I don’t think there’s anything more versatile than a burrito bowl. Each time you make it, it can be completely different than the one before. Below, I’ve given my favorite ingredients for one of my favorite lunches.

Leaf base

My burrito bowls are more-or-less a salad. Incorporating the leaf base is an important part to making this a balanced meal.

• Spinach
• Arugula
• Lettuce
• Mixed greens

Whole grain

Adding a whole grain is an important part of making this lunch keep me full until dinner.

• Rice
• Millet
• Amaranth

Beans

For a vegan version, beans play an important role. They add important protein, and give the burrito bowl some heartiness.

• Black beans
• Pinto beans
• Mayocoba beans

Chopped nuts/seeds

Nuts and seeds not only add texture and flavor, but give the burrito bowl added protein.

• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Sesame seeds
• Sunflower seeds

Salsa

Because a burrito bowl consists of several individual elements, it needs something to bring all together. Salsa adds a pleasant cohesiveness to make it all one.

• Pico de galo
• Tomatillo salsa

Sauce/dressing

Similar to the salsa, a dressing/sauce binds the ingredients together. Changing it up can result in a drastically different flavor, giving the burrito bowl a lot of versatility.

• Maple dijon
• Balsamic

Non-vegan options

Although I am mostly vegan, sometimes I like to switch it up. Also, not everyone is vegan around me, so I like to accommodate them.

• Chicken for burritos
• Steak for burritos
• Quail eggs