Beef Taco Bowl Recipe
Published 1/5/2023 • Updated 3/22/2024
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Taco bowls have been a staple in our lives forever!🥗 Fit Foodie Finds started in 2010, and taco bowls were a major staple for the team back then and still are now.
We absolutely love making taco bowl fixings when we are all together to serve a crowd. The kiddos, Gus and Bode, are very into the ground beef and rice so it is really a meal the whole family loves!
Taco night is every night at our house! Ground beef tacos, chicken tacos, fish tacos, vegan taco! If it’s a taco, we’ll eat it!
You’re going to love these fresh and citrusy taco bowls. Let’s get to it!
What is a Taco Bowl?
Think of a taco bowl like this >> a taco in a bowl or a taco salad without the lettuce! That’s right, instead of using a tortilla, pop all of your favorite taco fixings into a bowl and eat it with a fork…or chips.
Taco bowls are similar to burrito bowls (have you tried our copycat Chipotle burrito bowl yet?), but there aren’t any fajita veggies, guaco, or queso.
Are Taco Bowls Healthy?
One reason why I love this recipe so much is because it is the epitome of balance. You got your protein, veggies, grain, and healthy fats all in one!
- Gluten-Free: since every aspect of this bowl is made from scratch, it’s naturally gluten-free!
- Veggie-Packed: all. the. veggies.
- Tons of Protein: Not only does the taco meat pack in protein, but so does the Greek yogurt topping and beans.
How to Build a Taco Bowl
Taco Meat
First things first, you can’t have a taco bowl recipe with the taco meat! So? We’re using our fan-favorite beef taco meat recipe. It’s 100% homemade made with ground beef, a homemade taco seasoning, a little tomato paste, and water.
If you’re not a beef person, feel free to swap in ground chicken or turkey 1:1!
Other Meat Ideas
- Shredded Chicken: use up your leftover chicken breast or thighs by shredding It!
- Carnitas: Our IP carnitas recipe is to die for and would be so delicious in this recipe!
- Lentils: Hoping to keep things vegan? Try our easy lentil taco meat!
- Sweet Potato: roasted sweet potatoes makes for another great vegetarian “meat” idea. It’s easy, too!
Cilantro Lime Rice
Our cilantro lime rice recipe is so easy to make. All you need is long-grain brown or white rice, water, lime juice, salt cilantro, and garlic. I promise going the extra mile is worth it!
More Grain Ideas
- Quinoa: white, red, or tri-color quinoa is a great high-protein option.
- White Rice: keep things simple with white rice.
- Brown Rice: try pre-cooked brown rice for a quick, whole grain option!
Pico de Gallo
Pico is so easy to make at home and this basic recipe only requires 3 ingredients:
- cherry tomatoes
- onion (any color)
- lime juice
Beans, Corn, & Other Fixings
A taco isn’t a taco without all the fixings! We kept things classic with a can of black beans (you can swap for pinto) and corn. Here are more fixing ideas below!
More Fixings
- Slaw: slaw is a fun way to add something cold to a hot bowl! Our pineapple coleslaw would be a fun mix up!
- Corn Salad: try our black bean and corn salad!
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Fajita Veggies: there is nothing better than peppers and onions. Try our grilled version.
- Guacamole: so many guac options! You can stay classic or go mango!
Turn it into Meal Prep!
Grab your favorite glass meal prep container and let’s get meal prepping! This recipe serves 4-6, so make sure you have enough containers.
All you have to do is evenly portion out each part of the recipe.
How to Store Taco Bowls
We prefer to store our taco bowls pre-portioned in glass meal-prep containers. We do this so that it’s an easy grab-and-go option during the week.
Store bowls in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
How to Reheat Tacos Bowls
The number one tip we have for these taco bowls is to figure out what you want to reheat and what you don’t. Some people don’t like to eat warm pico de gallo (it doesn’t bother me), so make sure that you remove that portion of your meal before reheating.
Place taco bowls in a microwave-safe container and microwave on high for 90 seconds.
Beef Taco Bowls
Ingredients
Ground Beef Tacos
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/4 cup taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3/4 cup water
Cilantro Lime Rice
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1.75 cups water
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (not packed)
- 3 tablespoons cup fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt*
Tomato and Onion Pico
- ½ purple onion, finely diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, fourthed
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Spicy Greek Yogurt Drizzle
- ½ cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Franks hot sauce, or any other hot sauce
- ½ tablespoon lime juice
Other ingredients
- 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 large avocados
- ½ cup fresh cilantro
- 1 lime, juiced (for serving)
Instructions
- First, begin by preparing the cilantro lime rice. Follow the instructions: https://fitfoodiefinds.com/copy-cat-cilantro-lime-brown-rice/.
- Next, prepare the ground beef tacos. Follow the instructions: https://fitfoodiefinds.com/easy-ground-beef-tacos/. Set aside.
- Create a tomato and onion pico de gallo by finely dicing ½ purple onion and cutting a pint of cherry tomatoes into fourths. Squeeze around a tablespoon of lime juice on top of it. Set aside.
- Make your spicy Greek yogurt drizzle by mixing together Greek yogurt, hot sauce and lime juice. Taste it and add more hot sauce, to taste.
- Drain and rinse your black beans and corn and slice 2 large avocados in half and set aside.
- Prep taco bowls by evenly distributing beef, pico, cilantro lime rice, black beans, and corn. Then, add in ½ avocado each and drizzle on the Greek yogurt topping. Finally, serve with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Have made this recipe numerous times and love it! Only change is that I omit the cornstarch and cook the recipe for several hours in a slow cooker to develop the flavors.
I love new recipes to try.
Loved these bowls! Easy + healthy = win. I used 93% lean ground turkey instead of beef (and only 1/4 cup water because I read the recipe wrong LOL – still turned out fine!). I also cut the rice recipe in half, so that I could add some salad fixings to it. I added 2 chopped romaine hearts and 1 diced yellow bell pepper, I also didn’t use corn or black beans, and it was so delicious. Also loved this simple Greek yogurt drizzle that really ties it all together! Will definitely be making these on repeat!
Glad you loved this!
OBSESSED WITH THESE BOWLS! The amount of food envy I get when I bring this to work is unreal – not that envy is important haha but these are AMAZING. Your blog is great, thank you. I live in OZ, from Minnesota so your recipes and instagrams etc. etc. make me feel like home.
This makes me heart so happy <3
HOLY MOLY IT WAS SOOO SPICY!!! Next time I’d chill out on the chilli powder a bit?
What kind of hummus do you pair with the taco flavorings?
All these bowl recipes sound fantastic, but the taco bowl will be my first try. We have a food store here that sells only organic, grain-fed meats in their meat department–organic everything, it being a healthy foods store–so I can get it there when my budget allows.
I think instead of tomatoes and salsa separately, I’d put freshly made Pico de Gallo in the bowl. Another store here makes it fresh daily, and it’s FABULOUS stuff! I make excellent guacamole, so that would be in there. Hoo, boy; it’s a good thing I just got done with my dinner, or I’d be chowing down on this right this moment!
GUACAMOLE FOR THE WIN!
This looks delicious, L! I just spent close to $20 at Chipotle and now I’ll just make this. I can add my own double meat and double guac.
DOUBLE GUACCCCC. You speak my language.
Mmmmm grass fed beef is the best. Love these taco bowls Lee! Super delicious! Pinning! 🙂
Thanks girlfran!