Ground Beef Burrito Bowls
I’ve shared a handful of my easy bowl recipes so far this year, and they’ve quickly become reader favorites. Super easy to prep on busy weeknights, packed with protein and lots of colorful and crunchy goodness, and very easily customizable depending on what you’ve got in your fridge right now, they’re real winners and I think you’re going to love this new one just as much!
These ground beef burrito bowls include rice (though you can sub for cauliflower rice or quinoa if you prefer), spiced beef, and all your favorite burrito toppings like black beans, corn, fresh tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and avocado. They come together in less than 25 minutes, and they’ve got a pretty impressive 33g of protein per serving.
They’re one of my go-to choices right now for an easy dinner, and they’re also fantastic if you love a hearty and satisfying lunch or you’re always looking for new meal prep ideas. Let’s make them together!
(If bowl style dinners are your thing, make sure you also bookmark my bang bang salmon bowls, teriyaki chicken taco bowls, blackened fish taco bowls with cilantro lime sauce, cottage cheese pizza bowls, spicy sriracha salmon bowls, and TikTok favorite cottage cheese ground beef and hot honey bowls!)
Ingredients
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Ground beef: The hearty base of your burrito bowl. I like to use 85/15 for just the right balance of flavor and moisture, but leaner beef works too if that’s your thing.
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Taco or burrito seasoning packet: Shortcut city, and I’m not mad about it. This packs all the spices you need in one tidy packet. Homemade seasoning works too if you’re feeling extra.
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Salt: Helps bring out the flavor in both the beef and the seasonings. Taste and adjust if needed—especially if your seasoning packet is already salty.
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Black beans: Adds fiber, protein, and a satisfying creaminess. Canned is totally fine—just drain and rinse first to remove excess sodium.
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Cooked white rice: Your burrito bowl base. Leftover rice works great here (just make sure you’ve stored and reheated correctly), or swap for brown rice or cauliflower rice if you want to switch things up.
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Corn kernels: Sweet and crunchy and just the thing to balance out the savory beef. Fresh, frozen (and thawed), or canned all work here.
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Shredded cheese: A melty, gooey finishing touch. I usually go with a Mexican blend, but cheddar, Monterey Jack, or even a bit of pepper jack will do the trick.
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Red onion Adds a fresh bite and a little zing. If you find raw onion too strong, soak it in cold water for 5 minutes to mellow things out.
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Fresh cilantro: Optional but highly encouraged. It adds a burst of freshness and color that really brings everything together.
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Sour cream: Creamy, cooling, and exactly what this bowl needs. Swap in plain Greek yogurt if you want to boost the protein a bit more.
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Cherry tomatoes: Juicy and sweet, they add a pop of freshness. Feel free to use grape tomatoes or regular chopped tomatoes if that’s what you’ve got.
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Lettuce: Crisp and refreshing. Romaine or iceberg both work great for that crunchy contrast to the warm toppings.
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Avocado: Not essential, but definitely a game-changer. Adds richness and healthy fats—plus it just makes everything feel a little more special.
How To Make Ground Beef Burrito Bowls
Looking for the printable recipe card? You’ll find one towards the bottom of this page! I know many regular readers prefer to print things out so they can refer back to them later, and when they want to make the recipe again. Here are the steps alongside some extra photos of the process:
- Heat a skillet over medium-high, then add your ground beef along with a pinch of salt and your taco or burrito seasoning. Let it cook, stirring now and then, until the beef is browned and cooked through.
- To build your burrito bowls, start with a generous scoop of fluffy white rice. Pile on the seasoned beef, then layer up with black beans, corn, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, sliced red onion, and some crisp lettuce.
- Sprinkle over fresh cilantro and finish with a dollop of sour cream.
- If you’re feeling fancy, a few chunks of creamy avocado are always a good idea.
Recipe Notes
Don’t rush the browning step. Letting the ground beef get nice and caramelized in the pan adds loads of rich, savory flavor that really takes the whole bowl up a notch.
Want to make your week a little easier? Cook the components ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge. That way, you can build fresh bowls in minutes whenever hunger strikes.
Variations
This burrito bowl is super easy to customize based on what you have on hand—or what you’re in the mood for.
- Swap the protein
Not feeling beef? No problem. Ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a plant-based swap like cooked lentils or soy crumbles work beautifully. - Upgrade the beans
Instead of tossing black beans in cold, warm them in a pan with a little garlic and a squeeze of lemon. It adds a quick flavor boost that makes a big difference. - Rethink your grains
White rice is classic, but brown rice or quinoa brings more fiber and nutrients to the table. Cauliflower rice works too if you’re going low-carb. - Bring the zing
Right before serving, squeeze some fresh lime or lemon juice over the top. It wakes everything up and ties all the flavors together.
Ground Beef Burrito Bowls
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco or burrito seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 1/2 cups cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup corn kernels
- 1/4 cup shredded cheese
- 1/4 red onion chopped
- Fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup lettuce chopped
- Avocado diced (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high, then add your ground beef along with a pinch of salt and your taco or burrito seasoning. Let it cook, stirring now and then, until the beef is browned and cooked through.
- To build your burrito bowls, start with a generous scoop of fluffy white rice. Pile on the seasoned beef, then layer up with black beans, corn, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, sliced red onion, and some crisp lettuce.
- Sprinkle over fresh cilantro and finish with a dollop of sour cream.
- If you’re feeling fancy, a few chunks of creamy avocado are always a good idea.
Nutrition
If you’ve tried these burrito bowls, I’d really appreciate it if you could leave a quick review in the comments section below! It helps me to understand more about the recipes you enjoy so I can bring you more of the same, and it also helps other readers who are thinking about making them. Enjoy!
