Brown Rice Burrito Bowl (Print Version)

A satisfying bowl featuring brown rice, black beans, colorful vegetables, queso, and sour cream. Vegetarian and gluten-free.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup uncooked brown rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Beans

04 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
05 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
08 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Vegetables

09 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
10 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
11 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
14 - 1 avocado, sliced
15 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dairy & Toppings

16 - 1/2 cup queso fresco or shredded cheddar cheese
17 - 1/2 cup sour cream
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How To:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and salt, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until tender and water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
02 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine black beans, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat through for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Dice peppers, halve tomatoes, dice onion, and slice avocado. If using fresh corn, steam or grill briefly as desired.
04 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with black beans, bell peppers, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and avocado slices.
05 - Sprinkle queso fresco or cheddar cheese, add a dollop of sour cream, and garnish with cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when hunger strikes.
  • The textures play off each other: creamy avocado, crunchy peppers, tender beans, and fluffy rice all in one bite.
  • You can double the batch and eat different versions all week by swapping toppings.
  • It feels indulgent but keeps you full without that heavy, sluggish feeling.
02 -
  • Do not lift the lid while the rice is cooking or steam escapes and you end up with crunchy grains.
  • Seasoning the beans while they heat makes all the difference, cold beans dumped straight from the can taste flat and boring.
  • If your avocado is hard, leave it on the counter for a day or two, trying to ripen it in the oven or microwave never works the way you hope.
03 -
  • Toast the cumin and chili powder in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding the beans, it releases oils and deepens the flavor.
  • Use a rice cooker if you have one, it frees up your attention and the rice always comes out fluffy.
  • If you want a vegan version, swap in cashew cream or coconut yogurt for the sour cream and use nutritional yeast or plant based cheese.
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