Ground Beef Burrito Bowl
This post may contain affiliate links.
This ground beef burrito bowl recipe is perfect for weeknights! With endless toppings and flavor combos, it’s a dinner your whole family can build exactly the way they like.
Why This Recipe Will Be a Favorite
This burrito bowl recipe earns a regular spot in our dinner rotation because it’s an easy Mexican dinner that’s flexible, filling, and simple to make on busy nights. The seasoned ground beef cooks quickly, the rice can be made ahead, and the toppings are easy to customize.
It’s especially great for families because everyone can build their own bowl. That little bit of choice goes a long way with picky eaters, keeping dinner easy and stress low!
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! I’ve made this countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Chop toppings ahead of time. Having everything prepped before you cook the beef makes assembly feel easy instead of rushed.
- Warm the rice right before serving. If the rice was made in advance, reheating it briefly keeps the bowl feeling fresh and hot.
- Blend the dressing until completely smooth. A creamy avocado lime ranch dressing ties the whole bowl together. Whisking it well ensures that it’s silky.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
The ingredients for this burrito bowl recipe are basic Tex-Mex staples, so they should be easy to find at any grocery store.
Lean ground beef is the heart of this bowl, but feel free to substitute the beef with any ground meat you like.
I have a taco seasoning recipe that’s easy to make and great to have on hand. If it’s easier to use a store-bought blend, go for it!
Cilantro lime rice is simple to make from scratch, or it’s available in a packaged rice mix at many stores. If your family doesn’t care for cilantro, it’s a simple fix to serve the ground beef burrito bowl with plain white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice.
The toppings are where you can really make this recipe your own. Black beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion, corn, lettuce, and shredded cheese add color, flavor, and texture. Any or all of the toppings can be swapped out for ingredients your family prefers.
The avocado lime ranch dressing is absolutely delicious! It’s a copycat of the Chick Fil-A dressing, but you can substitute it with any dressing of your choice.
How to Make the Ground Beef Burrito Bowl
This is just a summary of the steps involved. Scroll down to the recipe card for the complete instructions! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Prep the rice and toppings. Start by getting your rice going. Then, prep your toppings and set them aside.
- Cook and season the ground beef. Next, brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain any excess grease, and return the beef to the pan. After adding the seasonings, let the mixture simmer for a few minutes so the flavors come together.
- Make the dressing. Add all the ingredients to a blender or small food processor and blend until smooth. If it feels too thick, add a splash more milk until it’s pourable but still creamy.
- Assemble each ground beef burrito bowl with 1/2 cup rice and 1/2 cup seasoned beef. Then, let everyone add the toppings they like to their burrito bowl.
Make it kid friendly: Set all the toppings out in small bowls and let kids build their own burrito bowl. Giving them autonomy and choice over what goes in their bowl often makes them more excited to eat it!
Meal Prep Instructions
This ground beef burrito bowl is great for meal prep. For the best results, cook the rice and ground beef, then let them cool completely before portioning into containers.
Store toppings separately to keep everything fresh and crisp. Keep the avocado lime ranch in a small, sealed container and add it just before serving. When you’re ready to eat, reheat the rice and beef, then add your toppings and dressing.
Burrito Bowl Recipe FAQs
Unlike a traditional burrito, a burrito bowl has all of the fillings served without a tortilla. This makes the meal low carb, but to keep the calories low, it's important to be mindful about the ingredients.
Store the rice, beef, toppings, and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
A ground beef burrito bowl has all of the components to be a complete meal on its own. If you want to fill out the table, consider these ideas:
- Sides: Serve with a simple green salad or tortilla chips for extra crunch.
- Condiments: Add fresh salsa, guacamole, or extra lime wedges on the side. Chipotle corn salsa would be delicious with this Mexican-inspired dinner.
If you make this recipe, please give it a star rating and leave a comment below to let me know how it went!
Ground Beef Burrito Bowl
Ingredients
For Cilantro Lime Rice
- 1 cup uncooked white rice 3 cups cooked
- 1 ¼ cups chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
- 1 lime juiced and zested
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Seasoned Ground Beef
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup water
Toppings
- 15 oz. canned black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- ½ cup diced red onion
- 1 cup corn fresh, frozen, or canned (drained)
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ½ cup shredded cheese
Dressing
- 1 large ripe avocado
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lime juice from 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- ½ cup milk any dairy or non-dairy milk
Instructions
- Prepare the rice: If making homemade cilantro lime rice, prepare the rice based on package instructions (or use our Instant Pot rice recipe). Once cooked, squeeze in lime juice, add avocado oil, lime zest, chopped cilantro and salt. Stir well to combine.
- Prep the burrito bowl toppings before cooking the ground beef or while it's cooking.
- Cook the ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until fully cooked through. Drain the excess grease from the browned beef and return to the skillet.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over the cooked beef and add water and tomato paste. Stir until mixed throughout. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour 2 tablespoons broth into the skillet. Stir to incorporate, allowing the mixture to simmer for 2-3 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and flavors meld.
- Make the avocado lime ranch dressing: Add all ingredients to a personal size blender or small food processor. Combine until dressing is smooth. Add more milk if needed to desired thickness for the dressing.
- Taste and add more ranch seasoning or salt if desired!
Assemble
- If possible, add toppings to a large cutting board or in bowls to allow each person to serve the toppings they like. This is great for kids who like certain things!
- Add about ½ cup of both cooked rice and ground beef to each bowl if plating for the family. Then sprinkle on your choice of toppings.
Notes
- If you don't have taco seasoning, you can make your own with these spices: 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1½ teaspoons cumin, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon oregano, ¾ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Feel free to use a ready-to-cook package of cilantro lime rice to save a few minutes on cook time! You can also use plain rice instead of cilantro lime if preferred.
