Beef Burrito Bowl Brown Rice (Print)
Savory beef paired with brown rice and fresh toppings in a vibrant, Mexican-inspired 4-serving bowl.
# What You Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1.1 lbs lean ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tbsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp water
→ Brown Rice
13 - 1 cup brown rice
14 - 2½ cups water
15 - ½ tsp salt
→ Toppings
16 - 1 medium avocado, diced
17 - 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
18 - ¾ cup canned sweetcorn, drained
19 - ¾ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
20 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
21 - ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
22 - 4 tbsp sour cream
23 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
24 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
# How To Make It:
01 - Rinse brown rice under cold water. In a saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes or until tender and water is fully absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - While rice simmers, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 5–7 minutes until browned evenly. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Incorporate chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper into the beef. Stir in tomato paste and water, mixing thoroughly. Let the mixture simmer for 4–5 minutes until thickened. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Dice avocado, halve cherry tomatoes, drain canned sweetcorn and black beans, and shred lettuce and cheddar cheese.
06 - Divide cooked brown rice evenly among four serving bowls. Top each with the seasoned beef mixture. Arrange avocado, tomatoes, sweetcorn, black beans, shredded lettuce, and cheddar cheese on top. Add a dollop of sour cream, a wedge of lime, and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
07 - Serve immediately, allowing each person to mix ingredients as desired for a balanced bite.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It's endlessly customizable, so everyone at the table builds exactly what they crave.
- The whole thing comes together in under an hour, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore.
- Brown rice gives you real substance without the heaviness of white rice, and it actually tastes better the next day.
02 -
- Don't skip rinsing the brown rice, or you'll end up with a gluey texture that makes the whole bowl feel less vibrant.
- The beef mixture will taste better if you taste it after simmering and adjust seasoning, because every stove and every batch of spices behaves slightly differently.
- Cut your avocado just before assembly, and if you're making these for guests, have them squeeze lime juice on it immediately so it doesn't brown.
03 -
- Don't drain the excess fat from the beef too aggressively; a little keeps everything from tasting lean and tired.
- If you can't find smoked paprika, regular paprika with a tiny pinch of liquid smoke will do the same job.