Taco Bowls

Tacos are one of my favorite foods – there are so many ways to customize them and change the flavor profile. I mean, you have beef, chicken, pork, crunchy, soft, spicy..the list goes on and on. And that is before I even start talking about toppings – onions, cilantro, salsa, avocado, cheese..well you get the idea! While tacos are a fairly easy food to make, they do require some assembly and can be somewhat messy. Enter the taco bowl! A creation that allows you to eat a taco, without assembly or the mess. Inspiration from this comes from the walking taco, but do you really always want to eat a taco out of a chip bag? Personally, I do not! This is also not a taco salad because you will see no lettuce in the base of this recipe – feel free to add some on top, but we will save the taco salad for a ~healthier~ day. This comes together so quickly, that I even shocked myself making it at how fast I was done. 30 minutes is very generous for this dish, so if you are short on time, but still want a delicious home-cooked meal – this is the recipe for you!

1lb 85/15 Ground Beef
1/2 Onion, Diced
2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 Packet Taco Seasoning
1 Tbsp Oil
10oz Black Beans
10oz Refried Black Beans
1 Tbsp Cumin
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Lime, Juiced
Optional Toppings: Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream, Salsa, Diced Onions, Tortilla Chips, Lime, Avocado or Guacamole, Lettuce
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes

To Make:

First you will want to simmer the beans. Add the whole beans and the refried beans to a medium pot and heat over low.
Add in the cumin, salt, pepper, and lime juice and mix well to combined.
Cover the beans and let them simmer while you cook the meat, stirring occasionally.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and add in the oil.
Once heated, add the onions and cook until they begin to soften – about 5 minutes.
Add in the ground beef and garlic. Cook until the meat has no more pink spots.
Drain any excess oil from the meat and add in the taco seasoning. Stir well to combine.
Remove the meat and beans from the heat and time to assemble the bowls!
To assemble, portion out the meat and beans between 4 bowls and add your favorite toppings! Serve and enjoy!

STEP 1