Veggie burrito bowls

These veggie burrito bowls are the perfect easy Tex-Mex dinner – especially when they’re piled up with your favourite toppings!

Can anything beat a bit of Tex-Mex? Give me anything with beans, rice, veggies and cheese, in any combination, and I’m more than happy. These veggie burrito bowls are the perfect example – they’re nothing fancy, just everything piled up in one big, beautiful heap – but my word, they’re good.

What is a burrito bowl?

A burrito bowl is essentially a burrito – but un-burritoed.

It’s all the stuff you would usually find wrapped up in a big tortilla to make an amazing burrito, but served in a bowl instead. Rice, beans, and plenty of veggies.

I love a good burrito as much as the next person, but sometimes I fancy something a bit lighter, or (more likely) I just don’t have any tortillas to hand – and a burrito bowl is a great alternative.

Black bean burrito bowls

These veggie burrito bowls are really, really straightforward to make. Start by cooking off some veggies in a pan – I went for spring onions, peppers and tomatoes – and add some black beans.

I know I go on about black beans all the time, but it’s only because they’re the ultimate bean – they’re little and soft, with a lovely deep flavour. They go perfectly in these burrito bowls, and hold up really well against the other smoky, spicy flavours.

Brown rice

Next, add some cooked rice. I used brown rice, because it’s got a nice nutty flavour that works really well, and a lovely chewy texture. It makes these burrito bowls feel extra hearty.

White rice would work just fine too, of course!

Just mix it all together, and you’re basically done! A good splash of your favourite hot sauce ties everything in together and makes your lovely bowlful really tasty.

But don’t forget one of the most important parts of these burrito bowls…

The toppings!

A meal like this is just crying out for a few toppings. I say this every time I post this type of Tex-Mex recipe, but it’s true – Tex-Mex food is just perfect for topping with all sorts of tasty extras:

• grated cheese (I melted mine in the microwave)
• chopped spring onions
• salsa
• fresh coriander (cilantro)
• sour cream
• avocado or guacamole

Really, just go mad with toppings. Every topping you add will lift these veggie burrito bowls further and further into deliciousness!

Can I make a vegan burrito bowl?

Absolutely! The main recipe of these veggie burrito bowls is actually vegan anyway. I added some cheese on top of mine, but you could easily swap it for vegan cheese, or just choose a few vegan toppings from the list above instead.

Alternatively, if you fancy something a bit different, you might also like my quinoa and roasted chickpea vegan burrito bowls!

It’s really hard to go wrong with these veggie burrito bowls.

Print

Veggie burrito bowls

These veggie burrito bowls are the perfect easy Tex-Mex dinner – especially when they're piled up with your favourite toppings!

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

• 150 g (~ 3/4 cup) brown rice
• 1 tbsp oil
• 3 spring onions, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, diced (I used yellow)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ~ 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 400 g tin black beans, drained (240g, or ~ 1 1/4 cups, when drained)
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 100 ml (~ 1/3 cup) vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp hot sauce (however hot you like it)
• Your choice of toppings, to serve, e.g. grated cheese, sour cream, guacamole, fresh coriander (cilantro), etc.

Instructions

• Cook the brown rice according to the instructions on the packet – I boil mine in plenty of water until it's just soft (around 20 minutes), then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat a dash of oil in a large, deep frying pan, and add the spring onions, diced pepper and garlic. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes, until softened.
• Add the halved cherry tomatoes, black beans, paprika, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for a few minutes more, until the tomatoes are just softened. You can squish them a little to release their juice if you like.
• When the rice is cooked, add it to the vegetables, along with a little vegetable stock and a dash of hot sauce. Mix well to combine. Check the seasoning (you might want a little more hot sauce!), and serve with your choice of toppings.

Course: Main meals

Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex

Author: Becca Heyes

Note: Nutritional information is approximate, and depends on exactly what ingredients you choose. Information above is for 1/2 the recipe, not including toppings.

Fancy a more extravagant alternative to these veggie burrito bowls? Try my smothered burritos!