Beef Burrito Bowls Cilantro Lime (Printable)
A vibrant bowl featuring seasoned beef, cilantro lime rice, black beans, corn, and fresh toppings.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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 - Zest and juice of 1 lime
06 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
→ Seasoned Beef
07 - 1 pound ground beef (90% lean)
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 crushed tomatoes
18 - 2 tablespoons water
→ Toppings
19 - 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
20 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
21 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
22 - 1 avocado, sliced
23 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
24 - 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
25 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
26 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the rice and toast for 1 minute. Add 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and stir in lime zest, lime juice, and chopped cilantro.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking it up, and cook 5-7 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Add tomato sauce and 2 tablespoons water, simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
03 - Divide the cilantro lime rice evenly among four bowls. Top each with seasoned beef, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, shredded cheese, and optional sour cream, jalapeños, and lime wedges as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Each bowl is a blank canvas, so everyone at the table gets exactly what they want without drama.
- The cilantro-lime rice smells so good while it cooks that your kitchen becomes instantly more inviting.
- It's genuinely faster than takeout, and tastes better because you control the seasoning.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the black beans and corn—the excess liquid will make your bowl soggy and dilute the flavors you worked to build.
- Lime juice added to warm rice is ten times more effective than adding it to cold rice, so timing this step matters more than you'd think.
- If your beef looks watery after browning, pour it through a fine mesh strainer for 30 seconds rather than cooking it longer, which hardens the meat.
03 -
- If you're cooking for people with different heat tolerances, put fresh jalapeños and hot sauce on the side so everyone controls their own spice level.
- Zesting the lime directly into the warm rice releases the oils and makes the flavor punch harder than juice alone ever could.