Author: This burrito bowl tastes just like a Chipotle burrito bowl, but even fresher and more customizable! Build your bowl with rice, protein, veggies, salsa, and creamy toppings for an easy vegan meal that's fresh, flavorful, satisfying, and perfect for meal prep.
If you've ever stood in line at Chipotle trying to decide between white rice or brown, sofritas or beans, corn salsa or pico de gallo, then this guide is for you. Here you'll find everything you need to build the perfect burrito bowl at home, from choosing your base and protein to mixing and matching toppings for your own dream combination. Homemade burrito bowls are fresher, more affordable, perfect for meal prep, and best of all, you can build them exactly the way you like. Whether you make every component from scratch or take a few shortcuts, you'll end up with a fresh, satisfying meal that's every bit as good as takeout (and way more customizable).
Why Making Your Own Burrito Bowls Is the Move
- Just like Chipotle: The key to a great burrito bowl is balance: warm + cold, creamy + fresh, soft + crunchy, spicy + mild. That contrast is what makes Chipotle bowls so satisfying and craveable.
- Perfect for meal prep: Prep the components ahead of time and your future self will be enjoying burrito bowls all week long.
- As easy as you want it to be: Make the whole thing from scratch, make it all from grocery store components, or do a mix of both.
- Budget-friendly: Skip the takeout and make burrito bowls at home for a fraction of the price.
How to Build the Perfect Burrito Bowl
Mix and match the components below to build your perfect bowl. There are endless combinations, so have fun with it!
- Choose Your Base: Start with about ¾ cup of your favorite base. Cilantro lime rice is my favorite, but white rice, brown rice, or quinoa all work beautifully.
- Pick a Protein: Add about ½ cup of protein. Sofritas are my favorite, but marinated tofu, seasoned vegan beef, black beans, or pinto beans are all delicious.
- Load Up on Veggies: Here's where you can really make it your own. Mix warm fajita veggies with cool crunchy lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, corn, onions, or whatever veggies you have on hand.
- Spoon on the Salsa: Fresh salsa brings the whole bowl to life. I love combining corn salsa and pico de gallo, but salsa verde and tomato salsa are equally delicious.
- Add Something Creamy: Every great burrito bowl needs something creamy. Guacamole is always my first choice, but avocado crema, vegan sour cream, or vegan cheese all work wonderfully.
- Finish It Off: Top with fresh cilantro, jalapeños, lime wedges, pickled onions, hot sauce, tortilla chips, or whatever makes your perfect burrito bowl.
My Go-To Burrito Bowl
Cilantro lime rice + sofritas + fajita veggies + corn salsa + pico de gallo + guacamole + pickled onions + cilantro + a squeeze of lime.
Tips and Variations
- Think about balance: The best burrito bowls combine warm rice with cool toppings, creamy guacamole with crunchy vegetables, and fresh salsa with savory protein.
- Use what you have: Burrito bowls are one of the best meals for using up leftovers. Roasted sweet potatoes, crispy tofu, shredded cabbage, spinach, or extra beans are all delicious additions.
- Start simple: Even just rice, beans, salsa, and guacamole make an amazing burrito bowl.
Storage and Reheating
Burrito bowls are one of my favorite meal prep lunches! Store the rice, protein, beans, and cooked vegetables together in meal prep containers, then pack fresh ingredients like lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and avocado crema separately.
Reheat the warm ingredients first, then add the cold toppings just before serving for the best texture.
More Tex-Mex Favorites
If you try this burrito bowl recipe, let us know by leaving a comment and rating it. I'd love to hear what you think! Share your creation in the It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken Community (this is where we're all hanging out now!) or tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
Burrito Bowl (Chipotle Copycat)
Servings: bowls
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Ingredients
Choose a base (choose one, about ¾ cup per bowl)
- 1 batch cilantro lime rice
- white rice
- brown rice
- quinoa
Choose a protein (choose one, about ½ cup per bowl)
- 1 batch sofritas
- 2 cups vegan ground beef, cooked and seasoned
- 1 batch marinated tofu
- 2 cups black beans or pinto beans, cooked and seasoned
Add veggies (about 2 cups total, or as much as you like!)
- 1 batch Fajita veggies
- 2 cups Romaine lettuce, shredded
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- ½ red onion, finely sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup corn
Add salsa (about ¼ cup per bowl)
- Pico de gallo
- Corn salsa
- Tomato salsa
- Salsa verde
Add something creamy (3 - 4 tablespoons per bowl)
- Guacamole
- Avocado crema
- Vegan cheese
- Vegan sour cream
Optional toppings
- Jalapeños
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Pickled onions
- Hot sauce
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Prep the components: Prepare your desired ingredients. I love using cilantro lime rice, sofritas, fajita veggies, pico de gallo, corn salsa, and guacamole for a classic Chipotle-style bowl.
- Warm the ingredients: Warm the rice, protein, beans, and fajita veggies if using.
- Build the bowls: Add the rice or quinoa to serving bowls, then layer on the protein, veggies, salsa, and creamy toppings.
- Finish and serve: Top with any extras you love and serve immediately.
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