Taco Rice Bowl

This Taco Rice Bowl combines everything you love about tacos with the satisfying heartiness of a rice bowl, creating a flavor explosion that’ll make your taste buds dance.

Loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, and all your favorite taco toppings, this bowl is completely customizable and perfect for meal prep. The best part? That heavenly chipotle sauce that ties everything together and takes this from good to absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients

For the Base:

• 1 cup white rice, uncooked
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ⅓ cup onion, chopped
• 1 small jalapeño (optional)
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 15oz can black beans
• 1 tbsp tomato paste

For the Seasoning:

• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ cup chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 4 tbsp water

For Topping:

• 3 Tbsp fresh cilantro
• 1 avocado
• ⅓ cup salsa
• ⅓ cup shredded cheese

Steps

1. Cook rice according to package instructions (approximately 20 minutes).
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and brown for 5-8 minutes.
3. Add spices, garlic, onion, jalapeño, and tomato paste to the browned meat. Mix thoroughly.
4. Blend chipotle peppers with water until smooth. Add to meat mixture along with drained black beans. Simmer for 2 minutes.
5. Prepare quick guacamole by mashing avocado with 1 Tbsp cilantro and a pinch of salt.
6. Assemble bowls: Layer rice, meat mixture, then top with cilantro, guacamole, salsa, and cheese.

Smart Swaps

• Use cauliflower rice instead of white rice (reduces carbs by 30g per serving)
• Swap ground turkey for beef to reduce fat content
• Try Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for extra protein

Make It Diabetes-Friendly

• Replace white rice with quinoa (reduces glycemic impact by 40%)
• Use low-sodium black beans to reduce sodium content
• Portion rice to ¼ cup per serving (15g carbs)
• Add extra vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini
• Serve with a side of leafy greens to slow carb absorption

Pro Tips

• Toast rice before cooking for enhanced nutty flavor
• Make extra chipotle sauce and store for future use
• Prep ingredients in advance for quick assembly
• Let meat mixture simmer longer for deeper flavor development