Since I have been craving burrito bowls for quite some time, I decided to feature them in the meal prep series this week. If you are a meal prep pro, you probably are very familiar with burrito bowls.
It’s a common first meal people learn how to meal prep because they’re so easy and versatile that they become the first meal to be prepped.
Even though they’re kind of a no-brainer when it comes to meal prep, Apronese thought it was best to put them on here to help all of my newbies or those just considering getting started with meal prep.
As far as Burrito Bowl Meal Prep goes, this version requires the least amount of work because there are no ingredients packed alone or on the side, and nothing that will get soggy or limp while it is stored in the refrigerator.
You will find below a few suggestions for taking your burrito bowl meal prep to the next level as well as some tips for customizing or taking it to the next level.
Add-ins and Swaps for Burrito Bowls
Having said that, I would like to remind you that all the ingredients in the “Easiest” Burrito Bowl Meal Prep can be stored in one container without any worries that anything gets “yucky.” The meal can be prepared in a matter of minutes, and it only requires slicing one item.
That’s what it is really like. If you want it to be healthier, you can use brown rice, or even quinoa. And of course, you can adjust the amount of any of the ingredients to meet your taste buds or diet.
Want some ideas for swaps or add-ins? How about these:
- Grape tomatoes
- Tortilla chips (pack separately)
- Sour cream (pack separately)
- Grilled zucchini
- Roasted sweet potato cubes
- Taco sauce
- Jalapeños
- Black olives
- Cilantro
- Shredded lettuce (pack separately)
- Shredded chicken
Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep
In this recipe, I show you the easiest burrito bowl meal prep recipe that you can make in about 30 minutes with minimal cooking, chopping, and nothing you must pack on the side. Lunch can be easy and tasty without taking too much time.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked rice ($0.99)
- 1 lb. ground turkey or beef ($3.99)
- taco seasoning* ($0.67)
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels ($0.38)
- 1 15oz. can black beans ($0.59)
- 4 oz. cheese (about 1 cup shredded) ($1.00)
- 1 1/3 cup salsa ($1.30)
- 2 green onions ($0.13)
Instructions
- When you cook the rice, you will be able to prepare all the other ingredients while it is cooking. You should cook the rice according to the package instructions. To make 4 cups of white rice, I usually use 1.5 cups uncooked rice and 2.5 cups water, but your amount may vary depending on the rice variety you use, so make sure to read the package before you cook.
- In the meantime, heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the ground turkey over medium heat until it is cooked through. If your meat contains fat, you may need to add some oil to the skillet.
- There is one thing you need to do when the meat is fully cooked: add the taco seasoning, and then add 1/2 a cup of hot water. Stir together the meat and spices, and simmer until the water is reduced to a creamy consistency (this should take about 5 minutes). Turn off the heat, and set the meat aside.
- You will need to thaw the corn kernels, rinse and drain the black beans, shred the cheese, and slice the green onions before adding them to the pot.
- After the rice is finished cooking, fluff it with a fork and divide it between four containers. Divide the other six ingredients of the bowl, including the taco meat, corn, beans, cheese, salsa, and green onions, and also divide them between the four containers.
- Make sure you rewarm your bowls for 1-2 minutes before you begin eating them in order to melt the cheese and warm the meat and rice thoroughly.
As I said, this is my recipe for taco seasoning, with cornstarch as an optional addition to give the meat a slightly saucy consistency. But if you want, you can use one from a store or even use taco seasoning you buy in the store.
Nutritional
Serving: 1 Serving ・ Calories: 568.85 kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 47.93 g ・ Protein: 36.6 g ・ Fat: 27.15 g ・ Sodium: 1622.33 mg ・ Fiber: 12.5 g
The nutritional values shown here are only estimates. Please see our nutrition disclaimer.
Step by Step Photos
When you begin preparing the rest of the ingredients, you should begin with the rice. After that, you can prepare the rest in the 20-30 minutes it takes to cook it. You should cook the rice according to the package’s directions.
There are usually instructions on the package about how much rice and water to add to yield a certain amount of rice. As far as the rice is concerned, you’ll need about 4 cups of it once it’s cooked. Approximately 1.5 cups of rice and 2.5 cups of water were used.
The rice to water ratio that I like slightly less than 1:2, but that is just a personal preference.
As you prepare the rice, you will need to prepare the taco meat. It is best if you cook one pound of ground turkey or beef in a large skillet until it is cooked.
Add the taco seasoning and 1/2 cup of water, then simmer for a few minutes until the mixture becomes somewhat saucey. The taco seasoning mix that I used in this recipe (with cornstarch) is homemade, but you can also use a store-bought packet.
In the end, you should be able to see what it looks like after you are done. Set the meat aside once it is done.
Once this is done, prepare and gather all the rest of the ingredients for the burrito bowl. Thaw 1 cup of frozen corn kernels, rinse and drain one 15oz. can of black beans, shred 4 ounces of cheddar, prepare 1.3 cups salsa, and slice two green onions.
Afterward, once the rice is done cooking, it is time to put together your burrito bowls! Once the rice is cooked, just divide everything up evenly into four containers, and place them in the fridge, and you’re done! It is by far the easiest burrito bowl meal prep you will ever make.
There is a whole cup of rice in each of these dishes, and it is just underneath some of the other ingredients.
There’s no place like heaven when it comes to burrito bowls.
The dish that you should not miss, Apronese is sure to be a dish that you love from the first time. Because it’s easy to eat, easy to make and extremely healthy.
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