Easy 20-Minute Ground Beef Taco Bowls
Quick-assembly taco bowls with seasoned ground beef and black beans, fresh coleslaw, cherry tomatoes, cheddar, and crispy tortilla chips. Customizable toppings make this a flexible weeknight meal that comes together in under 20 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (93% lean)
- 1 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
- 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
- Homemade Taco Seasoning Blend
- ½ cup water
- 21 ounces shredded coleslaw mix, bagged
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup ranch dressing, organic
- 6 ounces shredded cheddar, organic
- 30 tortilla chips, organic
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano(optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder(optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder(optional)
- 1 teaspoon paprika(optional)
- 1 teaspoon cumin(optional)
- ½ teaspoon chili powder(optional)
- sea salt, to taste(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring and breaking apart, until browned.
- 2
Add diced bell pepper and cook until softened.
- 3
Add black beans and taco seasoning blend. Season well with salt. Add water and stir until combined. Remove from heat.
- 4
Arrange coleslaw and tomatoes in serving bowls.
- 5
Drizzle on ranch dressing and stir until coleslaw and tomatoes are well coated.
- 6
Top with ground beef mixture, shredded cheddar, and crushed tortilla chips. Serve.
Tips
Prepare coleslaw and tomatoes ahead to speed assembly on busy nights.
Customize toppings based on preferences; sour cream or guacamole work well.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure ground beef reaches 160F internal temperature.
Good to Know
Store leftovers separately; keep seasoned beef mixture, coleslaw, and toppings in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Assemble just before serving to maintain chip crispness.
Brown beef and prepare seasoning blend up to 1 day ahead. Dice vegetables and prep coleslaw the morning of. Assemble bowls at serving time.
Serve immediately after assembly while tortilla chips are crisp and beef is warm.
Common Mistakes
Do not drain the cooked beef mixture unless excess fat is present; moisture helps distribute seasoning.
Do not add dressing to coleslaw more than 10 minutes before serving to prevent sogginess.
Do not skip breaking apart the ground beef while cooking to ensure even browning.