Why Taco Bowls Are Quickly Becoming My New Best Friends

published Dec 11, 2014
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(Image credit: Gina Eykemans)

Is it just me or do the holidays tend to hit with all the speed and subtlety of a freight train? I love this time of year, but it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed.

I find myself trying to wrangle everything on my gifting list, getting enthusiastically ambitious with my DIY projects, and performing my normal human day job all while trying to celebrate the merriment of the season with friends and family (near and far). It’s a juggling act, but it’s the kind of juggling act where you have three tinsel-trimmed things up in the air at all times, and not one of them is a solid non-overwhelming dinner plan. Enter: the taco bowl.

Why I Love Taco Bowls

If you have some ground beef on hand to throw into a skillet, some meaty leftovers to repurpose, or even a can of beans and some leftover rice — you’re totally in business. Dinner will be done in about ten to fifteen minutes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve whipped up some version of this meal for last-minute company. It’s a life saver.

(Image credit: Gina Eykemans)

How I Put Together Taco Bowls

All you have to do is simply heat up the meat or beans (or, heck — make both if you’re feeling fancy!), and chop up some lettuce (or make use of whatever greens you have on hand — spinach, kale, shredded Brussels sprouts — pretty much any green you can think of would make a lovely base for your bowl).

Then, add your spiced taco meat, reheated leftovers, or your spiced up beans and grains on top of your bed of greens. Now, you can get creative piling on the toppings!

Here are some of my favorite toppings:

  • Tomatoes
  • Guacamole
  • Olives
  • Salsa
  • Pickled red onions
  • Cheese
  • Lime juice
  • Hot sauce
  • Cucumbers
  • Mangoes
  • Oranges

The possibilities are endless. I find myself not only coming up with fun new combos all the time, but I’m being more resourceful with my leftovers! Yay for not wasting food! It’s a win-win situation.

So, the next time you feel the stressful tug of the holidays leaving you in the lurch for dinner, search for that undiscovered, totally delicious, ten-minute taco bowl concoction lurking somewhere on those refrigerator shelves! I know I’m going to continue to taco bowl my way into the New Year!

What are your favorite quick and easy meals that help you get through the holiday madness? I’m sure we’d all love a little inspiration.