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A close-up view of a ground beef rice bowl with fresh toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cheddar cheese in a white ceramic bowl.

Taco Rice Bowl: The Ultimate 30-Minute Weeknight Dinner

This Taco Rice Bowl recipe is the ultimate 30-minute meal! Featuring perfectly seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, and endless customizable toppings, it's a guaranteed weeknight dinner winner for the whole family. Quick, easy, and delicious!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Taco Meat
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (90/10)
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.25 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 0.66 cup water or beef broth
For the Bowls
  • 4 cups cooked rice from 1.5 cups uncooked
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 0.5 cup diced red onion
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Optional Toppings: Sour cream, salsa, guacamole, sliced jalapeños, fresh cilantro

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet
  • 1 Saucepan

Method
 

  1. Prepare the rice according to package directions. Keep it warm while you prepare the other components.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it's no longer pink (about 5-7 minutes). Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
  4. Stir the prepared spice blend into the cooked beef until it's evenly coated. Pour in the water or beef broth, bring to a simmer, and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 3-5 minutes, or until the liquid has thickened slightly.
  5. Divide the warm rice among four bowls. Top with a generous scoop of the seasoned taco meat.
  6. Layer on the black beans, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and shredded cheese. Finish with your favorite optional toppings like a dollop of sour cream and a spoonful of salsa. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Toast Your Spices: For an extra layer of flavor, add your spice mix to the skillet for 30 seconds before adding the water. This 'blooms' the spices and makes them more aromatic.
Use Lean Beef: Using 90/10 lean ground beef means you'll have less grease to drain, but still enough fat for a rich flavor.
Freshly Shredded Cheese: Shred your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheeses are often coated in starches that prevent them from melting as smoothly.