There is nothing EASIER or more delicious than a burrito bowl. Seasoned meat, beans, and rice are the base of this easy burrito bowl, but the toppings are key!

Prepare these Burrito Bowls using leftover Instant Pot Carnitas, Shredded Mexican Chicken, or Taco Meat.

Red Bowl with rice, shredded pork, beans, lime, avocado

Easy Burrito Bowls

Burrito bowls are one of my go-to dinners! They are the PERFECT way to use up leftovers to make something new that is full of flavor.

And if you are like me, you need EASY meals your family will enjoy!

Plus the bonus to this recipe is that because we are using up leftovers, this meal is extremely affordable. There is no reason to pay for overpriced burrito bowls when you can make them at home with leftovers and a few pantry staples.

How to Make a Burrito Bowl

The concept behind burrito bowls is easy--rice, piled with meat, beans, and then your choice of toppings.

Pick and choose your favorites and build a burrito bowl that is perfect for your tastes--and what you have on hand!

Base Options

Start each bowl with a layer of a grain of some sort.

Burrito Bowl Protein Options

The varieties of proteins you can add are endless, but I find this is a great time to make use of leftovers.

Leftover Pork Carnitas
Toss leftover rotisserie chicken
Leftover Taco Meat
Instant Pot Beans
Canned Beans
Copycat Chipotle Sofritas
Leftover Steak Fajita Meat

If your meat is not well seasoned, warm together with a bit of taco seasoning before serving on the burrito bowls. If your meat is already well flavored, omit the taco seasoning and just warm your meat with a bit of water or stock.

Optional Toppings

Pick and choose the toppings you like that fit your dietary needs. This is where you can really get creative with flavor combinations.

Shredded cheddar cheese
Queso Fresco
Crumbled feta cheese
Shredded cabbage
Chopped cilantro
Shredded Lettuce
Easy Corn Salsa
Salsa
Salsa Verde
Pineapple Mango Salsa
Avocado
Lime juice
Sour cream
Plain Greek yogurt
Olives
Tomatoes
Onions
Jalapenos

Grab your bowl and start layering and that is how you make a perfect bowl! Simple easy, and always a winner!

More Easy Dinner Recipes that use up Leftovers

Red bowl with rice, shredded pork, avocado, cabbage and cheese

Easy Burrito Bowl

An easy burrito bowl made with leftover meat, brown rice, and all the delicious toppings of tacos.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 20

Servings:

Calories: 287kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups leftover cooked meat chicken, pork, beef, etc
▢ 2 cups beans pinto or black
▢ 4 teaspoons taco seasoning divided
▢ ¾ cup water (or stock) divided
▢ 1 lime
▢ 4 cups rice or quinoa cooked
▢ ½ cup salsa
▢ toppings of your choice

Instructions

In a small saucepan, mix leftover meat with 2 teaspoons taco seasoning and ½ cup water and bring to a low simmer. Heat until just warmed through, stirring occasionally. This take about 5-10 minutes. Once warmed, squeeze half of the fresh lime over the meat and toss. This helps to truly brighten up the flavor.
In another saucepan, mix beans with 2 teaspoons taco seasoning and ¼ cup water and warm over medium heat. Once beans are warmed, squeeze the remaining half of the fresh lime over the beans and stir well.
Warm up leftover rice or quinoa, or prepare according to package directions. Mix in salsa.
Build burrito bowl, by placing a scoop of cooked rice (or quinoa or cauliflower rice) in bowl. Top with warmed meat, beans, and desired toppings.

Notes

Use chicken or vegetable stock in place of water.
If using leftover taco or carnita meat, omit additional taco seasoning from meat and warm through.
If using flavored rice (like cilantro lime rice), omit salsa from rice, and just reheat flavored grain.

Nutrition

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