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This easy vegetarian burrito bowl for one is the perfect super quick dinner recipe. You can throw it together in 5-10 minutes, using ingredients you already have in your pantry, with good salsa, it’s packed with flavor and doesn’t taste thrown together.
[This vegetarian burrito bowl recipe was originally posted in December 2018. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
This vegetarian burrito bowl recipe is the perfect throw together meal for nights you didn’t plan dinner and don’t want to grab anything out. Just keep delicious salsa around and you’ll have a delicious 10 minute dinner.
I love this easy burrito bowl because I can swap whatever ingredients I already have in the kitchen. Just follow the template below for a satisfying, tasty bowl. Make it like a Chipotle burrito bowl or like a whatever’s in your fridge bowl.
Burrito Bowl Template
- Grain: I like adding rice, but you can enjoy a pan fried tortilla to your veggie burrito bowl. Add plain rice or make cilantro lime rice. Both are great.
- Protein: Black beans or pinto beans make for a super easy, fiber filled addition to your vegetarian burrito bowl. You can add grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, or pulled pork to your bowl too.
- Seasoning
- Vegetables: Use what you have on hand: lettuce/greens, thinly sliced and sauteed zucchini, red bell pepper, or mushrooms. Fresh or Spicy Pickled Onions, spicy carrots, corn, sliced tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, etc.
- Salsa: Use your favorite. I like to make a recipe and freeze it in an ice cube tray to easily grab for later
- Cheese: Add some shredded cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, cotija cheese, or monterey jack cheese. Or if you have, or want to make Queso, go for it! Or add whatever you like best.
- Sauce (optional): If you have a favorite sauce, or even ranch, feel free to add it to this salad. Use what you have, to use it up! I’d add sour cream and lime juice to this category, a quick squeeze of lime over your vegetarian burrito bowl is delicious.
Again, this vegetarian burrito bowl is a great clear the fridge meal. Use what you have on hand and experiment with different additions.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the vegetarian burrito bowl recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here’s a quick visual + description of what’s in this recipe.
- Black beans: I like just adding some black beans, or even pinto beans. They’re staples in my Pantry. Add additional protein, if desired.
- Oregano: A sprinkle of oregano adds lots of flavor to your plain beans.
- Cumin: Adds a savory, nutty, earthy flavor to your beans.
- Cooked rice: Use your favorite kind of rice, or even a tortilla to enjoy with your vegetarian burrito bowl. You can make cilantro lime rice as well.
- Vegetables: Add whatever you have. See vegetable list above for suggestions.
- Cheese: Premade queso (from the store or homemade), cheddar cheese, monterey jack or pepper jack, or cotija. Etc.
- Salsa: Top with your favorite salsa.
- Lime: A quick squeeze of lime juice over the rice or whole bowl adds lots of bright, citrusy flavor.
Instructions
Scroll down to the vegetarian burrito bowl recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here’s a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1.Mix black beans with cumin, oregano, and salt in a small bowl.
2. Add cooked rice, bean mixture, and veggies to bowl.
3. Top with cheese, salsa, and other toppings.
Use whatever vegetables/sauces/proteins that you have on hand. There are so many variations of a good vegetarian burrito bowl.
Storage/Reheating Tips
Store vegetarian burrito bowl ingredients separately, in air tight containers. Assemble prior to eating, or ahead of time to take to work. Add salsa and sauces just before enjoying. Store for about a week in the fridge.
Substitutions/Tips
- Use whatever beans and veggies you have on hand (pinto beans, zucchini, cooked sweet potatoes, avocado, tomatoes, etc).
- You can also use minute rice or frozen rice.
- Make your vegetarian burrito bowl a vegan burrito bowl by swapping cheese for vegan cheese (or not adding cheese) and skipping the other protein options.
- Other great add-ins: tortilla strips, sliced tomatoes, seasoned corn, grilled chicken, peppers or chiles, hot sauce, etc.
FAQ
Most vegetarian bowls have a grain, protein, vegetables, and other toppings. Choose a flavor group and stick to that with toppings/sauces. This vegetarian burrito bowl has simple flavored beans, rice and lots of vegetables/toppings.
Add plant based protein (beans are easy!), rice, vegetables, and vegan cheese (or skip it), make sure to top your bowl with your favorite salsa, cilantro, and lime for added flavor.
Other good vegetarian recipes
Repurpose your bowl
- Add pulled pork or another kind of meat that you have on hand.
- Serve as tacos
- Make leftover vegetarian burrito bowl ingredients into a taco salad
- Fill burrito sized tortilla with all the ingredients.
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you’re cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It’ll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
Did you make this vegetarian burrito bowl? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
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Vegetarian Burrito Bowl Recipe with Queso
This easy vegetarian burrito bowl is the perfect super quick dinner recipe. You can throw it together in 5-10 minutes, using ingredients you already have in your pantry, with good salsa, it’s packed with flavor and doesn’t taste thrown together.
Equipment
-
Small Saucepan
-
Measuring Spoons
-
Measuring Cups
-
cutting board
-
knife
Ingredients
- ½ cup black beans drained
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cooked rice
- ½-1 cup vegetables see notes for vegetable options
- ¼ cup cheese or queso (see notes for queso recipe)
- ¼ cup fresh salsa
- ¼ lime
Instructions
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Mix ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ½ cup black beans in a small bowl.
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Add 1 cup cooked rice, ½ cup bean mixture, ½ cup sliced veggies, ¼ cup shredded cheese or queso, and ¼ cup salsa to bowl. Serve with lime wedge and tortilla chips if desired.
Notes
- Queso Sauce Recipe
- Use whatever beans and veggies you have on hand (pinto beans, zucchini, cooked sweet potatoes, avocado, tomatoes, etc).
- You can also use minute rice or frozen rice.
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