Smoky Pork Burrito Bowls with Charred Peppers and Salsa Fresca

Bowls have become a staple for quick, customizable meals, and this Tex-Mex version is fully loaded. Steamy rice is topped with saucy spiced ground pork, charred green pepper and onion, a bright salsa fresca, and a smoky red pepper crema. It’s all the flavor of a burrito without the tortilla.

This recipe comes together in about 25 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The combination of savory pork, charred veggies, and tangy salsa is balanced by the creamy, smoky sauce. Each bite is a little different, and that’s what makes bowl meals so enjoyable.

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Ingredients

0.5 cup White RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Yellow OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Long Green PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground PorkView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Tex-Mex PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 teaspoon White Wine VinegarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Smoky Red Pepper CremaView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. In a small pot, combine rice, 1 cup water (2 cups for 4 servings), and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
2. While rice cooks, wash and dry produce. Finely dice tomato. Halve, peel, and cut onion into ½-inch-thick wedges; mince one wedge until you have 1 TBSP (2 TBSP for 4 servings). Core, deseed, and dice green pepper into ½-inch pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.
3. In a small bowl, combine tomato, minced onion, and half the vinegar (all for 4 servings). Season with salt. Place smoky red pepper crema in a separate small bowl. Stir in water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency.
4. Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium pan (use a large pan for 4 servings) over medium-high heat. Add green pepper and onion wedges. Season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly charred, 7-9 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
5. Heat a drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add pork, scallion whites, and a big pinch of salt. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned, 4-6 minutes. Stir in Tex-Mex paste and ¼ cup water (1⁄3 cup for 4 servings) until combined. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture is saucy and pork is cooked through, 1-2 minutes more.
6. Fluff rice with a fork. Season with salt and pepper. TIP: Stir in 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) for extra richness. Divide rice between bowls and top with veggies, pork, salsa, crema, and any remaining sauce from pan. Garnish with scallion greens and serve.

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