The BEST Taco Bowl

5 from 11 votes

How to make a taco bowl in 30 minutes with juicy taco meat, rice, beans, and customizable toppings. It’s a delicious healthy taco in a bowl!

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Mexican, TexMex

Servings: cups

Calories: 136kcal

Author: Traci

Ingredients

Taco Meat

1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 small Onion diced (about 1 cup)
1 pound Ground Turkey or beef
2 tablespoons Taco Seasoning or 1 packet
¼ cup Water
⅔ cup Tomato Sauce
Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Taco Bowl

1 head Iceberg or Romaine Lettuce chopped (about 8 cups)
2 cups Cilantro Lime Rice or plain rice
1 (15 ounce can) Black Beans rinsed and drained
1 cup Cherry Tomatoes chopped
1 large Avocado sliced
2 ounces Cheddar Cheese shredded (about ½ cup)
½ cup Cilantro chopped
2 Limes cut into wedges
1 small Jalapeno thinly sliced
Sour Cream or Lime Crema optional
Hot Sauce optional

Instructions

Cook the taco meat

Heat OIL in a skillet. Add ONIONS and saute until translucent.
Add GROUND TURKEY or BEEF and saute until browned. Drain excess fat, if necessary.
Stir in TACO SEASONING, WATER, and TOMATO SAUCE.
Reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes until thickened, stirring as needed. Add SALT and PEPPER to taste.
Set aside until ready to use.

Build the taco bowls

Distribute LETTUCE evenly into serving bowls.
Warm the TACO MEAT, BROWN RICE, and BEANS via the stove or microwave; distribute into bowls.
Add any of these toppings: TOMATOES, AVOCADO, CILANTRO, LIME, JALAPENO, CHEESE, SOUR CREAM, HOT SAUCE.

Video

Notes

Ground Beef: If you're using 85/15 ground beef, consider draining the excess fat after cooking to avoid an oily texture in your taco bowl.

Cook the Rice Ahead: You can cook rice ahead of time and reheat it when assembling the bowls. You can also use microwavable rice for an even quicker option.

Prep in Advance: You can cook the meat, prep toppings, and store them in separate containers so everything is ready to assemble when you’re short on time.

Warm the Tortillas (Optional): If you’re serving with tortillas on the side, warm them in a dry skillet for extra flavor and texture before filling them.

Nutrition