The Taco Bell Power Bowl is full of everything we love from our favorite Mexican fast food joint: rice and beans, lettuce and cheese, and a creamy topping of guac and sour cream! Not to mention some tender and delicious steak right there in the middle! The Power Bowl from Taco Bell is filling and packed with energizing nutrients that your body will thank you for. Skip the drive thru and prep it right at home!
Taco Bell Power Bowl
I love a lot of items on the power menu, but the steak power bowl from Taco Bell™ takes the (metaphorical) cake for me!
Protein bowls are absolutely packed with healthy meats, vegetables, and fillings that are satisfying and delicious!
Between the creamy toppings and dressing, flavorful chunks of steak, and crunchy vegetables, there’s really nothing missing here.
This whole Taco Bell bowl recipe takes less than 30 minutes, most of that time being prep.
You can make enough for a couple of meals and have easy dinners and lunches for the week!
Maybe I haven’t made it totally clear just how much I love tacos! Try out my 7 Layer Taco Dip, or this unbelievably tasty and filling Taco Pasta Salad.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Mexican Red Rice and Black Beans – Some tangy and spicy red rice and savory beans are the perfect base for your homemade Taco Bell protein bowl.
You could use white or brown rice if preferred, and red beans if they’re your fave. Just remember that it won’t taste just like the restaurant version.
- Steak – I grilled up a New York strip steak, but you can use your favorite cut! And if you have some steak leftover from a previous dinner? Throw it right in!
- Veggies – We’ll need a combination of lettuce, tomatoes, chives, avocados, and jalapeños to make up the Taco Bell bowls and the dressing.
You can always choose a less spicy pepper for the dressing, like a banana pepper — be sure to remove the seeds!
Otherwise, more veggies can be added or taken away as you like.
- Guacamole – To plop right on top! Grab some premade from the store or whip up your own in no time.
- Sour Cream – You can use some plain Greek yogurt as a substitute. I promise, it’s good! You can hardly tell the difference, plus it’s higher in protein and lower in fat as well.
- Buttermilk Powder – The original Taco Bell power bowl recipe uses powder, but you can also use ½ cup of regular ol’ buttermilk instead.
Tips for the Best Taco Bell Bowl Dressing
- Use a food processor.
There’s just no way to get that ultra-creamy texture without it — except maybe a high-speed blender.
Pulse it a few times at first, then give it a whirl until everything is well blended and combined.
- Find the freshest ingredients.
Since so much of the flavor comes from the avocado, you need to be really picky when selecting those.
Look for dark green skin and do a squeeze test to check for ripeness. Avocados should be firm with some give, not rock hard or too squishy.
Jalapenos should also be firm without any soft spots or wrinkled skin. And chives (or green onions) should be vibrant and crisp — you’ll hear it when you chop them up!
How to Make Steak Just Like a Power Bowl From Taco Bell
To make steak just like in the original Taco Bell bowl, you’re going to need to make it a bit well done.
Fry it up in a skillet in some olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. You can add other steak seasonings, like this Tex Mex seasoning, for extra flavor!
The most important thing is to make sure you don’t cut into the meat until it rests for at least 10 minutes! That’s how it’ll stay nice and juicy.
Taco Bell Protein Bowl FAQ
Is the Power Bowl from Taco Bell healthy?
The Steak Taco Bell Power Bowl is full of nutrients that your body needs and loves.
You’ll get protein from the beef, fiber from the beans and rice, plus vitamins C, K, A, and E in the tomatoes, jalapenos, and avocados. It’s definitely an energy booster!
There are also some fats and calories in the sour cream, which can be easily substituted with Greek yogurt as a healthier option.
For a leaner Taco Bell bowls, swap the beef for chicken instead.
What comes in a Taco Bell Power Bowl?
There are a few different choices for protein, including steak and chicken, plus a bunch of veggies and rice!
You’ll get a layer of rice and beans, a layer of shredded lettuce, a good bit of meat, and some guac on top.
A dollop of sour cream and sprinkling of tomatoes tops the whole thing off!
Can I make a Taco Bell power bowl vegan?
Easily! Simply replace the steak or chicken with your preferred meatless alternative, or leave it out entirely.
You can pack it with some more beans, or maybe some tofu, if you still want a nice and filling meal.
You can absolutely bulk the bowl with more veggies, too! Cucumbers, bell peppers, and mushrooms would be totally tasty.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Taco Bell Bowls
If you’re prepping ahead of time, store all of the ingredients in separate containers.
The meat will last for up to 3 days, while the veggies and dressing will keep for up to 5.
To reheat leftover rice and beans, cover with a damp paper towel and reheat for 30-second bursts until soft.
Reheat the steak in the microwave as well, or throw it into the skillet for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.
Then, reassemble each Taco Bell protein bowl in the order described in the recipe.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Taco Bell Copycat Recipes
Taco Bell Power Bowl (Steak)
Donna Elick
Taco Bell Power Bowl contains steak, rice, and veggies for a nutritious, satisfying meal. This copycat recipe helps you recreate it at home!
3 stars from 2 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
Method Grill, Stovetop
Servings 1 makes 1 power bowl
Equipment
cast iron skillet There are a ton of brands out there, but this is my trusty inexpensive go-to.
food processor will make the avocado ranch dressing super creamy
box grater Fresh cheese makes this recipe even better! Skip the bagged shreds and buy a block to grate yourself.
Ingredients
For Power Bowl
- 1 cup Mexican red rice
- 1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- 3 ounces strip steak, cooked and chopped (See Notes)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped romaine lettuce, or iceberg
- 1/8 cup diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons guacamole
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
For Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk powder, (See Notes)
- 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 fresh jalapeno, chopped (use more/less to suit your taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives, or green onion
Instructions
Steak Instructions
Heat a grill or cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
Rub steak with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Feel free to add any other steak seasoning you enjoy.
Place steak on the pan or grill and leave untouched for 2-3 minutes. When the meat no longer sticks to the grates, flip it over and cook on the other side. Cook steak to desired level of doneness. Taco Bell’s steak is well done.
Remove steak from heat and let it rest for 10 minutes, then slice into bite-size pieces.
Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing
Add all dressing ingredients to the bowl of a food processor. Process until a smooth, creamy mixture forms.
Power Bowl Assembly
Warm Mexican rice and black beans.
Cook steak (if not using leftovers) and cut into pieces
Prepare creamy avocado ranch dressing.
Spread Mexican rice in the bottom of a bowl
Top with black beans and cheese.
Add lettuce over another section in the bowl. Drizzle with avocado ranch.
Add chopped steak to the bowl.
Top with guacamole and sour cream; then, sprinkle with tomatoes.
Serve immediately
Donna’s Notes
1/2 cup buttermilk may be substituted for the water and buttermilk powder mixture.
Adjust the amounts of the fillings to taste.
Store leftover steak, dressing, rice, and any other ingredients in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.
We used New York strip steak for our Taco Bell power bowl, but you can use any kind you enjoy. You can even use leftover steak if you’d like.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 1249cal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 99g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Cholesterol: 187mg | Sodium: 1525mg | Sugar: 14g | Fiber: 24g | Calcium: 580mg | Iron: 5mg
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Originally published July 2022, updated and republished September 2023
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