Beef Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice (Print)
Vibrant bowls with seasoned ground beef, cilantro lime rice, black beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, and fresh toppings.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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 Ground 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, canned, or thawed)
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
# How-To Steps:
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 1 minute. Pour in 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with fork, and stir in cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice. Cover and keep 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 necessary. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add tomato sauce or salsa and simmer 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
03 - Divide cilantro lime rice evenly among four bowls. Top each bowl with seasoned beef, black beans, cherry tomatoes, corn, avocado, cheese, and sour cream. Sprinkle with green onions and serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The combination of warm spiced beef against the bright, citrusy rice creates this perfect balance that takeout places never quite get right.
- You can prep most components ahead of time, which has saved me countless weeknights when I stumbled through the door absolutely starving.
02 -
- Adding the cilantro and lime to the rice AFTER cooking preserves their bright flavors, something I learned after repeatedly wondering why my rice tasted flat when I added them too early.
- Briefly toasting the spices with the beef rather than adding them to the raw meat creates a noticeably richer flavor profile that makes these bowls taste like they came from your favorite restaurant.
03 -
- When cooking the rice, place a clean kitchen towel between the pot and lid after removing from heat to absorb excess steam, resulting in perfectly fluffy grains that dont clump together.
- Massage the lime zest directly into the chopped cilantro with your fingers before adding to the rice, which helps distribute the citrus oils more evenly throughout every bite.