This healthy chorizo recipe with veggies comes together SO quickly for an easy Paleo dinner. Make it a low carb chorizo bowl with cauli rice if you like!
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I am a big fan of bowls…not necessarily dishware, but any meal that comes together in a bowl-like fashion. They are easy to prep, simple to pull together for dinner and always full of flavor.
Chorizo bowls make life even easier because you don't have to season your meat, just throw into a pan and cook it up! Chorizo sausage is already enhanced with garlic, herbs and smoked paprika creating pretty bold flavors. That means you don't need a huge ingredient list for this chorizo bowl recipe, the chorizo does all the work!
If chorizo is too spicy for you feel free to use a milder breakfast sausage.
While I kept my chorizo bowls pretty simple w/ red pepper, tomatoes and avocado, you can set out all kinds of toppings and let your family pick their favorites. For this meal any veggies work, shredded cheese, sliced olives or green onions. Adding plenty of veggies makes this a healthy chorizo recipe everyone will love. Serving meals family style helps kids feel like they get to make some choices and often helps picky eaters to eat more…always a bonus!
You can sub cauli rice if you need a paleo or low carb chorizo bowl. It's just as tasty!
Chorizo Bowls w/ Veggies
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice or 1 bag cauliflower rice for paleo
- 2 T olive oil
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 # ground chorizo
- 2 avocados
Instructions
- Add 1 cup rice + 2 cups water to med pot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for ~20min or until water is absorbed. Set aside. (alternative: saute cauliflower rice w/ olive oil in saute pan over medium heat until desired texture.)
- Roughly chop 1 bunch cilantro. Finely chop 1 red bell pepper. Chop 2 tomatoes.
- Heat 1T olive oil over med-high heat. Add chorizo, spices and chopped red bell pepper. Cook, breaking apart meat, until cooked through.
- Slice 2 avocados.
- Serve bowl w/ the following: rice (or cauliflower rice) + chopped tomatoes + chopped cilantro + sliced avocado
Notes
Nutrition
What's the nutrition like in this healthy chorizo recipe?
Packed with protein, healthy fats and veggies, this healthy chorizo recipe is a great, easy Paleo dinner option! Here are some of the nutritional benefits from the ingredients:
- Cauliflower: If you use cauli rice, you'll be getting an extra dose of cruciferous goodness. Containing tons of vitamins and nutrients, cauliflower is a great choice to regularly include in your diet. It's particularly high in vitamin C, fiber and certain antioxidants that may slow the growth of cancer. Cauliflower is also high in choline, which is important for brain health.
- Cilantro: Did you know cilantro is used medicinally to treat several conditions? Cilantro comes from the coriander plant which can help lower blood sugar, fight inflammation and reduce blood pressure. It also potentially improves memory and eases anxiety!
- Red Bell Pepper: Loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and fiber, bell peppers are a great addition to healthy family meals. Furthermore, red bell peppers like the ones used in this recipe are the healthiest! Red bell peppers contain significantly more vitamin C and beta carotene than their less ripe green counterparts.
- Tomatoes: Packed with antioxidants, tomatoes may help reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer. Furthermore, they contain vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and potassium, which many people don't get enough of. Bonus tip? Combining tomatoes with healthy fats like the avocado in this recipe boosts absorption of tomatoes' phytochemicals!
- Avocado: Loaded with nutrients like potassium, folate and healthy fats, avocados are good for your heart, your eye health, and even your mood. Moreover, they also benefit your brain, bone density and blood sugar levels.
- Cumin: Cumin is known for a variety of health benefits including aiding in indigestion. Cumin is also an excellent source of iron and antioxidants.
What is Chorizo?
Chorizo is a type of sausage usually made from pork. There are two main types – Spanish chorizo and Mexican chorizo. Spanish chorizo is generally made from smoked pork while Mexican chorizo is usually made from raw pork that you cook after you buy it.
They are spiced a little differently, but both are delicious! Mexican chorizo is pictured in our version here but feel free to use either variety. Spanish chorizo would actually be even quicker, as it is usually fully cooked when purchased.
As with any sausage, checking the ingredients to avoid added sugar and weird ingredients is key. US Wellness Meats (<< affiliate link) offers a bison chorizo sausage and a chicken chorizo sausage, both of which are free from any added sugar.
How can I make this a vegetarian taco bowl?
While they would obviously no longer be chorizo bowls, this taco bowl concept can easily be made vegetarian, or even vegan. Simply omit the chorizo and add in some black beans or a mix of black beans and corn.
This works well if you have a family or group with mixed dietary preferences. Simply set out both protein options, along with all of the toppings, and everyone can build a bowl that fits their needs!
This is actually one of my favorite things about “bowl meals” – they are so easily customizable! Check out my podcast episode 33 for tips on putting together the perfect bowl.
What are some variations on this healthy chorizo recipe?
This is a totally clean-out-the fridge friendly meal! There are endless variations, but here are a few ideas on extra toppings to include:
- Green onions – Lend a bit of a crunch and a little extra flavor with some chopped green onions. This is perfect if you've bought some green onions for a different recipe and have a few extra lingering in the fridge.
- Cheese – cheese is a natural addition if you're not keeping this strictly Paleo. Freshly grated cheddar, feta or cotija cheese would all be great here. Adding cheese is often a great way to encourage the kiddos to give something a try too!
- A fried egg – Eggs and chorizo are a classic combination and that runny yolk will make an instant sauce that brings any one-bowl-meal to the next level. Adding an egg is also a great option if the chorizo is a bit too spicy for your kids or if you want to make a vegetarian version with plenty of protein.
- Potatoes – If you don't feel like rice or cauli rice, roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes make a great base for the chorizo and toppings as well!
- Fresh lime juice – Adding a squeeze of fresh lime juice on top of your bowl is a great way to bring out the flavor in the avocados and add some bright acid.
- Roasted garlic – Roasting garlic brings out the natural sweetness and is an excellent way to encourage kids to eat this immune boosting food.
Is this a keto-friendly chorizo bowl?
Yes! As long as you stick to cauliflower rice and keep a pretty high ratio of chorizo and avocado vs. veggie toppings, these chorizo bowls are quite keto-friendly. This actually makes a perfect kid-friendly keto dinner!
You can replace the bell peppers and tomatoes with zucchini and spinach to lower the carb count even further. Shredded cabbage is another great low carb (and deliciously crunchy!) addition.
FAQ – Everything You Want to Know about this Chorizo Bowl Recipe
What kind of meat is chorizo?
Chorizo is traditionally made with pork, though you can find chorizo made of other meats.
How do you cook chorizo?
Chorizo is often cooked in a pan on the stovetop, as in this chorizo bowl recipe.
What's the difference between Mexican chorizo and Spanish chorizo?
Spanish chorizo is a cured pork sausage, generally sold in links. Mexican Chorizo is a ground sausage, generally sold raw.
What are some other delicious one-bowl-meals?
Southwest Buddha Bowl
This one is vegetarian and includes a totally addictive almond butter sauce!
Teriyaki Salmon Bowl
My homemade teriyaki sauce is so simple and SO much healthier than the bottled stuff.
Slow Cooker Carnitas Bowl
This crock pot option is super satisfying and perfect for busy days when you want to come home to an already-made delicious dinner.
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Looks great! I don’t see where you add the onion and garlic powders and cumin?
When do you add the spices
You can add the spices when you add the chorizo and bell pepper to the pan. I updated the recipe to include this. Thank you!