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Do you ever come home starving from a long day of classes and work and just think to yourself, “Now what the heck am I going to eat for dinner?” I know I have! First off, let me give you a little background on how I found this recipe. Just like you, I had a marathon day at school and came home hungry and tired. I had the staples: black beans, rice, and cheese. I searched up a quick and easy recipe and started looking. Since I think we can all relate to that feeling, let me tell you about my go-to quick and easy, delicious dinner — Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls! by Budget Bytes. This is the ultimate college kid meal. These bowls are budget-friendly, can be gluten-free and vegetarian, and are absolutely delicious! No need to stress about what to eat for dinner tonight, or even lunch tomorrow, and you’ll save yourself a $15 trip to that one restaurant you don’t really like that much. I hope you enjoy these burrito bowls just as much as I do!
Cost Breakdown
| Ingredient | Amount Needed for Recipe | Unit Cost of Ingredient | Recipe Ingredient Cost |
| Rice | 1 1/3 cup | $1.32/ 1 lb | $0.88 |
| Salt | 1/3 tsp | $0.76/26 oz | $0.03 |
| Black Beans | 15 oz can | $0.12/oz | $1.86 |
| Cumin | 1/3 tsp | $0.05/oz | $0.03 |
| Garlic Powder | 1/6 tsp | $0.02/oz | $0.01 |
| Salsa | 16 oz jar | $0.19/oz | $2.97 |
| Cheese | 4 oz | $0.25/oz | $1.00 |
| Green Onions | 2/3 bunch | $0.89/oz | $0.59 |
| Jalapeno | 2/3 jalapeno, sliced | $0.15/1 jalapeno | $0.10 |
| TOTAL RECIPE COST | $7.47 | ||
| Cost per Serving (4 servings) | $1.87 |
Recipe Making Process
The beauty of the Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls is not only how quick and easy they are to make, but how accessible the ingredients are. All you really need for this recipe are rice, beans, cheese, and salsa. All other toppings are optional, and even those are pretty simple to acquire!
If you’re wanting to make this recipe even more affordable, utilize Utah State University’s Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC)! You can snag a can of black beans, rice, shredded cheese, and other ingredients from a selection that varies each month. SNAC has basically got you covered, #bless. This recipe is also very versatile. You can add ground meat or grilled chicken for extra protein, or throw on some bell peppers or cilantro. Make it your own!
What I LOVE about this recipe is how little prep there is. Just gather (or, as the fancy chefs say, “mise en place”) rice, salt, beans, cumin, garlic powder, salsa, cheese, green onions, and jalapeno. There are essentially only two things you need to cook: the rice and beans. In just about 20 minutes you’ll have a delicious burrito bowl that’s filling and nutritious.
To be honest, rice can always be tricky for me to cook. Embarrassing, I know! Be sure to put enough water in the rice pot so that it doesn’t all evaporate before it’s fully cooked. Otherwise you’ll end up with either crunchy or mushy rice. We definitely don’t want that. Sample your rice after the 15 minutes of cooking to make sure it’s cooked all the way through. After the rice is cooked, you can top it off with as many of the toppings you would like, and voila, you have the perfect burrito bowl. You’re now a pro. It’s not as hard as you may have thought to make a delicious meal on your own! Having this recipe in your back pocket can help you feel more prepared to take on more challenging recipes next time.
A few parting notes:
- Don’t forget to add salt to the rice before cooking, or it might come out a little bland.
- Cumin and garlic powder make the beans extra flavorful — don’t skip those if you can help it!
- Not into spice? Skip the jalapeños and go with a mild salsa. You can also add sour cream or plain Greek yogurt to make it creamy. Yum!
Thanks for joining me today to make Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls! I hope this becomes your new go-to meal for busy days!
Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls
Description
Quick and easy burrito bowls from Budget Bytes with beans, rice, cheese, salsa, and a few spices to enhance the flavor! It’s perfect for when you’re in a hurry, don’t want to spend a lot of money and are craving some yummy Mexican flavors!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the rice, salt, and 3 cups water to a medium sauce pot. Place a lid on top, turn the heat on to high, and allow the water to come up to a full boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and let it continue to simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn the heat off and let it sit, with the lid in place, for an additional five minutes. Fluff just before serving.
- While the rice is cooking, make the beans. Add both cans of black beans (undrained) to a small sauce pot, along with the cumin, and garlic powder. Heat over medium, stirring often, until heated through.
- Slice the green onions and jalapeño (if using).
- Once the rice is cooked, build the bowls. Add one cup cooked rice, 1/2 cup warm black beans, 1/3 cup salsa, and 1 oz. shredded cheese (about 1/4 cup) to each bowl. Top with a few sliced green onions and jalapeños, then serve.
Notes
- Video link on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zFodxOQltm0
- Serving: 1 Serving
Calories: 521.75 kcal
Carbohydrates: 85.28 g
Protein: 20.32 g
Fat: 10.32 g
Sodium: 1078.75 mg
Fiber: 15.22 g - If you want to make this recipe more filling, feel free to add grilled chicken or ground beef. You can also add any toppings to fit your favorite flavor profile.
