Easy Ground Beef Burrito Bowls with rice, veggies, taco ground beef and creamy nacho cheese sauce! Ready in 35 minutes, totally customizable, and family-approved.
Love these Burrito Bowls? Try more Mexican-inspired favorites like my cheesy Taco Pizza, crispy Chicken Taquitos, and quick Air Fryer Quesadillas!
These Ground Beef Burrito Bowls are everything you love about burritos in a convenient bowl form!
Seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, corn, beans, fresh toppings, and a creamy nacho cheese sauce makes these bowls taste like something you’d order at a restaurant but cheaper and healthier.
Everyone gets to build their own bowl just the way they like it. No complaints, no stress, and guaranteed clean plates!
Burrito Bowls Ingredients:
- Ground beef: I use lean ground beef to keep things lighter, but any kind works. You can also swap in ground turkey, chicken, or even pork if that’s what you have on hand.
- Taco seasoning: Homemade taco seasoning or store-bought both work! It’s what gives the meat its classic Tex-Mex flavor.
- Tomato paste: Adds a rich, concentrated umami flavor.
- Rice: Use white, brown, or jasmine, or whatever you love most. I like using leftover rice or my Baked Rice for quick assembly!
- Corn and beans: For a little sweetness, texture and color. Canned corn is super easy and quick, but if you have corn on the cob, you can cut that off and use it for these bowls. Black beans or pinto beans both work great!
- Nacho cheese sauce: A simple, creamy homemade cheese sauce that ties everything together!
- Toppings: Go big here! Diced tomato, red onion, lettuce, cilantro, lime wedges, and salsa or pico de gallo all make these bowls pop with color and freshness.
How to make Ground Beef Burrito Bowls:
These bowls are one of the easiest meals you’ll ever make! Scroll down to the pink recipe card for all the details.
- Brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet.
- Stir in taco seasoning, tomato paste, and a splash of water.
- Make the cheese sauce.
- Assemble the bowls.
Make-ahead option:
Prep the rice, toppings, and cheese sauce in advance. Then, all you need to do is cook the beef and reheat the cheese sauce.
Add lettuce and cilantro just before serving so they stay crisp!
How to store leftovers:
Store leftover ground beef in an airtight container for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months!
Reheat the beef and rice gently in the microwave, and warm the cheese sauce on the stove or microwave on low heat with a splash of milk or water to loosen it.
Our kids love these for school lunches so I often make a batch, and assemble small portions of rice, taco beef, corn, beans, salsa and cheese sauce in a small container and put it into the freezer for down the road.
Serving suggestions:
These burrito bowls are a meal on their own, but they’re even better with a side of Corn Salsa or Homemade Rotel Dip! Grab some tortilla chips for scooping.
If you’re feeding a crowd, set up a burrito bowl bar with all the toppings, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños, and extra cheese, and let everyone build their own.
They’re also delicious tucked into warm tortillas for an easy burrito or wrapped up for a grab-and-go lunch the next day!
Ground Beef Burrito Bowls
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
Ground Beef
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ medium onion, (finely diced)
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, (homemade or store bought)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1-2 tablespoons water
Nacho Cheese Sauce
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ teaspoon taco seasoning or chili powder
Burrito Bowls
- 3 cups hot, cooked rice
- 1½ cups sweet canned corn, (drained)
- 1½ cups black or pinto beans, (drained and rinsed)
- diced tomato
- diced red onion
- finely chopped lettuce
- cilantro
- lime wedges
- tomato salsa or pico de gallo
Instructions
Ground Beef
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring often, just until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in taco seasoning, tomato paste and 1 tablespoon water. Add additional water so that the beef comes together and is a little saucy but not too watery. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Nacho Cheese Sauce
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour until no white remains.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, cooking until thickened and smooth.
- Remove from the heat and stir in cheese and seasoning until melted. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Ground Beef Burrito Bowls
- Place approximately ½ cup rice, ½ cup ground beef, ¼ cup corn, ¼ cup beans and any additional toppings as desired in a bowl.
- Drizzle with Nacho Cheese Sauce as desired and serve with salsa or pico de gallo.
Video
Notes
- Ground beef: you can substitute with any ground meat like chicken, turkey or pork.
- Cheese sauce: to save time you can use store bought queso sauce or simply swap it with shredded cheese. For more quick you can use a jalapeno cheese or Monterey Jack.
- Rice: we typically use this Baked Rice, this Instant Pot Brown Rice or this Instant Pot Jasmine Rice for our burrito bowls. You’ll need about 1.5 cups brown rice or 1 cup jasmine or basmati.
- The ground beef, rice, and cheese sauce can all be prepped ahead which makes it perfect for busy weeknights when everyone is eating at different. times.
- Our kids love these for school lunches so I often make a batch, and assemble small portions of rice, taco beef, corn, beans, salsa and cheese sauce in a small container and put it into the freezer for another day. They’re great to grab on the run!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Tag @thereciperebelVariations and Substitutions
- Switch up the protein: Try ground chicken, turkey, or even shredded rotisserie chicken for a lighter twist. You can also use pulled pork or air fryer steak for a heartier option.
- Make it vegetarian: Skip the beef and double up on beans, corn, and sautéed peppers or mushrooms for a satisfying meat-free version.
- Change the base: Not a rice fan? Swap it for quinoa, cauliflower rice, or even shredded lettuce for a low-carb bowl.
- Add extra veggies: Stir in sautéed bell peppers, onions, zucchini, or spinach for more color and nutrition.
- Play with the cheese sauce: Spice it up with jalapeños or chipotle, or go mild with Monterey Jack or Colby cheese for a creamy, kid-friendly option.
- Make it spicy: Add cayenne to the taco meat or use hot salsa for a bold kick that balances the creamy cheese sauce perfectly!
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