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 vegetarian 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.
More Tex-Mex Recipes
Veggie Burrito Bowls
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Print Pin Comment(if you suffer from allergies, please double check all ingredients before eating)
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.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.
I made this for lunch today! I grilled shrimp to go with it and added green beans my mom had cooked but forgot the cheese because I was rushing this morning. It was delicious :) Thank-you for another great recipe, I would definitely make this again.
Glad you enjoyed them Sandy, thanks for your message! :)
I made this tonight…it got rave reviews, and i sent the recipe to my sisters and friends interested in cooking. Probably one of the best burrito bowls I’ve tasted. I added some left over chopped chicken, and a little cumin (love cumin). It put the left overs in whole wheat tortillas, and wrapped them for lunch tomorrow! Seriously, great eats! Making your veggie filled black bean soup tomorrow! Thanks for the recipes!
Thanks so much Jennifer, I’m so pleased you loved it as much as I did! :) enjoy the soup!
Hello Becca!
I think your recipe is great but I made some adjustments since I’m eating vegan. I chose not to use any oil and instead grill some veggies and pineapple chunks on a stick using a george forman grill machine. I also got rid of the cheese and instead used a cheesy cashew sauce.
Wow this looks sooo mouth watering, gonna try it very soon! not a fan of black beans so I might use cannelini beans. I fancy adding some fresh lime juice and a touch of sour cream on top too.
The whole black bean collection looks great and I’m dying to try this one, but where are folk in the uk buying their black beans from?
I live in Edinburgh and have checked local supermarkets and have not found them, unless I’m looking in the wrong place. There is a specialist chili shop I know stock them, but it’s not the most convenient place. Any help?
I find mine at Asda – they’re not by the other beans, they’re in the ‘world foods’ aisle with all the Caribbean foods. I was so happy when I spotted them one day!!
Thanks for this, my family loved it! I garnished the coriander on top with a few slices of scallions and some lime juice–the lime juice really put it over the top. My beans were bland so I put in some hot sauce, just a litt,e and even my toddlers were gobbling it up. I also stirred in some Quorn pieces (chick’n) to increase the protein and reduce the carbohydrate proportions. It was super. We will be doing this again!
Sounds great! I often use Quorn for things like this, I just try not to use ‘fake meat’ too often on the blog because I know a lot of people don’t like it :) Glad you all enjoyed it!
I have literally just finished eating my first ever bowl of veggie burrito. It was heavenly, just my type of food. I topped with the cheese and coriander as suggested but also added some sliced avocado, a drizzle of lime juice and a splash of tabasco. I will be making this on a regular basis. You must give it a try, it’s so easy too. No culinary skill required.
Only thing I would substitute out would be the cheese with “Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese”. It’s much healthier then any other cheese I have ever had. You would just have to grate it at home :) I love the recipe though!! I have been a vegetarian all my life. I always try to create new recipes to keep myself excited about eating healthy and clean. Right now I’m doing red lentils and brown rice diet for 2 weeks! complete protein, fat, fiber and carbs and everything you need to detox and reboost your system. I’m taking probiotics, multi-vitamin and fish oil every morning as well.
What are tinned tomatoes? I found your blog from a blogger on pinterest
Just chopped tomatoes that come in a tin! :)
OMG- just saw these and I am in love!!! Trying next week!