This black bean taco bowls recipe post is part of a partnership I have with Libby’s and their PR firm. Opinions are my own. One of my LEAST favorite things to do is come up with meal ideas. Give me guidance and I’ll happily prepare just about anything. But leave me to figure out the ingredients and stuff? Not always my forte. I like cooking, especially when the kids are able to help. I just need help with the WHAT to cook sometimes!
Last week, Libby’s foods sent me a box of their products. In that box was a few cans of their Organic Black Beans. I saw them and thought, I should totally make a black bean chili. So naturally, when I actually went to make dinner, it only makes sense that I decided instead to make a Chipotle-inspired Black Bean Taco Bowl recipe instead. Right? I loved my “bowl” at Chipotle and the black beans just seemed to fit. Today was gymnastics and then tap class and it meant we’d not be home before 5:45. Too late to start dinner when I had a Girl Scout leader meeting at 7, that’s for sure! So, I prepped almost everything while I made lunch and talked with my little one about her day, and she helped me put the chopped veggies on a plate and cover dishes for the fridge.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 TBSP taco seasoning (or to taste)
- 1 pepper, chopped
- 1 tomato, chopped
- Lettuce- chopped-
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- Tortilla shells (I got the Old El Paso Stand Alone variety- SO much easier)
- 1 can Libby’s Organic Black Beans
- 3 cups cooked brown rice
- Guacamole (to taste)
- Sour Cream (to taste)
- Salsa (to taste)
- Hot Sauce (to taste)
- Brown meat and drain fat.
- Return to pan and add taco seasoning.
- As meat browns, warm tortilla shells in oven. (You can “shape” them in muffin tins or mini loaf pans if plain tortillas)
- Scoop some rice into the bottom of your tortilla “bowl”
- Add some meat on top
- Add veggies
- Top with cheese
Sometimes it really does just take a can to inspire a great meal! I like keeping beans around- great for you and they have a long shelf life. So….what would you do with a can of black beans? (I have more cans. I want more ideas. Chili is on the menu for the weekend)
@LibbysTable #DinnerDilemma Twitter Week
Each day during the week of September 16-20, five bloggers (including me) will be partnering with @LibbysTable to host mini-Twitter parties dedicated to discussing and solving dinner dilemmas.
-Monday through Friday, each day will focus on a different theme – from how to cook for kids, to how to plan ahead or how to organize the most efficient and convenient pantry.
-MY party will be 2:30-3:00pm EST- all others will take place from 3:00-3:30 pm EST
-Each party will allow participants the opportunity to win a #DinnerDilemma themed prize pack!
-Follow @LibbysTable on Twitter to learn more!
One reader will win a Libby’s prize pack including a 17 piece Magic Bullet set and assorted Libby’s products!
Deanna says
My go-to meal is spaghetti. 😉
Anne says
When I’m on my own and don’t have to cook for anyone but me, my go-to dinner is scrambled eggs and toast. No fuss, no muss, just a quick and tasty meal.
Anne says
When I get a good buy on ground turkey, chili is my go-to dinner. I like bell peppers in my chili but fresh peppers are usually quite costly, so I pick up a bag of chopped frozen peppers (if they’re product of USA or Canada–I won’t buy Mexican produce). I find them to be just fine in this sort of recipe.
Anne says
Beef stew is another go-to meal for me. I usually make a big batch in my slow cooker, but we love it too much for any of it to go into the freezer! LOL
Anne says
Burritos are a go-to dinner we have fairly often. I use ground beef or turkey, depending on what’s on sale, and I like to add onions and cheese. Some canned refried beans, heated in the microwave or on the stovetop, make a nice side dish.
Anne says
I’ll be making another go-to dinner for tonight: Meatballs with spaghetti and tomato sauce. I’ll make a large batch of meatballs this afternoon, then freeze some for a quick meal later on when I don’t have time to make them from scratch.
Brett says
Great idea Anne!!
Anne says
Thanks! I either thaw the meatballs in the refrigerator during the day, or in a bowl of cold water (still in the freezer container) an hour or so before starting dinner. I sometimes put the frozen meatballs directly into the saucepan with the tomato sauce and let them heat up that way, but it takes longer.
Anne says
One of the things I try to stock in my freezer is a bag of spinach ravioli. When I’m up against the wall, it’s a cinch to make that for dinner, with tomato sauce or a quick sage-butter sauce.
Anne says
I make chicken a lot, so I often have leftover chicken. One of my go-to meals using the meat is chicken in cream sauce over rice. I love it with onions and mushrooms, or broccoli. It’s a family favorite, no matter what “extras” it has.
Anne says
Breakfast for dinner is an easy way to solve a dinner dilemma. French toast is one of my favorites.
Anne says
Well, I had a dinner dilemma last night! I was cooking dinner in the microwave, multiple dishes in multiple stages, when the microwave just up and died. I was able to regroup and finish cooking the meal in the toaster oven, but we ate dinner an hour later than I had planned. Going microwave shopping today–we use it all the time, so it’s kind of a necessity.
Anne says
Quiche is a go-to meal for me. I usually make my own pastry but sometimes fall back on the refrigerated store-bought kind. Cheese and eggs are always in the refrigerator, and I vary the quiche by using leftover meat and/or veggies. A side salad rounds out the meal.
Dawn Monroe says
My go to meal is hamburgers and hot dogs. I make a lot of spagetti too.
Anne says
Pizza is another go-to meal at our house. I make the dough in my bread machine. We all love the pizza, and it’s pretty simple for me to make.
sandra says
convenience foods help me in a pinch
Anne says
A quick pantry meal is spaghetti with sauce. Not very exciting or creative, but there’s always a jar of sauce and a box of pasta on the shelf.
Ashley Adddison says
Go to recipe is definitely spaghetti with meat sauce.
Anne says
Having prepared food in the freezer is a great help when facing a dinner dilemma. For example, when I make chili, I make a big batch and then freeze it in dinner-size containers. Then all I need to do is make a quick side dish like cornbread when the chili is defrosting and heating in the microwave.
Anne says
If I’m having a dinner dilemma, I fall back on cheese quesadillas or grilled cheese sandwiches, depending on whether or not I have any tortillas. A salad and fries or chips on the side, and it’s okay.
Anne says
Another go-to meal at our house is a one-pot turkey kielbasa with vegetables and rice, which I cook right in the rice cooker. Easy peasy.
Anne says
I had a dinner dilemma earlier this week when I pulled all the meat off a cooked chicken then stepped out of the kitchen for a few minutes. When I came back, the chicken was gone and the dog was licking his chops. Bad dog! We had salad and grilled cheese sandwiches that night instead of the lovely chicken in cream sauce over rice I had planned. I’m still not on speaking terms with the dog.
Anne says
My go-to meal is mac & cheese. Everybody loves it, and I always have the ingredients on hand.
Elena says
My go to meal is pasta marinara