Beef Burrito Bowls Rice Beans (Printable)
Spiced beef paired with fluffy rice, black beans, and fresh toppings for a vibrant, customizable bowl.
# What You Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
09 - ½ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
12 - ¼ cup water
→ Rice
13 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
14 - 2 cups water
15 - ½ teaspoon salt
16 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Beans
18 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
19 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
20 - ½ teaspoon chili powder
21 - ¼ teaspoon salt
22 - 2 tablespoons water
→ Toppings (Optional)
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
# Steps:
01 - Rinse rice under cold water until clear. In a saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, let stand covered 5 minutes, then fluff with a 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, then add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking it up, and 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 - Combine black beans, cumin, chili powder, salt, and water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Divide rice among four bowls. Top with cooked beef and seasoned beans. Add desired toppings including avocado, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, corn, cilantro, and lime wedges.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything cooks in parallel, so you're eating in 45 minutes without stress or complicated timing.
- Each person gets to build their own bowl, which somehow makes even simple ingredients feel like a celebration.
- The spiced beef is deeply savory without being overwhelming, and it pairs with literally any topping you choose.
02 -
- Don't skip rinsing the rice; it's the difference between fluffy grains and a starchy, clumpy mess.
- The spices go in after the beef is brown, not before, so they toast in the fat and their flavors deepen instead of tasting raw or dusty.
- Add tomato paste to the raw spices and stir for 30 seconds before adding water; this bloom step makes the sauce taste richer and more cohesive.
03 -
- Use a mix of white and brown rice if you want more texture and earthiness; they cook at the same speed and taste incredible together.
- Toast your spices in the hot oil for 10 seconds before adding the onion; this wakes them up and makes the entire bowl taste more intentional.