Santa Fe Rice Bowl with Black Beans and Avocado
A colorful, make-ahead rice bowl featuring tender brown rice layered with black beans, fresh avocado, cherry tomatoes, and cheddar cheese in a convenient mason jar. The creamy sour cream and hot sauce base creates a zesty foundation that melds the southwestern flavors together. Perfect for meal prep, lunch at work, or a quick dinner when you want something healthy and satisfying. The jar format keeps ingredients fresh and separate until serving, making it an ideal grab-and-go option that tastes better after the flavors have time to mingle in the refrigerator.
Ingredients
- 1 mason jar, 1 L
- 1 ¼ cups water
- ½ cup long-grain brown ricewhite rice1:1time_saver
Reduces cooking time to 15-20 minutes
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup avocado, chopped
- 1 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
- ½ cup black beans, canned, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- ¼ cup orange bell pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Bring water to a boil over high heat
- 2
Stir in rice and salt, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 to 50 minutes or until rice is tender and water is absorbed
- 3
Remove from heat and fluff with a fork
- 4
Let cool completely
- 5
Place avocado in a bowl and drizzle with lemon juice, tossing to coat
- 6
Spoon sour cream into jar and drizzle with hot pepper sauce, wiping down any splashes on the side of the jar
- 7
Layer rice, beans, tomatoes, avocado, orange pepper, cheese and cilantro
- 8
Seal jar and refrigerate for up to 3 days
- 9
Remove jar from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving, to bring it to room temperature
- 10
Turn jar upside down in a bowl, scooping out the sour cream and dolloping it over the rice
Tips
Brown rice cooking time can vary, so check for tenderness after 30 minutes and continue cooking if needed.
Wipe jar sides clean after adding sour cream to prevent smearing other ingredients.
Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before eating to bring to optimal serving temperature.
Good to Know
Refrigerate assembled jars for up to 3 days. Keep sealed until ready to serve.
Can be assembled up to 3 days in advance. Best when ingredients have time to meld flavors.
Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. Turn jar upside down in bowl and mix with sour cream.
Common Mistakes
Let rice cool completely before layering to avoid wilting other ingredients.
Wipe jar sides clean after adding wet ingredients to prevent messy layers.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I use white rice instead of brown rice?
Yes, substitute white rice using the same amount but reduce cooking time to 15-20 minutes until tender.
How long will this keep in the refrigerator?
Assembled jars stay fresh for up to 3 days when properly sealed and refrigerated.
Can I freeze these rice bowls?
Not recommended as avocado and tomatoes don't freeze well and will become mushy when thawed.