Do you love burrito bowls? Yeah, me too. I do love them. The problem I have is that after I eat one, I feel like I need to be rolled out of the restaurant. I’m not sure if it’s the ladle-sized dollops of sour cream and guacamole (which I know is optional, but when they’re piling on the toppings it’s just so easy to tell them to add some of those other tasty goodies). Or perhaps it’s just the sheer portion size of the entire dish that sends me into siesta mode after lunch. Either way, I’m just about useless after a burrito bowl -my productivity level drops to zero. Enter the Quinoa Burrito Bowl. I wanted some of those familiar flavors, just lightened up so I could remain a productive member of society and be healthy. I started with a bed of cilantro-lime quinoa. Piled on the veggies (this is where you can get really creative and customize this to your liking), then drizzle on the creamy avocado-lime dressing. Why I love this Quinoa Burrito Bowl:
- It’s filling, but not comatose filling
- I felt good and healthy after eating it
- The toppings are totally customizable
- It’s delicious!
- And the dressing is a-ma-zing!
- Avocado-Lime Dressing
- ½ cup greek yogurt
- 1 avocado
- 1 cup cilantro
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 limes zested and juiced
- 1 - 2 jalapeños, seeded
- 2 tablespoons mint, roughly chopped
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Quinoa Bowl:
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 lime zested and juiced
- ½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 romaine heart, chopped
- 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can whole kernel corn
- ½ pint grape tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- 1 avocado, diced
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the all of the ingredients for the avocado-lime dressing. Puree until smooth and creamy. Taste and more salt and pepper, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Cook the quinoa according to the package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the lime juice, lime zest, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Toss well to combine.
- Divide the cilantro-lime quinoa into two bowls, add the lettuce, black beans, corn, grape tomatoes, red onion, and avocado. Drizzle with the avocado-lime dressing and enjoy!
I’m a beginner vegetarian, and this recipe was one of my very first veggie meals! Unfortunately, I ran out of avocados so I replaced them with beetroot for the dressing, and I added a drizzle of olive oil. As for the quinoa bowl, I thought of adding pineapple, to give it more of a different taste.
When serving, I sprinkled some sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds. Because why on earth not? PLUS they rise up the protein.
This a great recipe! Thank you very much!
Why not, indeed! Those all sound like delicious additions! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Just made this at home for lunch! I must say it tastes great , the dressing is truly awesome! The great part is you can customize it to your liking ! Thanks for sharing
Hi, Becca! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Do you have the nutritional information for this dish? Thanks!
Hi Debra! Unfortunately I don’t have the nutritional information. However, there are some online calculators available – how accurate they are, I’m really not sure. But you could certainly give one a try! 🙂
This sounds fantastic! I love chipotles burrito bowls. That avocado lime dressing sounds amazing!
Thanks so much, Kelley. This dish has quickly become one of my healthy alternative favs!
This looks amazing! I’ve never been to Chipotle before (need to change that!) but I bet this is way better than the burrito bowl you get there. I’m so drooling over that dressing. Pinned!
Thanks, Kristen. The avocado-lime dressing is mighty tasty. I’ve been putting it on roasted veggies, fish, chicken, it’s all great 🙂
Oh my goodness!! I am SO making this recipe! It looks amazingggg – that dressing…drool!!! I am totally with you on the food coma post Chipotle burrito bowl. I always feel that way too. I’m so excited you’ve created a lightened up version…I cannot wait to try this!! Thanks so much Kathleen <3
Thanks so much, Beeta. I hope you enjoy this lightened up bowl. It’s become one of my favorite healthy lunches.
Yum, this looks so amazing! Love quinoa and that dressing sounds so delicious, can’t wait to try this!
Thanks so much! The dressing is really great – it would be fantastic on chicken and fish as well. I hope you enjoy 🙂
Oh my gosh, I’m totally in love with this salad without even trying it. The more I read about Chipotle, the more grumpy I feel about it not having hopped itself over to the UK yet!
The whole thing sounds wonderful to be honest, but I’m especially bowled over by the sound of the dressing. Lime and avocado? Swoooon!
Oh you would love it! Who knows, maybe they’ll expand out your way – with their popularity, I wouldn’t be surprised. So glad you like the dish – and the dressing is great, I’ve been putting it on all sorts of stuff 🙂
Perfect energy bowl and a great transition from summer to fall. I bet this dressing is killer good and now I am so craving this am-a-zing bowl of goodness.! I think this would be perfect party food…make your own quinoa burrito bowl. I hope you are doing well and wishing you a super Saturday! Pinning this to my sensational salads board!
Thank you my dear. I’ve been using the dressing on roasted veggies, fish, and chicken – it adds a nice creamy taste.
Oh you are speaking to me 🙂 I have Chipotle for lunch almost every day since having discovered their sofritas…and my trick is to always as for one scoop of rice and a bit of beans and extra fajita veggies and pico de gallo and only do guac. No sour cream or cheese 🙂 Those sofritas are fab. I am working on a copycat recipe now… But this bowl looks really fantastic! That dressing recipe I will definitely be borrowing and veganizing 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend lovely!
Oh I can’t wait to see your sofritas recipe – that stuff is incredible! You’re a better woman than I for passing on the sour cream and cheese – I can’t resist 😉
I have never tried a burrito bowl at Chipotle before! Or anywhere for that matter! Yours with quinoa sounds perfect
Oh you must give it a try if you have the chance, they really are wonderful. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
I feel the same way about Chipotle! I love your quinoa burrito bowl!!! because, like you, I don’t like being comatose full 😛
Ha! I hear ya girlie 😛
Ha! I feel the same way about Chipotle Burrito Bowls. . love them but too much food and always feel so full! love love love this quinoa burrito bowl because no one wants to be comatose full! 🙂
I also have the same struggle with the Chiptole burrito bowls!! I don’t get sour cream or cheese, but still the portion size is so huge, I’m left in a food coma for the rest of the night. This looks like a perfect alternative!
Oh see, I can’t help myself – I always have to get ice cream scoop size of sour cream and giant handful of cheese 😉
Is it bad that Chipotle’s burrito bowl does not put me to sleep?! hahahaha! However – I am also a glutton for quinoa – so this recipe is directly up my alley! Loving it, my friend!
Ha! Well, you’re a more productive member of society than I because it’s siesta time for me 😉
Ha! I LOVE me some Chipotle Burrito Bowls too! BUT, the closest chipotle grill to me now is about 56+ miles away. Sooo yeah, I don’t love it that much to drive my lazy you know what an hour away! 🙂 Besides, why would I want there coma-inducing, heavy, calorie laden burrito bowl when I can have the Hapa Nom burrito bowl?! Exactly. Ta-ta Chipotle! Love these, girlfriend! The quinoa and super yum yum avocado dressing have me all sorts of drooling! Pinned! Cheers, my dear! <3 xo
There’s another benefit for living in the boonies – geographic imposed dieting! It’s easier to avoid temptation when that temptation is an hour away 😉 Have a great weekend girlie!
I love this idea because I think it’s all the rice that makes it so filling, so this is a lovely lighter alternative. Great recipe.
Yeah, you’re right. All of that rice gets pretty filling too. Talk about a food-coma 😛
I love Chipotle and I love quinoa, of course! This bowl looks amazing! Will make it for lunch today! Pinning!
Thanks, Mira. I hope you enjoy! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
This burrito bowl looks like the perfect summer meal! Burritos are the best, and I love the way you have used all of these awesome ingredients. Hope you are having a great time.
Thank you my dear 🙂 One of the things I like most about it, is that you can totally customize the veggies you want to add.