Unlike Takeout – Homemade Southwest Steak Bowls
Are you sick of eating at Chipotle or Qdoba? In just 30 minutes, you can cook better Southwest steak bowls at home. These bowls feature tender steak, fluffy rice, crisp vegetables, and creamy sauces for an entirely delicious, affordable meal.
The Ideal Steak For Your Southwest Bowl
The great thing about steak bowls is that you can use whatever steak you have on hand. Top sirloin is an excellent option because it’s lean and has a lot of beefy flavor. Flanker steak, skirt steak, flat iron steak, or hanger steak also work well for this recipe.
Marinate your steak to achieve extraordinary flavor. This simple mixture of olive oil, lime juice, chipotle pepper, and spices such as cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder will make your steak taste great.
Marinate the steak for at least one hour before cooking so those flavors soak in. Grilling over medium-high heat will cook the perfect steak to your desired degree. Rest it for 5-10 minutes before slicing it against the grain. This makes the meat more tender, and chewing isn’t hard.
Black Bean Corn Salsa- Tooo Yyummmm
Every good Southwest steak bowl should have a good salsa. A black bean corn salsa brings color, texture, and nutrition to your bowl in spades. It’s easy to prepare while your steak is marinating.
To make the salsa, mix:
- Canned corn (drained and rinsed)
- 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- Diced red onion
- Chopped tomatoes
- Finely chopped jalapeño (seeded or not, depending on how spicy you like it)
- Fresh cilantro
- Minced garlic
- Fresh lime juice
- Salt to taste
Combine in a bowl and chill until you’re ready to build the steak bowls. The flavors will mingle and get better while you make the other elements.
Creamy Cilantro Sauce Elevates The Bowl
A good sauce combines all the good ingredients and elevates your steak bowl. There are some tasty sauces to choose from. One frequently used condiment is a creamy cilantro sauce made from Greek yogurt or sour cream, fresh cilantro, lime juice, garlic, and jalapeño.
Pure these ingredients to make a bright, tangy sauce that nicely offsets the savory steak. Another alternative is a sweet and creamy chipotle sauce made with sour cream, Greek yogurt, chipotle pepper sauce, honey, and spices.
This sauce keeps your bowl balanced by adding smoky sweetness. Whichever sauce you go with, store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. This preserves the sauce and helps prevent it from melting when you stir it into your hot bowl ingredients.
Putting Together Your Southwest Steak Bowl
And now, the fun part: Bring it all together! Begin with some cooked rice as a base. White rice is traditional, but brown rice offers more nutrition and fiber. To amp up the flavor, cook your rice in chicken broth instead of water, and squeeze lime juice and chopped cilantro into it post-cook.
Add your black bean corn salsa and grilled steak. Then, layer with other fresh ingredients such as:
- Sliced avocado
- Grilled or raw bell peppers and onions
- Extra chopped cilantro
- Crumbled cotija or your favorite cheese
- Drizzle your creamy sauce over the top.
- The warmth of the rice and steak, paired with the cool freshness of the toppings, perfectly balance each other.
Why Homemade Steak Bowls Are Better Than the Restaurant Kind
There are many benefits to making Southwest steak bowls at home rather than at restaurants. First, you save money—homemade bowls cost anywhere from $2.50-$3.00 a serving versus $10-$15 at restaurants.
Another advantage is having total control over the ingredients. You can easily add extra steak, choose organic vegetables, add more or fewer spices, or accommodate dietary restrictions. Homemade bowls do not contain preservatives or unnecessary additives.
These bowls are also great for meal prep. Prep all the elements on Sunday, and you can have delicious, ready-to-assemble meals waiting for you any day of the week. Keep the sauce separate and add the avocado at the last minute for the freshest flavor.
The Ability To Customize to Individual Taste Easily
One of the best things about Southwest steak bowls is how easily they can be tailored to your tastes. Family or dinner guests can construct their ideal bowl based on preference.
All kinds of yummy variants include:
- Replacing the steak with chicken or with shrimp
- Replacing simple carb food like rice with cauliflower rice and toppings
- Using other vegetables like grilled zucchini or roasted sweet potatoes
- Using various varieties of beans like pinto beans or refried beans
- Experimenting with different cheeses such as sharp cheddar, pepper jack, or queso fresco
- You can even make a salad bowl by placing all of the above on a bed of greens instead of rice. There are endless possibilities!
You Don’t Need All Day For Quick And Satisfying Meals
These Southwest steak bowls are a perfect example of not needing hours in the kitchen to create an enjoyable, hearty meal. Without breaking a sweat, you’re cooking restaurant-quality food in 30 minutes of actual cooking time that the whole family will eat.
The dish’s success is produced by the marinated steak’s tenderness, the rice’s spice, the crispness of the fresh vegetables, and the sauce’s creaminess. This dish offers a wholesome meal with protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in one bite. It’s not just tasty—it’s good for you, too!
Next time you’re looking at ordering takeout, you’ll remember this Southwest steak bowl recipe. You get a much better-tasting meal with few ingredients and an easy preparation method for a fraction of the cost. Your mouth and your bank account will thank you!