Simple Tex Mex Rice Bowl
Ingredients
Tex Mex Rice:
- 1 (8.8 oz) bag Carolina® Ready to Serve Cilantro Lime Rice
- 1/3 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/3 cups frozen corn, thawed
- 1/2 tsp salt
Taco Beef:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 small onion, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 oz. ground beef
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Assembly:
- 1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded, divided
- 1/4 cup sour cream, divided
- 2 tbsp tomato salsa, divided
- 2 lime wedges
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, divided
- 1 cup tortilla chips, divided
Instructions
If you love Tex Mex you will love all of your favorite flavors..in a bowl!
Step 1
Tex Mex Rice: In a microwave safe bowl, combine rice, black beans, corn and salt. Heat rice according to package directions.
Step 2
Taco Beef: Meanwhile, in large skillet set over medium heat, add oil. Cook onions and garlic for 5 to 6 mins or until softened. Add ground beef, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, sugar, lime juice, salt and black pepper for 10 to 12 mins or until meat is browned.
Step 3
Divide rice among 2 bowls. Top evenly with taco beef, 2 tbsp cheese, 2 tbsp sour cream and 1 tbsp salsa. Garnish a lime wedge, 2 tbsp fresh cilantro and 1/2 cup tortilla chips.
Recipe Tips
For homemade tortilla strips. Thinly sliced corn tortillas into strips. Shallow fry in vegetable oil set over medium heat until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with salt.
Alternatively, package recipe components separately in resealable containers for meal prep options or package the bowl as a grab-and-go meal in individual containers. Store refrigerated for 2 to 3 days.
Full of rustic South Texas flavor, this Tex Mex rice bowl excites your tastebuds with the combination of cumin spiced beef and our tangy Carolina® Ready to Serve Cilantro Lime Rice. Customizable to your family’s preferences and easy to meal-prep, this bowl is a perfectly simple midweek meal.
Turn up the Heat
While traditional Mexican cuisine is known for being spicy, Tex Mex turns the heat down by using more neutral ingredients, smokey spices such as Cumin and Paprika and less chilis. However if you crave a little bit of spice in your life, try adding a freshly diced Jalapeño pepper! Jalapeños add quite the kick and compliment the other ingredients well. Still craving that spice? Add some more heat to your life with this easy to make Spicy Air Fryer Rice.
Fire it up
Want to kick up the flavor a notch? Ditch the frozen stuff and try charring a fresh ear of corn on the grill. The smoky char will compliment the cumin seasoned beef and blend well with the fresh lime and cilantro, elevating your dish to the next level and impressing your friends and family.
How is Tex-Mex different from Mexican?
Born out of the Rio Grande Valley of Southern Texas/Northern Mexico, Tex-Mex cuisine is a beautiful combination of bold flavors and traditional techniques. Mexicans living in Texas took their home dishes and used more accessible ingredients to create flavors palatable for the people North of the border. An entirely new cuisine, Tex-Mex is distinguishable by the use of black beans, cumin, wheat flour and yellow cheese. Most Mexicans will be quick to tell you Tex-Mex is not Mexican, but Texans proudly claim the cuisine as their own. Dishes like nachos, fajitas and chili are now a staple of Texas culture and continue to gain popularity throughout the whole United States.
Tips
This bowl is easy to portion out for weekly meal prepping. The sour cream and salsa will make the rest of the ingredients soggy, so package them in separate containers to prevent it! Taking your lunch to work or school? Keep extra salsa packets handy from fast food restaurants for easy on-the-go flavor.
Better in a Bowl
Enjoying the Carolina® Ready to Serve Cilantro Lime Rice? Try out the Cilantro Rice Taco Bowl for another deliciously easy meal with a similar flare. For a vegetarian bowl packed with colorful flavor, try the Chipotle Mushroom Burrito Bowl made with Carolina® White Rice.
