Taco Bowls recipe with ground beef is an easy, quick dinner idea that everyone will love. Cover in your favorite topping for a nutritious meal
About this Recipe for Taco Bowls
These delicious taco bowls are all but guaranteed to become your new favorite weeknight dinner.
If you're looking for a variation of classic ground beef tacos, you'll love these taco bowls.
Think tender, juicy ground beef seasoned to perfection, nestled on a fluffy bed of rice, and topped with all the fixings your heart desires like crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and a sprinkle of cheese.
Served with customizable toppings so everyone is happy, these taco rice bowls are like deconstructed classic tacos and super easy to prepare.
With ground beef taco bowls, dinner is ready in 30 minutes. You only need a few simple ingredients and a skillet to have a delicious meal on the table in no time.
It's perfect for those busy weeknights when cooking feels like a chore, or for impromptu gatherings with friends when you need to whip up something tasty in a pinch.
Ground beef taco bowls aren't just delicious – they're also nutritious. Packed with protein, fiber, and nutrients your body craves, they'll leave you feeling satisfied and energized.
Plus, this recipe for taco bowls is great for meal prep, so you can throw them together when you need a nourishing and tasty meal.
And you can use leftover cooked taco meat if you have some! Simply reheat and assemble to taco bowls.
Ingredients
Ground beef: The main protein in this recipe for taco bowl is ground beef. I prefer lean ground beef so you don't have to drain a lot of excess grease. You can use 90/10, 93/7, 85/15, or ground sirloin.
Spices: To season the ground beef, use chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt. I know it looks like a long list of ingredients, but if you make tacos a lot, you might want to keep these spices on hand.
If you prefer, you can use a seasoning packet or your own homemade taco seasoning.
Cornstarch: To thicken the taco mixture, add a little cornstarch and water. If you want to save time, you can skip this. However, letting the mixture simmer for a minute with spices, water, and cornstarch helps season the ground beef.
Base: The base of your taco bowls can be whatever you like. Some ideas include white rice, brown rice, black beans and cilantro lime rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, homemade tortilla bowls, or lettuce.
Veggies: Add fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients to your taco rice bowl. Some of my favorites are chopped fresh lettuce, caramelized onions, air fryer roasted bell peppers, chopped red onion, and/or fresh tomato slices. Any cooked or fresh veggies you like are good.
Toppings: Tortilla chips, sour cream, Greek yogurt, low sodium homemade salsa, lime wedges, hot sauce, mango black bean salsa, fresh cilantro, pico de gallo, corn, black olives, cheddar cheese, crumbled taco shells, black beans, refried beans, or pinto beans are all great toppings for your taco bowl.
Recipe Cost
- ground beef 1 pound: $5.49
- onion 1 medium: $0.50
- bell pepper 1 medium: $0.72
- chili powder 4 teaspoons: $0.34
- paprika 1 teaspoon: $0.15
- cumin 1 teaspoon: $0.13
- garlic powder 1 teaspoon: $0.08
- oregano ½ teaspoon: $0.04
- salt ½ teaspoon: $0.01
- sugar ½ teaspoon: $0.01
- cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon: $0.02
- cornstarch 1 teaspoon: $0.02
- rice 4 cups cooked: $0.48
- salsa 1 cup: $0.76
- Greek yogurt ½ cup: $0.56
- black beans 1 cup: $0.51
- avocado 1 medium: $1
- lettuce 4 cups: $1
TOTAL COST: $11.82 or $2.96/serving (Based on San Diego grocery stores 2024)
Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.
Budget-Friendly Tips
To make this taco in a bowl recipe a little more budget-friendly, buy ground beef in larger packages or on sale. Typically, buying a larger amount costs less per ounce.
You can freeze it in 1 pound increments for future recipes.
Or look in the freezer section for 1 pound packages of ground meat since it is usually less expensive.
Also, you can use ground turkey which is often cheaper than ground beef.
Another option is to use 2 (15-ounce) cans of black beans or kidney beans in place of the meat. Or use 1 can and 0.5 pounds of ground meat.
How to Make Taco Bowls
Time needed: 30 minutes
Easy Taco Bowls recipe with ground beef is a quick dinner idea that everyone will love.
- Cook the ground beef, onions, and bell peppers.
Drain off excess grease.
- Season.
- Stir in cornstarch and water.
- Simmer.
Meanwhile, stir together salsa and Greek yogurt to make a sauce/dressing.
- Fill a bowl with rice and taco meat.
- Add desired toppings, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
*Because this is such a flexible recipe, these measurements don't need to be exact.
*You need about 4 cups of protein (taco meat, beans, or a combo of meat + beans) and about 4-6 cups of a base (like rice, quinoa, or lettuce).
Then add toppings in the amounts you like. The amounts listed in the recipe card are, again, simply guidelines or suggestions so you have an idea for how much to serve.
Variations
Alternative Prep & Cooking
Use leftover taco meat and cooked rice to make these easy beef taco bowls, so you don't have to cook anything.
How to Make Allergy-Friendly
This taco in a bowl recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and soy-free. If you skip adding cheese, yogurt, or sour cream, it is dairy-free.
Be sure your individual ingredients don't have any allergens you are trying to avoid.
How to Fix a Mistake
Lacking flavor: Make sure you let the spices simmer with the ground beef for at least 10 minutes before serving, so it has enough time to absorb the flavor. Also, feel free to add additional toppings.
Make-Ahead Ideas
These meal prep taco bowls are excellent for making in advance. Simply cook the ground beef and the rice, and store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge.
Prepare the topping and also store in separate containers.
Assemble when you are ready to enjoy (heat the ground beef and/or rice before serving if desired).
Storage Suggestions
It's best if you store the taco meat, rice (or whatever base), and toppings all separate.
Keep in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 6 days or in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.
To reheat:
- In the microwave: Fill a microwave-safe bowl with your base and taco meat, and heat for 45 seconds at 100% power. Stir and microwave for another 30-45 seconds until warm. Add toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Taco bowls are filled with seasoned ground beef, black beans, rice, lettuce, homemade creamy salsa dressing, and avocado. Top them with fresh cilantro, tortilla chips, corn, and more. These are great for weeknight dinner, meal prep, and easy lunches.
Nutrition Benefits
This taco in a bowl recipe is full of nutrients.
While it varies based on what you are putting in the bowl, the base recipe is an excellent source of protein (39 grams), fiber (15 grams), Vitamin C (65% RDA), Vitamin A (47% RDA), Iron (39% RDA), and Potassium (39% RDA).
It's also a good source of calcium with 13% of the recommended daily amount.
What to Serve with Taco Bowls
One of the best parts about these tasty ground beef taco bowls is that you can make them however you like. Fill them with your favorite taco toppings or use up ingredients in your kitchen.
Some of my favorite toppings include tortilla chips, low sodium homemade salsa, lime juice, taco sauce, fresh cilantro, pico de gallo, corn, green onion, and cheddar cheese or cotija cheese.
Final thoughts:
This recipe for taco bowl is one of my favorite ways to enjoy taco night. It's an easy weeknight meal that everyone can customize how they like.
If you're looking for recipes for taco bowls, you've found a good one! It's simple, delicious, and quick. plus, it's budget-friendly.
What more could you ask for?
MORE TACO RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:
Taco Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion about 1 ¼ cup, diced
- 1 medium bell pepper about 1 ¼ cup, diced
- 4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ⅔ cup water
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup salsa
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 medium avocado sliced
- 4 cups lettuce
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onions, and bell peppers over medium-high heat. Drain off grease, and add back to the skillet.
- Stir in chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt, sugar, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to coat ground beef & veggies.
- Sprinkle cornstarch on the mixture and add water. Bring to a simmer, and reduce heat. Simmer until the liquid has thickened, about 5-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stir together salsa and yogurt. Use as the sauce for your bowls.
- Add about 1 cup of rice to a bowl. Top with about 1 cup of ground meat and cover with your choice of toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
What to Use in This Recipe
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Taco Bowls Nutrition Facts
This is based on using rice and beans. Feel free to decrease the amount or use a different base. This will change the nutrition facts for your taco in a bowl recipe.
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