This Taco Burrito Bowl is made with all the same ingredients used to make a Taco Burrito. All layered in a Plate, Bowl or Tortilla Bowl. Place everything out on the table, so everyone can build their own with some Soda and enjoy a Family Taco Tuesday Meal.
It’s such a satisfying and versatile meal, too. Because all the ingredients are there for Burritos, which means not only can Burrito Bowls be assembled however each person likes, but also Tacos with Hard/Soft Shells, Burritos & Quesadillas with Toasted Tortillas. Double or triple up on the Taco Seasoned Beef, and you’re set.
Other things can be added such as Guacamole, sliced Avocados, Pico De Gallo, diced Tomatoes & Onions with Cilantro, Corn Kernels, various Peppers, Crema, Creamy Cilantro Sauce, Creamy Jalapeño Sauce, and so on, all placed at the table to turn this into a Taco Tuesday Feast!
What is a Taco Burrito Bowl
A Taco Burrito Bowl is all the ingredients found in a Taco Burrito. Instead of being wrapped up in a Burrito, all the ingredients are layered on a plate, bowl or in a Toasted Tortilla Bowl.
Burrito Bowl vs Taco Bowl
Some use the term Taco Bowl to describe a Burrito Bowl. However, Tacos generally don’t include either Rice or Beans. For this reason, the name “Burrito Bowl” seems to be more fitting and descriptive. With the expectation of both Rice & Beans, and other ingredients that can be added typically associated with Burritos. Prefixed with Taco or Taco Beef, and you’d expect to have Taco Seasoned Ground Meat.
There are many versions of a Burrito Bowl, that can be made with Chicken, Pork, or Beef and a whole host of other added ingredients.
Taco Burrito Bowl Ingredients
The ingredients for a Taco Burrito Bowl are Taco seasoned Ground Beef, Refried Beans or canned whole Beans (Pinto or Black Beans), Rice, Red Taco Sauce, Vegetables, Sour Cream, Cheese & Lettuce.
Taco Ground Beef
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1/2 C Water
- 2/3 C Tomato Juice
- 1 Pack Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
Beans
Either Homemade Refried Beans or store bought. Canned whole Pinto or Black Beans can be used too.
Red Taco Sauce
This Red Taco Sauce just takes minutes to make. Throw everything together in a pot and bring to a boil until thickened, remove and let cool.
Vegetables
For added Vegetables, there are plenty of options from Pico De Gallo, Salsa, diced Onions & Tomatoes, Guacamole or sliced or diced Avocados can all be used for the Vegetable add-ins.
Sour Cream
Sour Cream or Creamy Based Sauces, like Creamy Jalapeño Sauce or Creamy Cilantro Sauce.
Cheese
Various kinds of Cheese can be used. From just the classic shredded Cheddar Cheese to Tex Mex, 2 Cheese Blend of Mozzarella or Monterey with Cheddar or a 3 Cheese blend of Mozza, Cheddar and Monterey. Add what you like and as much as you want.
Lettuce
Chop, slice or tear some Iceberg Lettuce to add some Crisp.
Quick & Easy Burrito Bowl
The longest part in making a Burrito Bowl is the Homemade Refried Beans and the Mexican Rice. Outside that, everything is just prepped and assembled besides cooking the Taco meat, but that doesn’t really take up any time at all.
For a Quick & Easy Burrito Bowl, use the canned Refried Beans or canned whole Pinto or Black Beans instead of a Paste. The Mexican Rice can be made in advance or by using leftover Mexican Rice from previous meals. With these two ingredients set aside, these Taco Burrito Bowls can come together easily in about 30 minutes or less, just the same as Tacos.
How to make a Burrito Bowl
Have all your ingredients ready to go, portioned out into a Compartment/Platter Tray. With Sauces on the side. Best of all, by using a platter tray, any leftovers can be covered and refrigerated all in one tray.
Burrito Bowl Platter
- Taco Meat
- Refried Beans
- Mexican Rice
- Lettuce
- Cheese
Taco Burrito Bowl Assembly
You can assemble the Burrito Bowl on a Plate, Bowl or Tortilla Bowl. Layer the ingredients any way you’d like, or use the below as a general guideline. You can add a lot of each ingredient to layer this once, or a small amount of each and repeat the layering.
- Refried or Whole Beans
- Mexican Rice
- Red Taco Sauce
- Any Vegetables including Guacamole, Salsa, Pico De Gallo
- Sour Cream or other creamy sauces
- Taco Beef
- Cheese
- Lettuce
- Optionally, more Sour Cream and/or Red Sauce on top. Garnish with Cilantro or Parsley
Tortilla Bowls
Instead of assembling the Burrito Bowls in a Bowl or Plate, Toasted Tortilla Bowls can be made and used. Just preheat the oven to 375 F and brush the Tortillas with Oil or melted Butter before placing them into the Molds to cook for about 5 minutes or toasted to your liking.
Tortilla Bowl Molds
Brush the Tortilla with Oil or melted Butter on both sides and fit into the molds.
Tortilla Bowls
Place the Tortilla Bowl Mold on a baking sheet and into a 375 F preheated oven to cook for about 5 minutes or toasted to your liking.
Twice Toasted Tortilla Bowls
For better color and uniform cook through, brush the Tortillas with Oil or Butter and toast in a skillet on both sides before fitting to the mold and baking at 375 F for about 3 minutes.
Toasted Tortillas are best when fresh out the oven. If there are any leftovers that you may have placed into a plastic bag for later, preheat them again before assembly, else leftover Tortillas bowls tend to be chewy.
Hot & Cold Burrito Bowls
Typically, I just use a Platter Tray to serve everything together. However, you can do a Hot & Cold Burrito Bowl, where all the Hot ingredients are added to a platter tray and covered so that they can stay Hot. While all the Cold ingredients are added to another tray to be refrigerated before serving.
Hot Burrito Bowl Tray
Fill the Hot Platter Tray with Taco Seasoned Ground Beef, Refried Beans or Whole Beans, Mexican Rice. You can also place these on an ovenproof platter, so that all the hot ingredients can be heated together in the oven before serving.
Cold Burrito Bowl Tray
Fill the Cold Platter Tray with all the Cold ingredients such as Lettuce, Cheese, Vegetables, and Various Sauces. Cover and keep refrigerated to keep cold before serving.
Taco Burrito Bowl Lunch
Taco Burrito Bowls are also awesome packed as a lunch in a Tupperware container. Just place all the Hot ingredients into the container (Beans, Rice, Meat) and place the cold ingredients individually into small containers. This way, the Hot ingredients can be microwaved and topped with the Cold ingredients for a Deliciously Good Taco Burrito Bowl Lunch.
Equipment
- 4 Tortilla Bowl Molds Optional
- 1 Baking Sheet
- 1 Skillet
- 2 Compartment/Platter Trays 1 for the Hot Ingredients and another for the Cold Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 Portion Refried Beans - Prepared or canned
- 1 Portion Mexican Rice - Prepared in advance
- 1 Portion Red Taco Sauce - Prepared or 1 pack Old El Paso Taco Sauce
- As Desired Salsa - or other Vegetables
- As Desired Sour Cream - or Creamy Jalapeño or Cilantro Sauce
- As Desired Shredded Cheddar Cheese - or other Cheese Blends
- As Desired Lettuce - chopped
Taco Beef
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1/2 C Water
- 2/3 C Tomato Juice
- 1 Pack Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F with the Rack in middle position. Brush the Tortillas with Oil or melted Butter and toast in a skillet over medium heat on both sides. Place them into their molds on a baking sheet and set aside.
- Place the Salsa or other Vegetables you will be using into the Cold Platter Tray along with Sour Cream, Red Taco Sauce, shredded Cheese & Lettuce and refrigerate.
- Combine Water and Ground Beef in a skillet and mix well until the water is completely absorbed. Place the Skillet over medium high heat and cook while breaking it down more, until all the water is gone. Add in the Taco Seasoning and Tomato Juice and mix well. Continue to cook until thickened. Empty out into the Hot Platter Tray and add the Rice to the Hot Platter tray as well.
- Add the Refried Beans or Whole Beans to the Skillet and heat through. Empty into the Hot Platter Tray with the Taco Meat and Hot Rice. Place the Tortilla Bowls into the oven for about 3–5 minutes, or until toasted to your liking.
- Lay out the Platter Trays on the table so your Family & Friends can pick and choose what they would like in their Burrito Bowl. Assemble the Burrito Bowl any way you'd like, or use the below as a guideline.Refried or Whole BeansMexican RiceRed Taco SauceSalsa or any Vegetables, including Guacamole or Pico De GalloSour Cream or other Creamy SaucesTaco BeefCheeseLettuceOptionally, more Sour Cream and/or Red Sauce on top. Garnish with Cilantro or Parsley