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Ground beef protein bowl with rice, beans, corn, cabbage, lime sauce, and fresh toppings

Ground Beef Protein Bowl

This ground beef protein bowl is a simple, filling meal prep recipe made with taco-style ground beef, rice or sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, vegetables, and a creamy lime sauce. It works well for lunch, dinner, or weekly meal prep and can be customized with budget-friendly toppings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Meal Prep
Cuisine: American, Taco-style
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground Beef Bowl
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 tbsp oil use only if needed
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 medium bell pepper diced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste or salsa for moisture and flavor
  • 1 cup black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn fresh, frozen, or canned and drained
  • 1 cup uncooked rice cook according to package directions; use white rice or brown rice
Seasoning
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
  • 2 tbsp water optional, use if the beef mixture looks dry
Optional Sweet Potato Base
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes cut into small cubes; use instead of rice if desired
  • 1 tbsp oil for roasting sweet potatoes
  • 1 pinch salt and black pepper for sweet potatoes, to taste
Creamy Lime Sauce
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese or plain Greek yogurt blend cottage cheese for a smoother sauce
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1-2 tbsp water as needed to thin the sauce
  • 1 pinch salt optional
Optional Toppings
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce or cabbage optional
  • 2 tbsp green onions sliced, optional
  • 2 tbsp cilantro chopped, optional
  • 4 wedges lime optional, for serving
  • 1/2 cup salsa optional, for serving
  • 1 medium avocado optional, sliced fresh at serving

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Spatula
  • Pot or rice cooker
  • Sheet pan
  • Food thermometer
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Meal prep containers

Method
 

  1. Cook the rice according to package directions. If using sweet potatoes instead, toss the cubes with oil, salt, and black pepper, then roast until tender and lightly browned.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Add the diced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until softened.
  4. Stir in the tomato paste or salsa, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until the beef is evenly seasoned.
  5. Add the black beans and corn. Stir until the mixture is heated through. If the beef mixture looks dry, add a small splash of water or extra salsa.
  6. Cook the ground beef mixture until the beef reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
  7. Make the sauce by mixing cottage cheese or plain Greek yogurt with lime juice and enough water to reach your preferred texture. Blend the cottage cheese sauce if you want it smoother.
  8. Divide the rice or sweet potato base into 4 bowls or meal prep containers.
  9. Top each bowl with the beef mixture, creamy lime sauce, and any fresh toppings you want.
  10. For meal prep, let the cooked components cool before sealing them in containers. Store sauce and cold toppings separately.

Notes

Use rice for the easiest budget version. Use sweet potatoes when you want a different base, but expect a slightly longer cook time.
Ground beef should reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Reheat leftovers to 165°F before eating.
Keep sauce and cold toppings separate if packing this for meal prep. Reheat the beef and base first, then add cabbage, lettuce, green onions, avocado, salsa, or creamy sauce after warming.
Cooked components are generally best used within 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored in airtight containers. They can be frozen, but the texture may change after thawing.
To stretch the beef further, add extra beans, corn, cabbage, or frozen vegetables. Salsa can also replace the creamy sauce when you want the simplest topping.