Beef Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice (Printable)
Seasoned beef over cilantro lime rice with black beans, corn, avocado, and fresh toppings. Customizable Tex-Mex bowl.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cilantro Lime Rice
01 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - 1 lime, zested and juiced
→ Seasoned Beef
07 - 1 pound lean ground beef
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
17 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce or salsa
→ Bowl Toppings
18 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
19 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
20 - 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
21 - 1 avocado, diced
22 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
23 - 1/4 cup sour cream
24 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
25 - Lime wedges for serving
# Directions:
01 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add rice and sauté for 1 minute. Pour in 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt, bring to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with fork, and stir in cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice. Keep covered and warm.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking apart with spoon, and cook 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Add tomato sauce or salsa and simmer 2-3 minutes.
03 - Divide cilantro lime rice evenly among four bowls. Top each bowl with seasoned beef, black beans, cherry tomatoes, corn, avocado, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. Sprinkle with green onions and serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cilantro lime rice alone is worth making this recipe, with its bright citrus notes cutting through the richness of the beef in the most satisfying way.
- Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when youre too exhausted to think about cooking but still want something nutritious and soul-satisfying.
02 -
- Adding the lime juice to the rice while its still warm helps it absorb the flavor more deeply than if you wait until the rice has cooled.
- Cooking the beef mixture until almost all the liquid has reduced concentrates the flavor and prevents soggy burrito bowls, a mistake I made for years before figuring out this simple fix.
03 -
- When heating store-bought tortillas, sprinkle them with a few drops of water before microwaving under a damp paper towel for 20 seconds, transforming them from dry and brittle to perfectly soft and pliable.
- Always prepare more toppings than you think you need because the beauty of burrito bowls lies in their abundance – a skimpy bowl is missing the entire point of this gloriously generous meal.