among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with seasoned beef, warmed black beans, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, corn kernels, shredded lettuce, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
07 - Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over each bowl.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Each component can be prepped ahead of time, which saved my sanity during a particularly chaotic week when I needed good food but had zero energy for cooking.
- The colorful presentation transforms simple ingredients into something that feels restaurant-worthy, making it my go-to when I want to impress without sweating in the kitchen all day.
02 -
- Never salt the beef immediately after adding it to the pan as this draws out moisture and prevents proper browning.
- Warming your serving bowls in a low oven for a few minutes keeps the hot components from cooling too quickly once served.
03 -
- Toast the spices in the pan for about 30 seconds before adding the liquid components to intensify their flavors and eliminate any raw spice taste.
- When reheating leftovers, add all the cold toppings fresh rather than reheating them to maintain textural contrast and vibrant flavors.