Vegan Black Bean Burrito Bowl

This vegan black bean burrito bowl is easy to make and may remind you of your favorite veggie burrito bowl from Chipotle or Qdoba. There is something magical about layering rice, beans, and perfectly seasoned veggies in a bowl and covering with your favorite toppings. Packed with plant protein, fiber, and flavor, this hearty and filling dish is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

This recipe is not only plant-based and vegan-friendly, but it's also gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary needs and preferences.

Additionally, the recipe is versatile and can be customized, making it great for families who have different preferences and needs in the home. Each person can customize their burrito bowl to suit their individual taste and liking. For instance, if someone prefers a milder flavor, they can omit the jalapeños, while those who love spicy food can add extra salsa, hot sauce, or even sub in this easy garlic chipotle quinoa in place of the brown rice.

Ingredients

Don't you just love when simple ingredients come together to create a satisfying and nutritious meal?!  The combination of black beans, veggies, and flavorful seasonings creates a satisfying meal that's sure to become a favorite in your household.

1. The base of the bowl

• Brown rice
• Black Beans

Let's chat a little about how easy it is to throw together this burrito bowl. This recipe comes together by starting with brown rice and black beans. You can cook your rice and beans ahead of time if desired to save time. You can also use a can of black beans instead of cooking beans from scratch for convenience.

2. The sautéed veggies & seasonings

• Frozen corn
• Red onion
• Bell peppers
• Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• Cumin
• Garlic
• Lime
• Avocado oil
• Salt and pepper

Use frozen corn for ease/convenience. I typically have a giant bag of frozen corn from Costco in the freezer ready to add in a variety of recipes like this burrito bowl, soup, or chili. One great thing about frozen veggies is how long they last which takes away the pressure to use them all up in a short period of time before they go bad or spoil. 

For this dish, I suggest using two different color bell peppers to have a variety of colors in your dish. Different colors = different nutrients. But if you happen to only have two bell peppers of the same color, don't fret - this recipe will still turn out great.

The chipotle peppers + the extra added adobo sauce brings some heat and makes the dish both spicy and flavorful. You will chop up these peppers and include them + their seeds in the recipe.

This dish gets more fiesta flavor from the onion, garlic, cumin, lime, salt and pepper.

A culinary medicine tip for garlic is to crush it or dice it up and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before cooking. Doing so allows the health promoting compounds found in garlic, allicin and thiosulfinate, to rise. (1)

3. The toppings

Last but not least, you will finish building your vegan black bean burrito bowl and make it yours by piling on the toppings you desire. 

• Lettuce
• Avocado slice or guacamole
• Cilantro (this one is certainly controversial, I know)
• Hot sauce
• Salsa
• Vegan sour cream like tofutti Better then Sour Cream 
• Tortilla Chips 
• Diced or quick pickled jalapeno 
• Lime wedges

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions

• Rice: Alternatives to using brown rice include: white rice, cauliflower rice if you prefer a grain-free option, or try this easy garlic chipotle quinoa
• Beans: Pinto bean could be used instead of or in addition to the black beans.

Variations

• If you want a non-spicy dish, omit the chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. Use a mild salsa instead.

Storage

Leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You have a couple options for storing this dish and the ingredients. I find batching cooking ingredients like rice and beans and storing them separately is a great strategy for meal prep and throwing together quick and easy meals like this throughout the week. Suggest storing your rice, beans, and sautéed veggies separate for maximum freshness. Alternatively, you can store these 3 things together in 1 container or portion some of each into to-go glass lunch containers for the week.

Store all toppings separately and add on after reheating the beans/rice/cooked veggies.

Did you know both beans and whole grains are among some of the most cost effective, nutritious foods out there!? To maximize cost-effectiveness, buy dried beans and cook those from scratch. Some stores sell dried beans and grains in bulk. Often you can bring and use your own containers to purchase these in bulk and this is a great way to reduce waste in terms of packaging along with saving money.

Beans, including black beans used in this burrito bowl recipe, are incredibly nutritious and offer a wide range of health benefits. Here are some of the key benefits of incorporating beans into your diet:

1. High in fiber: Beans are an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which can help regulate digestion, lower cholesterol levels, and prevent constipation. A ½ cup of black beans provides ~ 7 grams fiber.
2. Rich in protein: Beans are a great plant-based protein source, making them an ideal food for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone looking to reduce their consumption of animal products. A ½ cup black beans provides ~8 grams protein.
3. Low glycemic index: Beans have a low glycemic index, meaning they don't cause a sharp increase in blood sugar levels, making them a great option for people with diabetes.
4. Packed with nutrients: Beans are loaded with nutrients, including folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, as well as various B vitamins. They are also rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against disease and promote overall health.
5. Heart health: The fiber, potassium, and magnesium in beans can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
6. Satiety: Due to their high fiber and protein content, beans can help promote feelings of fullness and satisfaction.

Overall, incorporating beans into your diet can provide a wide range of health benefits, making them an excellent food to include in meals like this vegan black bean burrito bowl recipe.

TL;DR: beans are healthy, cost-effective, and delicious …. what's not to love?!

Related

Looking for other meal ideas? Check out these plant-based meals:

Vegan Black Bean Burrito Bowl

- Emily Haller

Packed with protein, fiber, and flavor, this hearty and filling dish is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or a nutritious meal prep option. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary needs and preferences. The combination of black beans, fresh veggies, and flavorful seasonings creates a satisfying and satisfyingly delicious meal that's sure to become a favorite in your household.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings4

Ingredients

  

Vegetable Mixture for Burrito Bowl:

• 1.5 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1 medium to large red onion chopped
• 2 cups frozen corn
• 2 bell peppers (Suggest 1 green and 1 red, orange or yellow) Cut into thin strips and then halved
• 6 adobe peppers chopped +3-4 teaspoon of adobe sauce from can
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 lime ½ juiced, other half sliced for serving/topping

Base of Burrito Bowl:

• 2-3 cups of cooked brown rice Cook according to package directions
• ~3 cups of cooked black beans or 1 can of black beans rinsed and drained

Toppings for Serving:

• Lettuce chopped
• Avocado slices or guacamole
• Hot sauce
• Salsa
• Vegan sour cream like tofutti Better then Sour Cream
• Tortilla chips
• Diced or quick pickled jalapenos
• Lime wedges

Instructions

 

Vegetable Mixture for Burrito Bowl:

• Heat avocado oil in large wok or pan over medium-high heat
• Add onion, sauté for 3 minutes
• Add corn and a dash of salt and cook for ~10 minutes on medium-high heat until the corn and onions start to brown, stir occasionally. This browning is good, you want that caramelized flavor!
• Add bell peppers, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, juice of ½ the lime, and cumin, Sauté ~ 3 minutes
• Lower heat to medium and add garlic and sauté for an additional minute

Build your bowl:

• Start with brown rice, add black beans, then add the cooked vegetable mixture
• Top with lettuce, cilantro, avocado, hot sauce, lime wedges, etc.

Notes

Brown rice takes ~45 minutes to cook on the stove (or ~20 minutes in a Instapot) and is not included in the above listed cook time. This is something that can be prepared ahead of time or take this into account when preparing this meal.

Leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For maximum freshness, store each component separately. When you’re ready to serve, reheat your desired portions of rice, beans, and cooked veggies before adding the topping of choice (lettuce, guac, salsa, etc.) Alternatively, if you are meal prepping lunches portion some of the rice, beans and cooked veggies into to-go glass lunch containers for the week. Store all toppings separately and add on after reheating the beans/rice/cooked veggies.

Keyword vegan black bean burrito bowl

References:

1. Puma J. Culinary Medicine and Nature: Foods That Work Together. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2020 Jan 7;14(2):143-146. doi: 10.1177/1559827619895149.