Meal Prep Burrito Bowl Base (Printable Version)

Versatile bowl base with rice, beans, protein and veggies for easy weekly prep

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice

→ Beans

02 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed

→ Protein

03 - 2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
04 - 1 lb ground beef or turkey, cooked and seasoned
05 - 14 oz firm tofu, pressed and cubed

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 0.5 red onion, finely diced
10 - 1 cup shredded lettuce or chopped romaine

→ Toppings

11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend
12 - 0.5 cup salsa or pico de gallo
13 - 0.5 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
14 - 1 avocado, sliced or mashed
15 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - Lime wedges for serving

→ Seasonings

17 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
18 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
19 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
20 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
21 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Cook rice according to package instructions. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool slightly before portioning.
02 - For chicken: Season with cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook in a skillet with olive oil until fully cooked, then chop. For ground meat: Brown in a skillet with olive oil and seasonings until fully cooked and drain excess fat. For tofu: Toss cubes in olive oil and seasonings, then pan-fry until golden on all sides.
03 - Sauté drained beans with a splash of olive oil, cumin, and chili powder for 2 to 3 minutes to warm through and develop flavor.
04 - Dice bell pepper, halve cherry tomatoes, finely dice red onion, shred lettuce, chop cilantro, and slice or mash avocado. Arrange toppings in small separate containers.
05 - Divide rice, beans, cooked protein, and prepared vegetables into 4 airtight containers, storing each component separately to maintain optimal freshness and texture. Store toppings and sauces in separate small containers.
06 - Reheat base components as desired, then add fresh vegetables and toppings immediately before serving to preserve crispness and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You get four days of lunch without eating the same boring thing twice because you mix and match proteins and toppings.
  • Everything stays crisp and fresh because the wet and dry components live separately until the last second.
  • It's genuinely adaptable—vegetarian friends, your keto cousin, and picky eaters can all eat from the same base.
  • Zero food waste since you're using up pantry staples that actually taste like something.
02 -
  • Wet ingredients and dry ingredients stored together will destroy everything by day two—this isn't a suggestion, it's physics.
  • Your protein will taste bland if you under-season it because you're eating it cold, so be generous with those spices when you first cook it.
03 -
  • Cook your protein on Sunday and your rice while the protein cools, and you'll be done with the hardest part in under 40 minutes.
  • If you forget to store toppings separately, at least keep the cheese and sour cream in their own containers—these are the messiest culprits.
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