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A simple and delicious budget ground beef dinner bowl with rice and vegetables

Budget-Friendly Mediterranean Ground Beef Bowl

This budget-friendly Mediterranean ground beef bowl is a flavorful and satisfying meal packed with lean ground beef, vegetables, and black beans, served over brown rice. It's a delicious and healthy option for any weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 Medium Onion chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatoes undrained
  • 1/2 cup Beef Broth
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes for a kick
  • Salt and Black Pepper to taste
  • 1 can (15 oz) Black Beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup per serving Cooked Brown Rice for serving (about 1 cup per serving)
Optional Toppings
  • Feta cheese
  • Fresh parsley
  • Plain Greek yogurt
  • Pickled red onions

Equipment

  • Large Skillet or Pot

Method
 

Cooking Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
  2. Drain any fat from the skillet, then add chopped onion and cook until softened.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and chopped red bell pepper, cooking for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Add diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, dried oregano, cumin, and red pepper flakes to the skillet.
  5. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes for flavors to meld.
  6. Stir in drained black beans and simmer for another 5 minutes, or until heated through.
  7. Season generously with salt and black pepper; if too watery, simmer without the lid for a few extra minutes.
  8. While the beef mixture simmers, prepare brown rice according to package directions.
  9. Ladle brown rice into bowls, then top with the beef and black bean mixture.
  10. Add desired toppings like feta cheese, fresh parsley, Greek yogurt, or pickled red onions, and enjoy.

Notes

This recipe is easily customizable. Feel free to add other vegetables like zucchini or spinach, or swap black beans for chickpeas. For an added layer of flavor, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving is delightful. Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.