SPICY HOT HONEY BEEF BOWL

Craving something that’s both comforting and exciting? Tired of the same old weeknight dinners? Get ready to meet your new favorite meal: the Spicy Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl. This bowl is a symphony of flavors and textures – savory, spicy, sweet, and totally irresistible, and the best part? It’s easy enough for even a beginner cook to whip up a masterpiece. Prepare yourself for a flavor adventure that will leave you wanting more!

Gathering Your Bowl-Building Ingredients

Here’s everything you’ll need to create this flavor explosion:

For the Spicy Ground Beef:

• Ground Beef: 1 pound, I prefer 80/20 for flavor, but lean ground beef works too.
• Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon, for sautéing.
• Onion: 1/2 medium, diced.
• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced.
• Chili Powder: 2 tablespoons, adjust to your spice preference.
• Cumin: 1 teaspoon.
• Smoked Paprika: 1 teaspoon.
• Cayenne Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon, optional, for extra heat!
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
• Tomato Paste: 1 tablespoon.
• Beef Broth: 1/4 cup.

For the Hot Honey:

• Honey: 1/4 cup.
• Hot Sauce: 1-2 teaspoons, depending on your heat preference. I love using sriracha or a chili garlic sauce.
• Red Pepper Flakes: 1/2 teaspoon (optional, for an extra kick).

For the Bowl Base & Toppings:

• Cooked Rice: 2 cups, white, brown, or even cauliflower rice.
• Avocado: 1, diced.
• Scallions: 2, thinly sliced.
• Cilantro: Fresh, chopped.
• Sesame Seeds: For garnish.
• Lime Wedges: For serving.
• Pickled Red Onions: Adds a tangy bite! (optional).
• Shredded Carrots: Adds a nice crunch and sweetness (optional).
• Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream: A dollop for creaminess (optional).

Step-by-Step to a Flavor-Packed Bowl

Let’s get cooking! This recipe is surprisingly simple, so don’t be intimidated. We’ll break it down into easy steps.

Making the Spicy Ground Beef:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
4. Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, draining off any excess grease.
5. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute, allowing the spices to bloom and release their flavor.
6. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds.
7. Pour in the beef broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
8. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.

Whisking Up the Hot Honey:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes (if using).
2. Taste and adjust the amount of hot sauce to your liking. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it away!

Assembling Your Masterpiece Bowl:

1. Divide the cooked rice between two bowls.
2. Top with the spicy ground beef.
3. Drizzle generously with the hot honey.
4. Garnish with diced avocado, sliced scallions, chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, pickled red onions (if using), and shredded carrots (if using).
5. Serve with lime wedges and a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream (if using).
6. Dig in and enjoy!

The Secret to Perfectly Spiced Ground Beef

Achieving the perfect balance of spices in your ground beef is key to this recipe’s success. Here’s what I’ve learned over many bowls!

• Don’t be afraid to experiment: Adjust the amounts of chili powder and cayenne pepper to your preferred level of spiciness. Start with less and add more until you reach your desired heat level.
• Bloom those spices: Cooking the spices in the skillet with the beef allows them to release their full flavor potential. This step is crucial for a truly flavorful dish.
• Drain the grease: Excess grease will make your ground beef greasy and less appetizing. Drain it off before adding the spices.
• Simmer, don’t boil: Simmering the ground beef in beef broth allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken. Avoid boiling, as this can make the beef tough.

Hot Honey Hacks: Level Up Your Sweet Heat

Hot honey is the star of the show in this bowl. Here’s how to make it shine even brighter:

• Choose your honey wisely: A good quality honey will make a big difference in the flavor of your hot honey. I prefer using a raw, unfiltered honey.
• Experiment with different hot sauces: Sriracha, chili garlic sauce, and even a few drops of your favorite habanero sauce can all be used to create different flavor profiles.
• Infuse it! For an even deeper flavor, try infusing your honey with a chili pepper. Gently heat the honey in a saucepan, add a sliced chili pepper, and let it steep for 30 minutes before straining.
• Make a big batch: Hot honey is incredibly versatile and can be used on everything from pizza to fried chicken. Make a big batch and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Bowl Customization: Make It Your Own!

The best thing about bowl recipes is how easily they can be customized to your preferences. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add some veggies: Sautéed bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms would all be delicious additions to this bowl.
• Swap out the rice: Quinoa, couscous, or even sweet potato fries would all work well as a base for this bowl.
• Add some beans: Black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans would add some extra protein and fiber.
• Get cheesy: Sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, or crumbled cotija cheese over the top of your bowl.

Serving Suggestions & Perfect Pairings

This Spicy Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl is a complete meal on its own, but here are a few ideas for serving it alongside other dishes:

• Serve with a side salad: A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing would be a refreshing complement to the rich flavors of the bowl.
• Pair with corn on the cob: Grilled or boiled corn on the cob is a classic summer side dish that goes perfectly with this bowl.
• Add some chips and salsa: Tortilla chips and salsa are always a crowd-pleaser.

Spice Up Your Life with Related Recipes

If you’re loving the flavor combinations here, you might also enjoy some of my other bowl and spicy recipes. For a fun and exciting dinner, why not try the DORITO TACO RICE BOWL. Or, for another easy but delicious meal, try the MEXICAN STREET CORN CHICKEN BOWL. If you like tacos, then you’ll LOVE these SPICY CHIPOTLE PINEAPPLE TACOS. For a different take on Hot Honey, try the Hot Honey Feta Chicken. You may also enjoy making GARLIC PARMESAN BURGER BOMBS for a savory treat. Alternatively, the STREET CORN CHICKEN RICE BOWL is a guaranteed family favorite.

Troubleshooting: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Even the best cooks make mistakes sometimes! Here are a few common pitfalls to avoid when making this Spicy Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl:

• Dry ground beef: If your ground beef is dry, add a little more beef broth or water while simmering.
• Bland ground beef: If your ground beef is bland, add more chili powder, cumin, or cayenne pepper. You can also add a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Hot honey that’s too spicy: If your hot honey is too spicy, add a little more honey to balance out the heat.
• Rice that’s too sticky: To prevent sticky rice, rinse it thoroughly before cooking and use the correct water-to-rice ratio.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

This Spicy Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl is even better the next day! Here’s how to store and reheat leftovers:

• Storage: Store the ground beef, rice, and toppings separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave. Reheat the rice in the microwave.
• Assembly: Assemble the bowl just before serving.

So there you have it! A Spicy Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl that’s sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation. It’s quick, easy, customizable, and bursting with flavor. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this simple yet sensational dish!

Lady Maria

Spicy Hot Honey Beef Bowl

This Spicy Hot Honey Beef Bowl is a flavor explosion, combining savory ground beef with a sweet and spicy honey glaze. Served over rice with fresh toppings, it’s a quick, customizable, and satisfying meal perfect for weeknights.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 2

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Fusion

Calories: 700

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound ground beef 80/20
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/4 cup beef broth
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce sriracha or chili garlic sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• 2 cups cooked rice white, brown, or cauliflower
• 1 avocado, diced
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Sesame seeds for garnish
• Lime wedges for serving
• Pickled red onions optional
• Shredded carrots optional
• Greek yogurt or sour cream optional

Equipment

• large skillet
• small bowl
• whisk
• measuring cups and spoons
• Cutting board
• knife
• spoon
• Serving bowls

Method

 

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
4. Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, draining off any excess grease.
5. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute, allowing the spices to bloom and release their flavor.
6. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds.
7. Pour in the beef broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
8. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
9. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes (if using).
10. Taste and adjust the amount of hot sauce to your liking.
11. Divide the cooked rice between two bowls.
12. Top with the spicy ground beef.
13. Drizzle generously with the hot honey.
14. Garnish with diced avocado, sliced scallions, chopped cilantro, and sesame seeds.
15. Add pickled red onions and shredded carrots, if desired.
16. Serve with lime wedges and a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream, if desired.
17. Enjoy!

Notes

For a richer flavor, use high-quality honey and experiment with different hot sauces to find your perfect heat level. Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for ground beef. Store leftover components separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the beef and rice before assembling the bowls. For a vegetarian option, substitute the ground beef with lentils or crumbled tofu.