I love ordering burrito bowls at restaurants, but I also appreciate that burrito bowls—especially vegetarian versions—are incredibly easy to prepare at home. I have one problem: as a college freshman, I don’t really have access to a full kitchen.
Technically, there is a shared kitchen in my dorm building on another floor. The stove kind of works if you don’t mind waiting twenty minutes for a pot of water to boil. While I enjoy cooking, I’ve mostly avoided that communal kitchen this year.
So I developed a simple way to make a vegetarian burrito bowl without cooking or leaving my dorm room. If you live in a tiny space, cook for one, or prefer quick, uncomplicated meals, this method is perfect.
My time-saving secret is pre-cooked frozen brown rice. If I had a fully stocked kitchen, I might make rice from scratch, but the ready-to-heat packets save time and eliminate an extra pot to wash.
You can also use leftover brown rice from another meal if you have some on hand.
There are many possible variations, but here’s my go-to single-serving bowl:
I prepare the brown rice according to the package instructions in a microwave-safe bowl, then stir in black beans, a spoonful of salsa, a sprinkle of shredded cheese, and my secret ingredient: plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt gives the bowl a creamy texture without adding much fuss.
After mixing, microwave the bowl for 30–60 seconds until everything is heated through. Stir, top with avocado slices, and your 5-minute vegetarian burrito bowl is ready to eat.
I keep my toppings and mix-ins simple because my mini-fridge is tiny, but you can customize this bowl however you like.
Options include sautéed vegetables, shredded chicken, tofu, corn, or pico de gallo. You can drizzle the bowl with salsa verde or enchilada sauce, or use guacamole instead of sliced avocado. Swap black beans for pinto or refried beans if you prefer. Enjoy experimenting!
If you try this vegetarian burrito bowl, leave a comment or share a photo on Instagram by tagging @livbane. I’d love to see your version!
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5-Minute Vegetarian Burrito Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked brown rice (I used Trader Joe’s frozen pre-cooked brown rice)
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2-3 tablespoons salsa, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
Toppings:
- Diced avocado, diced tomato, guacamole, pico de gallo, etc.
Instructions
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Prepare brown rice according to package instructions.
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In a microwave-safe bowl, combine rice, black beans, salsa, plain Greek yogurt, and shredded cheese. Microwave on high for 30–60 seconds, or until heated through.
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Top with diced avocado, diced tomato, guacamole, pico de gallo, or other desired toppings.