Spiced Ground Beef and Black Bean Rice Bowls with Fresh Salsa and Cotija

These vibrant rice bowls are packed with bold, savory flavors and fresh, zesty toppings. Seasoned ground beef and black beans are paired with charred bell pepper and onion, then served over fluffy lime-zested rice. A spoonful of fresh salsa, a sprinkle of cotija cheese and a squeeze of lime juice bring everything together for a perfectly balanced meal.

This recipe is easy to customize and comes together in under an hour, making it a great choice for a busy weeknight dinner. The combination of warm spices, creamy beans and bright citrus creates a dish that’s both comforting and refreshing.

Log in to save recipes and build weekly shopping lists.

Ingredients

1 unit Green Bell PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Cotija CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

20 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 ounce Fresh Red SalsaView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Black BeansView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Mexican Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.75 cup Jasmine RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce CilantroView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 teaspoon (tsp) SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. In a small pot, combine the rice, 1¼ cups water (or 2¼ cups for 4 servings) and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Remove from heat and keep covered until ready to serve.
2. While the rice cooks, prepare the vegetables: halve, peel and dice half the red onion; thinly slice the remaining half into strips. Trim, deseed and thinly slice the bell pepper into strips. Zest the lime and cut it into quarters. Finely chop the cilantro.
3. Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion, ½ teaspoon sugar (1 teaspoon for 4 servings) and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened, 3-4 minutes. Add the black beans (with their liquid), half the Mexican spice blend, ½ teaspoon salt (1 teaspoon for 4) and pepper. Cook until thickened, 5-10 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon butter (2 tablespoons for 4) and a squeeze of lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
4. While the beans cook, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onion and bell pepper, along with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly charred and fragrant, 3-4 minutes.
5. Add the ground beef, remaining Mexican spice blend, a big pinch of salt and pepper to the pan with the vegetables. Cook, breaking up the meat into pieces, until the beef is browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes.
6. Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and stir in the lime zest, 1 tablespoon butter (2 tablespoons for 4 servings), salt and pepper. Divide the rice among shallow bowls. Top with the beef and vegetable mixture, the black beans, fresh salsa, crumbled cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Serve with the remaining lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of rice?

Yes, you can substitute jasmine rice with long-grain white rice, basmati or even brown rice. Adjust the cooking time and liquid accordingly.

How can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Omit the cotija cheese and use a dairy-free butter substitute or oil instead of butter. The dish will still be delicious.

Can I prepare any components ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can cook the rice and beans in advance and even prep the vegetables. Store them separately in the refrigerator and reheat before assembling.