Stuck in a meal prep rut? Switch things up with these Ground Beef Fried Rice Bowls! A beef and veggie skillet joins forces with garlic fried rice, leaving you with a quick and easy meal that lasts all week long.
Add a little variety to your weekly meal plan with these easy Ground Beef Fried Rice Bowls. This meal prep idea combines two winning recipes: my Ground Beef Veggie Skillet and Garlic Fried Rice with Swiss Chard. Together, they become a dish packed with protein, veggies, and garlicky goodness!
They’re already naturally dairy and gluten free but are also easy to make low carb and grain free. Make them with your choice of fresh vegetables and flavors or substitute the garlic fried rice for other rice and grain recipes like Quinoa Fried Rice or Mexican Rice and Beans. The customizing options are endless!
Ingredients and substitutions
Both the ground beef skillet and garlic fried rice are made with ingredients you likely already have at home:
- Ground beef - I recommend grass-fed lean ground beef for the veggie ground beef skillet, as it has more flavor and nutritional value than grain-fed beef. Feel free to swap the beef for ground chicken, turkey, lamb, or your favorite plant-based ground “meat.”
- Vegetables - Anything goes! If possible, use what’s in season. Try fresh zucchini, broccoli florets, red bell peppers, shredded cabbage, cauliflower florets, yellow squash, and other fresh or frozen vegetables you have on hand.
- Aromatics - Onion, garlic, and tamari or soy sauce add fantastic flavor to the beef.
- Garlic fried rice - This Filipino-inspired Garlic Fried Rice is easy to make with day-old cooked rice, chard, garlic, chili oil, and herbs. There’s plenty of room to sneak extra veggies into the rice as well. You can add celery, corn, peas, carrots, broccoli, or mushrooms!
How to make ground beef fried rice bowls
This meal prep recipe couples my Ground Beef Veggie Skillet and Garlic Fried Rice. Head to those posts for the complete list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Step 1: Prepare the two recipes as instructed. Neither is complicated, so you can make the Beef and Veggie Skillet and the Garlic Fried Rice simultaneously or separately ahead of time.
Step 2: Let the beef dish and rice cool completely (this is important!). Portion each recipe into 3 to 4 airtight meal prep containers.
Step 3: Store the containers in the fridge and enjoy your ground beef bowls for lunch or dinner all week long!
Tips and variations
- To get these meal prep bowls done quickly and efficiently, chop all of the veggies and cook the rice 1 day ahead of time before you begin making the two recipes.
- Freshly cooked rice doesn’t work well with fried rice because the excess moisture makes it harder to achieve crisped edges.
- Instead of regular long or short-grain rice, make the garlic fried rice with day-old quinoa, black eyed peas and rice, Mexican rice, or cilantro lime brown rice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does ground beef and rice last for meal prep?
If cooled completely and stored in shallow airtight containers, these meals will last up to 4 days in the fridge.
Can you freeze these meal prep bowls?
Yes, cooked ground beef and rice bowls are suitable for freezer storage. Portion the meals into freezer-safe airtight containers and freeze for up to 3 months. When it’s time to eat, thaw the meals in the fridge before reheating.
Are these ground beef meal prep bowls Whole30?
They can be made Whole30-friendly with a couple of modifications. Be sure to use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce to flavor your beef and veggie skillet, and make the fried rice with cauliflower rice. These modifications are also perfect for paleo and keto meal plans.
Looking for more meal prep ideas?
- Gluten Free Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
- Keto Steak Meal Prep Bowls
- Garden Buddha Bowl
- Keto Steak and Cauliflower Rice Meal Prep
- Instant Pot Shrimp Meal Prep
Ground Beef Veggie Skillet Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb grass-fed ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups zucchini cubed
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- ¾ cup red bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup red onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon soy
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat oil in large skillet. Add ground beef and cook for 8-10 minutes then add the onion and garlic. Continue to cook the beef until no longer pink.
- While the beef is cooking you can chop the veggies. This will save you time!
- Add veggies; zucchini, broccoli, bell pepper and stir well. Season with salt, pepper and add in soy. Simmer covered for another 6-8 minutes until the veggies have softened and sauce has thickened.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Garlicky Fried Rice with Swiss Chard
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 2 cups swiss chard thinly chopped
- 8 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet. Add Swiss chard and sauté until charred.
- Add garlic slices and chili oil and continue to sauté stirring frequently until fragrant.
- Add the cooked rice and press it down with the back of a wooden spoon or spatula until it covers the entire surface of the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes then stir the rice turning it to fry the other side. Once again press it down and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer to a platter. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
- Freshly steamed hot rice will not work as well in this recipe because the excess moisture will make it harder to achieve the crisped edges. Instead, use day-old cooked and chilled steamed rice.
- Leftover fried rice has an excellent shelf-life. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 or 6 days. To extend its shelf-life even further, freeze the fried rice in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container.
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