Mix and Match Burrito Bowls

We’re all trying to make the most out of the foods we have on hand right now. What better way to do so than with customizable burrito bowls. With a whole slew of flavor options, you can try a new recipe each week and never get bored! 

Burrito bowls are one of my favorite meals as they’re:

• Perfect for meal prep
• Super customizable
• A great way to use up whatever you already have on hand
• Easy for picky eaters or if you have several dietary preferences in the family

While I usually make them for my lunches throughout the week, burrito bowls are also a fun dinner party option as you can set out a variety of ingredients for your guests to mix and match based on their personal preferences. 

So what goes into a burrito bowl? 

The basic formula includes:

• Grains, or cauliflower rice and/or lettuce for low-carb options
• Protein
• Beans (can also double as the protein option)
• Veggies
• Additional toppings

Now, this list is by no means exhaustive, but here are examples of ingredients that fall into each of these categories. 

Grains

• Brown rice (recipe for cilantro lime rice below)
• Quinoa
• Farro
• Barley
• Buckwheat
• Cauliflower rice
• Shredded lettuce
• Mixed greens

Protein

• Grilled or roasted chicken
• Lean steak
• Pulled pork
• Roasted tofu
• Grilled shrimp 
• Grilled fish, such as halibut or tilapia 
• Cooked lentils or beans
• Sautéed tempeh 

Tip: A homemade taco seasoning plus a little avocado oil and lime juice makes for an easy marinade on chicken, steak, pork, tofu, and shrimp. 

Beans

• Canned or cooked black or pinto beans
• Roasted chickpeas

Veggies

• Fajita-style onions and peppers
• Roasted zucchini
• Steamed or roasted broccoli and cauliflower
• Grilled corn
• Diced tomatoes 

Additional toppings

• Avocado slices or guacamole
• Salsa, traditional or salsa verde 
• Pico de gallo
• Fresh cilantro
• Plain Greek yogurt 
• Diced jalapeno 
• Cotija cheese
• Shredded cheese
• Grilled pineapple 

 

Example burrito bowl combinations

Not sure how to get started? Below are a few simple combination ideas.

Classic Chicken Burrito Bowl

For one bowl: 

• ½ cup cooked Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
• 3-ounces grilled chicken breasts, sliced or diced
• 1 cup of fajita-style onions and peppers 
• ¼ cup black beans 
• ¼ avocado, peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons salsa
• 1 tablespoon shredded cheese

463 calories; 30 g protein; 57 mg cholesterol; 18 g fat; 4 g saturated fat; 48 g carbohydrate; 11 g fiber; 8 g sugar

*note exact calories will vary based on how you prepare the chicken.

Pineapple Shrimp Burrito Bowl

For one bowl:

• ½ cup cooked quinoa 
• 3-ounces grilled shrimp
• 1 cup roasted peppers and zucchini 
• ¼ cup black beans
• 2 tablespoons guacamole 
• ¼ cup grilled or fresh pineapple chunks
• 2 tablespoons crumbled Cotija cheese 

430 calories; 33 g protein; 190 mg cholesterol; 12 g fat; 5 g saturated fat; 45 g carbohydrate; 8 g fiber; 7 g sugar

*note exact calories will vary based on how you prepare the shrimp.

Plant-Based Burrito Bowl

For one bowl:

• ½ cup Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
• 3.5 ounces cubed tofu, tossed in taco seasoning, avocado oil, and roasted
• ¼ cup pinto beans
• 1 cup roasted veggies
• ¼ avocado, peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons salsa verde

414 calories; 18 g protein; 0 mg cholesterol; 16 g fat; 2 g saturated fat; 43 g carbohydrate; 8 g fiber; 2 g sugar

*note exact calories will vary based on how you prepare the tofu.

Low-Carb Burrito Bowl

For one bowl:

• 1 cup cauliflower rice
• 3 ounces grilled sirloin
• 1 cup fajita-style onions and peppers
• ¼ cup guacamole 
• 2 tablespoons pico de gallo 

344 calories; 28 g protein; 78 mg cholesterol; 18 g fat; 6 g saturated fat; 13 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 8 g sugar

*note exact calories will vary based on how you prepare the steak.

Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain brown rice
• 1 bay leaf
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime juiced, about 2 tablespoons
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

1. Place rice and 1 ¾ cup of water in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, add bay leaf, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until cooked. 
2. Once rice is cooked. Remove from heat but leave the lid on. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.
3. After resting, remove bay leaf and stir in remaining ingredients. Taste and adjust before serving. 

Nutrition 

Servings 4  | 180 Calories per Serving

3 g protein; 0 mg cholesterol; 4 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 32 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 0 g sugar