Ground Beef Taco Bowls are a super easy meal idea with taco meat and beans, lettuce, salsa, sour cream and of course - cilantro lime rice. (And any other taco toppings you please!) It only takes about thirty minutes to make ground beef taco bowls, so it's a perfect quick dinner idea.
Chipotle-Style Ground Beef Burrito Bowls
Today I'm going to share another of our favorite meals... chipotle bowls! Or burrito bowls, or taco bowls, whatever you want to call them. If you like meals in a bowl like this one, you might also like Big Mac Burger Bowls.
We don't have a Chipotle nearby (surprise, we live in a very rural area), which is actually probably a good thing. Saves us money this way:)
I love how easy it is to make these, and you can use whatever you have in the fridge! Honestly, these taco bowls are delicious with just beef and rice and a few toppings like lettuce and salsa. And ranch dressing:) So no worries if you don't have all the ingredients. And this recipe does not nearly include all of the toppings and options you'd find at Chipotle, just so you know.
Also, if you're someone who likes to meal prep, this is a great recipe for that. Get everything ready ahead of time, then heat up just as much as you need for a quick lunch or supper!
So anyway, if you're looking for fresh dinner ideas the whole family will enjoy, try these easy ground beef burrito bowls. Picky eaters can pick and choose only the things they'll enjoy eating!
Ingredients
the Cilantro-Lime Rice
- White rice - let's see, I believe mine is long grain jasmine rice (from Aldi:)
- Water
- Salt
- Lime juice - fresh is best, but bottled is ok too!
- Cilantro - fresh cilantro...MMM.
the Taco Meat
- Ground beef - I typically use ground beef, but you can use any ground meat like ground turkey, pork or even venison!
- Onion
- Black beans (or pinto beans)
- Seasonings - chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, Salt & pepper
the Toppings
These are our favorite toppings (and what I'm prepping for today's bowls) - lettuce, salsa, sour cream, Ranch dressing, shredded cheddar cheese, lime wedges, and of course, some more fresh cilantro!
Supplies You'll Need (and what we used)
- Two frying pans (with lids) - one large pan for the rice and one for the ground beef mixture
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Meat chopper - to chop that beef nice and fine
- Cutting board & kitchen knife
- Strainer - for rinsing rice and beans
- Something to stir with - spoon, spatula, etc.
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How to make Ground Beef Taco Bowls
First, rinse the rice under cool water until the water runs clear.
Heat a drizzle of oil (about a tablespoon) in a pan on medium high on the stovetop. Dump the rice in there, give it a toss in the oil, and fry it for a few minutes.
Then add the water and salt, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and place a lid on the pan. Let the rice simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until soft.
While the rice is simmering, dice the onion. Then fry the ground beef and onion together in another pan.
Drain and rinse the beans. Once the ground beef is fully cooked (drain off excess grease if you wish), add the beans, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly, then turn the heat to low and put a lid on the pan to keep the ground beef mixture warm until ready to serve.
When the rice is soft (and the water should be about all gone), turn the burner off and let the rice sit there, with the lid on, for 5-10 minutes.
Prep the toppings. Chop the lettuce and cilantro, cut the limes in wedges (and juice one lime if using fresh lime juice in your rice), shred the cheese.
Just before serving, fluff the rice with a fork and toss with lime juice and chopped cilantro.
Now... pretend you're at Chipotle!
I like to set each item on the table in its individual serving bowl, and let everyone make their own bowls. My ideal taco bowl looks something like this: a scoop of rice and beef, lettuce, a spoon full of salsa, drizzle of ranch, dollop of sour cream, generous pinch of cilantro, a little bit of cheese and a squeeze of lime juice.
Enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Ground Beef Taco Bowls
If you have leftovers, store each item in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator. Some things, like the beef and rice should be reheated and eaten within a few days. Other things like salsa, lime wedges, shredded cheese, etc. should last a while longer in the fridge.
More toppings ideas for Ground Beef Taco Bowls
- Guacamole or avocadoes
- Peppers
- Corn - I had every intention of including corn in our bowls this time, but I thought of it when we sat down to eat that I plum forgot the corn! Oops:/
- Cherry tomatoes
- Jalapenos or hot sauce
Tips, Tricks and Notes on making Ground Beef Taco Bowls
This recipe uses white rice. If you want to use brown rice, you'll need to add extra water and cook twice as long.
I typically use ground beef, but you can use any ground meat like ground turkey, pork or even venison.
If you like this recipe...
...you might also like:
Homemade Soft Flour Tortillas (with fresh milled flour)
Also see our list of 30 Comfort Food Dinner Ideas for more easy dinner inspiration:)
Pin this "Ground Beef Taco Bowls Recipe" recipe for later!
Ground Beef Taco Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice
Ground Beef Taco Bowls are a super easy meal idea with taco meat and beans, lettuce, salsa, sour cream and of course - cilantro lime rice. It only takes about thirty minutes to make ground beef taco bowls, so it's a perfect quick dinner idea.
Ingredients
Cilantro Lime Rice
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
Ground Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion
- 1 (15 oz.) can black beans
- 2 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. oregano
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Toppings
- Lettuce
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
- Ranch dressing
- Shredded cheese
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- First, rinse the rice under cool water until the water runs clear.
- Heat a drizzle of oil (about a tablespoon) in a pan on medium high on the stovetop. Dump the rice in there, give it a toss in the oil, and fry it for a few minutes.
- Then add the water and salt, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and place a lid on the pan. Let the rice simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until soft.
- While the rice is simmering, dice the onion. Then fry the ground beef and onion together in another pan.
- Drain and rinse the beans. Once the ground beef is fully cooked (drain off excess grease if you wish), add the beans, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly, then turn the heat to low and put a lid on the pan to keep the ground beef mixture warm until ready to serve.
- When the rice is soft (and the water should be about all gone), turn the burner off and let the rice sit there, with the lid on, for 5-10 minutes.
- Now, prep the toppings. Chop the lettuce and cilantro, cut the limes in wedges (and juice one lime if using fresh lime juice in your rice), shred the cheese.
- Just before serving, fluff the rice with a fork and toss with lime juice and chopped cilantro.
- And... serve! I like to set each item on the table in its individual serving bowl, and let everyone make their own bowl. My ideal taco bowl looks something like this: a scoop of rice and beef, a pinch of lettuce, a spoon full of salsa, drizzle of ranch, dollop of sour cream, generous pinch of cilantro, a little bit of cheese and a squeeze of lime juice.
- Enjoy!🍋🟩
Notes
This recipe uses white rice. If you want to use brown rice, you'll need to add extra water and cook twice as long.
I typically use ground beef, but you can use any ground meat like ground turkey, pork or even venison.
Storage: If you have leftovers, store each item in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator. Some things, like the beef and rice should be reheated and eaten within a few days. Other things like salsa, lime wedges, shredded cheese, etc. should last a while longer in the fridge.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 221Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 303mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 6gSugar: 3gProtein: 14g
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
As always
Thanks so much for being here. You're welcome to stay awhile and explore! And did you make these taco ground beef bowls? Leave a comment and/or a star rating, and let us know how you liked them!:)
'til next time, we love you and we'll be praying for you,
-Julie
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