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BBQ Beef and Beans Burrito Bowl

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Large skillet or sauté pan For browning the ground beef and cooking the onions and garlic.
  • Medium saucepan To heat the beans with bacon.
  • Rice cooker or pot To prepare your rice base. A microwave rice pouch works in a pinch.
  • Cutting board and knife For prepping fresh toppings.
  • Serving bowls Go wide and shallow so you can arrange your ingredients beautifully.

Ingredients
  

For the BBQ Beef

  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20 for flavor
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3/4 cup BBQ sauce smoky or sweet depending on your preference

For the Beans

  • 1 can 15 oz baked beans (use your favorite brand of canned baked beans)
  • 1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon or 4 strips, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar optional, depending on how sweet your beans are
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Optional: dash of hot sauce or chipotle powder for heat

For the Rice Base

  • 1 1/2 cups cooked white rice or brown rice warm

Optional: squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt for extra flavor

Toppings

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1 avocado diced
  • 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels raw or lightly sautéed
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 red onion thinly sliced
  • Pickled jalapeños optional
  • Fresh lime wedges for serving

Instructions
 

Prepare the Rice

  1. Cook your rice according to package instructions. Once done, fluff it with a fork and season with a bit of salt and lime juice if desired. Set aside and keep warm.

Cook the BBQ Ground Beef

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  2. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Season with smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in BBQ sauce and let it simmer on low for 5 minutes until thickened. This flavorful mixture brings in the essence of ground beef baked beans recipes without being too saucy.

Heat the Beans

  1. In a medium saucepan, add canned baked beans along with crumbled bacon. Stir in brown sugar and black pepper. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. This bean blend nods to classic baked beans with ground beef and bacon — or as some know it, cowboy baked beans. You can also swap in leftover cowboy beans if you have some from a cookout.

Build Your Burrito Bowl

  1. In each serving bowl, start with a generous scoop of rice. Layer on a big spoonful of BBQ beef, then add a hearty helping of beans.
  2. Top with cheese (it’ll melt slightly from the heat), then add avocado, corn, red onion, and a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with cilantro, jalapeños if you like heat, and a wedge of lime for squeezing.