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Ground beef chimichurri bowl

Ground Beef Chimichurri Bowls


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  • Author: Rebecca Blumer
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

These ground beef chimichurri bowls are a fast, flavor-packed dinner built on contrast: richly browned ground beef, fluffy rice, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, and a bright, garlicky chimichurri sauce. The result is fresh, savory, and satisfying with a restaurant-style finish.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this bowl delivers bold Argentinian-inspired flavor in about 20 minutes while still feeling balanced, colorful, and elevated.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Chimichurri Sauce

  • 1 cup fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, packed, stems removed
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, optional, or use more parsley
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced or microplaned
  • 2 tablespoons red onion or shallot, very finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

For the Ground Beef Base

  • 1 lb ground beef, 85/15 or 90/10
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil

For Bowl Assembly

  • 2 cups cooked jasmine rice or quinoa
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large avocado, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pickled red onions
  • Sliced radishes or cucumber, optional

Instructions

  1. Finely mince the parsley and cilantro by hand with a sharp knife. In a small bowl, combine the herbs, garlic, red onion or shallot, and red pepper flakes.

  2. Stir in the red wine vinegar and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to mellow the raw onion and garlic flavor.

  3. Whisk in the olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper. Set the chimichurri aside at room temperature while you cook the beef.

  4. Heat a large cast-iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Add the avocado oil.

  5. Add the ground beef in a flat layer and let it cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes so a deep brown crust can form.

  6. Break the beef into large crumbles and season with smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking until fully browned and slightly crispy on the edges. Drain excess fat if needed.

  7. Fluff the cooked rice or quinoa and divide it among serving bowls.

  8. Toss 2 tablespoons of the prepared chimichurri directly into the hot beef and stir to coat.

  9. Top each bowl with the chimichurri beef, cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, and pickled red onions. Add radishes or cucumber if using.

  10. Drizzle extra chimichurri over the bowls and serve immediately.

Notes

Pro tips: Do not use a food processor for the chimichurri or the herbs may turn pasty. Let the beef sear undisturbed before breaking it up so you get crisp browned bits. Always serve chimichurri at room temperature for the best flavor.

Substitutions: Use lime juice instead of red wine vinegar, ground turkey instead of beef, cauliflower rice instead of jasmine rice, or scallions instead of shallots.

Storage: Store the beef and rice together, but keep the avocado, tomatoes, and extra chimichurri separate until serving. Reheat the beef and rice, then add the fresh toppings.

Make ahead: Chimichurri can be made up to 24 hours in advance, though it will be brightest in color when made closer to serving time.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Argentinian-inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 685
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 540 mg
  • Fat: 45 g
  • Saturated Fat: 11 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 31 g
  • Trans Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 35 g
  • Fiber: 7 g
  • Protein: 31 g
  • Cholesterol: 78 mg