Taco Bowls
Easy taco bowls loaded with seasoned ground beef, rice, black beans, fresh vegetables, cheese, and your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 avocado, diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, optional
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened.
- Add the ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart as it cooks, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3–5 minutes, until the liquid has mostly absorbed and the beef is well coated.
- Warm the cooked rice and black beans if needed.
- Divide the rice evenly among four bowls.
- Top each bowl with seasoned ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and shredded cheese.
- Add salsa, sour cream, avocado, and cilantro as desired.
- Serve immediately with lime wedges.
Smart Substitutions
Lower the carbs: Replace the rice with cauliflower rice, chopped lettuce, or a combination of the two.
Reduce the beans: Black beans add fiber and protein but also contribute carbohydrates. Use a smaller portion or omit them for a lower-carb bowl.
Change the protein: Ground turkey or ground chicken can replace the beef. Leftover shredded chicken also works well.
Adjust the toppings: Use full-fat or light sour cream, Greek yogurt, guacamole, extra salsa, or additional vegetables to customize each bowl.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator: Store the cooked beef, rice, and beans separately from the fresh toppings in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
Freezer: The seasoned ground beef can be frozen for up to 3 months. Rice and beans can also be frozen separately. Do not freeze the lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, or avocado.
Reheating: Microwave the beef, rice, and beans until heated through, then assemble the bowl with fresh toppings.
Estimated Nutrition Per Serving
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary based on brands, portion sizes, and substitutions used.