Skip to main content

Rice Bowl Southwestern Style

Lots of filling grains, healthy veggies and southwestern flavor make this a meal to enjoy any time of day.
Video

Cooking for a Crowd

Cooking for a Crowd

Use these recipe sheets to prepare for larger groups:

Bowls of rice, vegetables and chicken with shredded cheese.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Makes: 2 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped vegetables (try a mixture: bell peppers, onion, corn, tomato, zucchini)
⅛ teaspoon salt 
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup protein (see Notes)
⅛ teaspoon each garlic powder, oregano and cumin (optional)
2 Tablespoons salsa, shredded cheese or low-fat sour cream
 (try Food Hero's Salsa Roja or Salsa Verde)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat (350 degrees F in an electric skillet).  Add vegetables and salt. Cook until tender-crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. Add cooked rice; cooked protein, garlic powder, oregano and cumin, if desired. Heat through.
  5. Divide rice mixture between two bowls. Top with salsa, cheese or sour cream and serve warm.
  6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Try cooked beans, tofu, chicken, beef, pork, tuna, salmon, turkey, shrimp, or hard-boiled eggs for the protein.
  • For a spicier dish, add chili powder, red pepper flakes or taco sauce in Step 1.
  • You can use any leftover cooked grain in this recipe. Try white or wild rice, quinoa, barley or oatmeal.
  • Try other toppings such as chopped cilantro, sliced radishes or Food Hero Refrigerator Pickled Vegetables.

Comments

Great recipe you can use whatever you have on hand and make different for any family member!  My kids love it and I can put it together in minutes -- they love picking their toppings!

This is a great way to use up leftover rice.  I use beans and whatever veggies I have on hand and the bowl always turns out so yummy!

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Citrus Cucumber Flavored Water
Glasses of water with floating cucumber, lime and lemon slices.

Citrus Cucumber Flavored Water

Staying hydrated and cool is easy with this fun flavored water recipe.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Stovetop Creamy Polenta
Bowls of fine textured polenta.

Stovetop Creamy Polenta

Ground corn is cooked slowly until creamy and flavorful. Similar to grits, it can be topped many ways for a delicious meal.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
25 minutes
Makes:
4 servings
Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes
Platter of potatoes stuffed with beans, corn, salsa and sprinkled with melted cheese.

Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes

Potatoes are topped with southwest-style toppings for a simple and tasty microwave meal.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
4 potato halves
Crunchy Baked Kale Chips
Baked, crisp kale in a bowl.

Crunchy Baked Kale Chips

This kid-approved, light and crunchy snack only uses 3 ingredients!
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Ants on a Log
Celery sticks spread with peanut butter and topped with raisins are displayed on a plate in a pinwheel formation. In the middle of the plate is a celery and peanut butter stick with mini pretzels extending out of the peanut butter like the wings of a butterfly.

Ants on a Log

Have some fun with this snack! Peanut butter, raisins and your imagination can be used to fill and decorate crunchy celery sticks.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
4 servings
Buttermilk Scones
Plate of golden whole-wheat scones with raisins.

Buttermilk Scones

This kid-approved scone recipe is good for breakfast, a holiday brunch or an everyday snack.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
9 Scones