TACO BOWL

An easy-to-make Taco Bowl recipe! This meal is filling, packed with good ingredients, and is a great make-ahead weekly meal prep option.

Taco Bowls are so easy to customize to your personal preference. Pair your bowl with Roasted Brussels Sprouts, an easy Fruit Salad, or add all the ingredients on a bed of lettuce with this dressing.

TACO BOWL

These Taco Bowls are everything you know and love about (easy) tacos, but in a bowl form instead. I shared these meal prep chicken burrito bowls last year and so many of you have requested similar recipes.

This recipe is multi-functional: use it as a delicious hot dinner, use it for weekly meal prep, or instructions below to quickly transform this recipe (or leftovers) into a simple taco salad. The taco salad can be made fresh or I’ve also included tips to making a meal prep taco salad. Enjoy!

How To Make A Taco Bowl:

Cilantro-lime rice: While plain rice works great in this recipe, this cilantro-lime rice takes it to another level. It doesn’t take long to add a huge flavor punch to your rice! To make it, simply stir in some lime juice, lime zest, and finely chopped cilantro to your cooked rice.
Ground beef: Brown and crumble the beef with a few taco spices (SO good!) and add a little picante sauce for flavor.
Beans/corn: Drain and rinse black beans and roasted corn. If you’re meal prepping, just spoon them in the containers as is. If you’re eating these Taco Bowls hot, toss them in a skillet (or even with the beef) to warm through.

What To Put In A Taco Bowl:

After you’ve made the basic base for the Taco Bowl (rice, beef, beans/corn), it’s all about topping your bowl! Whatever you generally like in a taco is going to be great here. Here are some ideas:

Cheddar cheese: We like freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese.
Sour cream: Fat-free or low-fat work great! Add a bit of lime juice and Sriracha or hot sauce for a quick taco cream sauce. See my favorite creamy sauce that would pair great with these tacos bowls here.
Fresh lime: A few squeezes of fresh lime add so much flavor.
Avocado: While not great for meal prepping, we love avocado in fresh Taco Bowls. An avocado adds a nice creaminess while keeping the meal healthy.
Pico de gallo: Or even just a few chopped tomatoes if you prefer! I make a shortcut pico for these Taco Bowls — just tomatoes, jalapeño, red onion, and lime juice.

QUICK TIP

What’s the difference between pico de gallo and salsa? Pico is made from fresh veggies like tomato, pepper, onion and cilantro. Salsa takes those same ingredients and cooks them. The flavors are similar (because of the same ingredients) but different (because one is cooked and one isn’t).

How To Meal Prep This Recipe:

This meal divides into five good-sized meals or four large ones. Depending on what you’re after, set out your meal prep containers.

Add cooked and cooled rice, cooked and slightly cooled beef, beans, and corn to your meal prep container.
Separate toppings into individual containers or plastic bags. If there’s room, store them in the meal prep container. Otherwise, keep them in the fridge where you won’t overlook them.
Cover/seal everything tightly and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days.

A frequent question I get asked is how to serve these meal prep bowls — do we eat them cold or warmed up? Definitely warm them up unless you’re making this recipe into a taco salad (more on that in a little)!

How Do You Microwave A Taco Bowl?

Remove the topping containers from your meal prep bowl and microwave (covered with a paper towel) the rice, beef, corn, and beans to personal preference, about 1-2 minutes on high power (this will vary from microwave to microwave).

Transform This Taco Bowl Into A Taco Salad:

To serve fresh: Omit the rice, and serve the meat (slightly cooled), corn, and beans plus whatever toppings you’d like (I’d suggest pico, avocado, sour cream, and cheese) over a bed of chopped romaine lettuce. Whip up the dressing shown below and pair it with your taco salad.

To transform leftover Taco Bowl into a taco salad: Make a taco bowl one night and a salad the next! Simply take all your leftovers and add them to a big bed of chopped romaine lettuce. Whip up the dressing and drizzle on generously!

To serve as a meal prep: Omit the rice and follow all other directions to meal prep these Taco Bowls. Chop romaine lettuce and store it separately in a plastic bag. Prepare the dressing and store it separately. When ready to enjoy, place the lettuce on a large plate, add your beef, corn, and black beans, and the stored toppings (I’d suggest pico, sour cream, and cheese); drizzle dressing over everything.

Taco salad dressing:

1 lime, juiced and zested to get about 1 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice
2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix (do not prepare it, use dry)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tomatillo, husk removed and coarsely chopped
1/2 of a large bunch of cilantro (cut off long stems, but the rest is fine)
1/2 of a jalapeño, optional
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream (fat-free works great)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Zest and juice a lime and add juice and zest to a blender along with ranch seasoning mix, garlic, tomatillo, and cilantro
Add 1/2 jalapeño (or full one for more kick) and mayo. Add salt and pepper to taste. (I use about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.)
Blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust to personal preference (more lime, garlic, salt/pepper).
Whisk or blend in the sour cream. Serve over taco salad or store separately for meal prep.

More Taco Favorites:

Chicken Tacos Reader FAVORITE with hints of Mexican Street Corn!
Shrimp Tacos
Sweet Potato Taco Bowls
Vegetarian Tacos (so good, you won’t miss the meat!)
Grilled Chicken Taco Bowls with an Avocado Corn Salsa Reader FAVORITE!

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