The best mediterranean beef bowls! These are a family favorite, made with jasmine rice and chickpeas, seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, cucumbers, hummus, feta and more. Delicious and easy to throw together for leftovers too!
Need a weeknight meal to please just about anyone?!
Say hello to my family’s current favorite dinner. These mediterranean beef bowls are super satisfying and so delicious, complete with chickpeas and rice, seasoned ground beef, a tomato cucumber salad and all the hummus.
Oh and feta! Never never forget the feta.
A rice and beef bowl is such a fantastic easy weeknight meal, but it’s one that even I forget about. When I take inventory of my dinner ingredients, I usually reserve the ground beef for things like meat sauce and tacos and burgers because they are meals the kids love. They enjoy this too, but it’s not as traditional in our family so it tends to slip my mind.
Not anymore!!
This combination is so EASY. It’s flavorful and simple and very customizable depending on what your family likes.
Here’s how I make it!
First up, jasmine rice + chickpeas. I make a pot of jasmine rice and right as it finishes, add in a can (or two!) of chickpeas. An easy way to boost the protein, fiber and satiety of this recipe. Plus, we just really love chickpeas.
While the rice cooks, I brown the ground beef. The key is to use lots of seasoning and the meat masher! This masher turns the beef into the tiniest crumbs possible, which makes for a more pleasurable eating experience. Trust me.
I make pickled onions too – or just grab them from my fridge. They are a staple for us.
Next, I chop tomatoes and cucumbers. You could add a splash of red wine vinegar or olive oil to these, but I find that salt and pepper are enough when paired with the pickled onions and hummus.
Speaking of – the hummus! I like to spread some on the bottom of the bowl so you get a little bit with each bite. The way that it clings to the ring – ooooh it’s so good.
Feta, because how can we not?
Finally, fresh herbs like parsley and chives. Even dill. This adds a refreshing, bright pop.
Pile the whole mess into a bowl and serve it!
Bowls like this remind me of chopped salads, and we all know how much I adore those. There is something about eating a bowl or salad with ingredients that can all fit on one spoon. You get a bite of everything. A mini flavor explosion!
I also really like this meal because it’s ideal for lunch leftovers. The beef and rice can be stored together or separately – or you could even make some containers of each for a meal prep situation. Warm that up, then top with hummus, the tomatoes and cucumbers, pickled onions and all the feta to serve it.
Basically, the best.
Mediterranean Beef Bowls
Mediterranean Beef Bowls
The best Mediterranean beef bowls! These are a family favorite, made with jasmine rice and chickpeas, seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, cucumbers, hummus, feta and more. Delicious and easy to throw together for leftovers too!
- 2 mini cucumbers, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock or bone broth
- 1 cup dry jasmine rice, rinsed well
- kosher salt and pepper
- 1 (14 ounce ) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 cup hummus, or more or less if desired
- ¼ cup crumbled feta, or more if desired
- chopped parsley and chives, for topping
- pickled onions, for topping
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To prepare, chop your cucumbers and tomatoes first so they are ready to go.
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Heat the chicken stock in a saucepan over medium heat. Once boiling, add the rice and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed. (Note: check your package instructions on your rice to see if it requires more or less liquid!)
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Stir the chickpeas into the rice. Cover to keep it warm and set aside until ready to use.
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While the rice is cooking, brown the ground beef. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Season the beef all over with the salt and pepper. Add the beef and let it brown on one side. Flip and let it brown on the other side. Then bread it apart, using a meat masher or a wooden spoon, until tiny crumbles remain. Stir in the garlic powder, oregano and dill. Cook, stirring often, until the beef is browned and any fat in the skillet has cooked off. Taste and season more if desired.
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To serve, spoon about 3 tablespoons hummus in the bottom of a bowl and swirl it around. Add a scoop of the rice with chickpeas. Add a scoop of the ground beef.
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Top with the cucumbers and tomatoes, some pickled onions, a sprinkle of feta cheese and the fresh herbs. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
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Serve!
I could actually dive in.
