Here’s my one-stop guide on how to make the tastiest and most balanced burrito bowls with no animal products!
Step 1: Choose a base! I love rice as my burrito bowl bases. Both brown and white work great. If you’re looking to get more greens in, you could use greens as a base, I find that lettuce and spinach are best for burrito bowls. You can also get creative with other grains/starches like quinoa, corn, potatoes, or even noodles!
Step 2: Beans!!! Burrito bowls just aren’t the same without beans, so I suggest you add some to yours. My favorite beans for burrito bowls are black beans and pinto beans (which I love to make from scratch in my Instant Pot). But, you can feel free to use whatever beans you have available. Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) or kidney beans could work great if you season them properly (cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika will do the trick)!
Step 3: Protein! As someone who is trying to gain strength and muscle, protein is a must in my burrito bowls. My all time favorite is this tofu scramble with some green chile added to it, or any vegan ground beef alternative.
Step 4: Veggies! Vegetables are so important to make sure that you eat regularly, and burrito bowls are perfect vessel for all kinds of vegetables. If you didn’t choose greens for your base, you can add greens on top! I love shredding up some lettuce and cabbage to top my burrito bowls. Diced or pickled red onions, green onions, and herbs also make for great toppings. If you’re looking to add some cooked veggies, I highly suggest onion and bell pepper fajita-style veggies. I slice up onions, red bell peppers, and some garlic and fry them up with some vegetable oil, salt, pepper, cumin, and paprika for 5-7 mins to make my fajita-style veggies and they are the perfect addition to any burrito bowl.
Step 5: Get Saucy! Sauces are an important factor in almost any meal, burrito bowls included. Salsa (like this mango salsa, or just regular tomato salsa) and guacamole are the classic burrito bowl toppings and are my go-to’s. Guacamole adds a nice creamy element with some healthy fats, and salsa is just so packed with moisture and flavor! You could add some hot sauce if you’re feeling like you want some extra heat, or keep it mild with some vegan sour cream if that’s more up your alley.
Step 6: Finishing Touches! No burrito bowl is complete without a squirt of fresh lime and a sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro. The lime adds the perfect acidic touch, and the cilantro brings in such a lovely flavor. You can add some jalapenos or red pepper flakes for some spice, or some avocado slices if you want to keep it mild.
The options for burrito bowls are truly endless, and I hope that this guide helps you create amazing and unique burrito bowls time after time.
Like this guide and want to see more from me? Check out my Instagram @dahliasvegankitchen or check out my most recent recipes: