Table of Contents
Hot Honey Beef Bowls Recipe
If you’ve been stuck in a dinner rut and have been needing a new healthy meal idea that’s easy, flavorful, and high protein, then you’ll LOVE these Viral Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowls! I originally saw them all over Instagram and knew I had to try them to see what all of the hype was about. And after tasting them, I know see why they went so viral!
These bowls are incredibly easy to make. The savory ground beef with a kick from taco seasoning combined with caramelized roasted sweet potatoes, creamy cottage cheese and avocado, and a drizzle of sweet and spicy hot honey makes for an incredible flavor combo. And as a busy mom, I’m obsessed with the fact that they come together in just 35 minutes flat! I could literally eat these every single day and I know you’re gonna love them, too.
Why You’ll Love These Ground Beef Bowls
- 35 Minutes: Quick, easy, and perfect for busy weeknights!
- 42 Grams Protein: Hearty, balanced, and super filling.
- Simple Ingredients: Everything is easy to find and comes together effortlessly.
- Flavorful: Sweet, spicy, savory, and just SO good!
- Easy: Roast, sauté, assemble, and enjoy!
- Gluten-Free: Naturally gluten-free with no swaps needed.
You’ll Also Love: Bang Bang Chicken Bowls
Ingredients Needed for Ground Beef Bowls
- Cubed Sweet Potatoes – 4 1/2 cups, or about 1 1/2 pounds. I like to buy pre-cubed sweet potatoes from the grocery store to save time! You could swap for butternut squash if you prefer.
- Salt/Pepper
- Cinnamon – This gives the sweet potatoes just a touch of depth and warmth that’s SO good.
- Lean Ground Beef – High in protein and cooks up fast. Ground turkey or chicken would work great, too!
- Tomato Paste/Taco Seasoning – Oh my goodness. I’m adding this simple combo to ground beef forever now because it’s so good! Use store-bought or homemade taco seasoning.
- Low-Fat Cottage Cheese – Cottage cheese with ground beef? You just have to trust me – it’s sooooo good, adds a creamy taste and texture, and adds more protein. If you can’t get past it though, feel free to swap it for a dollop of sour cream.
- Avocado – Sliced or cubed. Guacamole would work great, too!
- Hot Honey – Sweet, spicy, and drizzled on top — the secret to the flavor in these incredible bowls! Regular honey plus a pinch of red pepper flakes works if you don’t have hot honey.
How to Make Hot Honey Beef Bowls
I can’t get over how EASY these viral beef bowls are to make! They’re so flavorful, too. All you’ll need is a large sheet pan, a skillet, and 35 minutes to make 4 of these yummy bowls. Here’s how to make them:
- Roast the Sweet Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the sweet potatoes with a little avocado oil, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Roast for about 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Cook the Beef: While the sweet potatoes roast, cook the ground beef in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the taco seasoning and tomato paste, stirring until the beef is fully cooked and flavorful.
- Assemble the Bowls: Layer roasted sweet potatoes, cooked beef, a scoop of cottage cheese, fresh avocado slices, and a drizzle of hot honey.
- Serve and Enjoy: That’s it! Dinner is ready in no time.
Tip: For extra flavor, warm up the hot honey before drizzling it over your bowls. It blends into everything even better!
Ground Beef Meal Prep
These bowls are perfect for meal prep! Roast the sweet potatoes and cook the beef ahead of time to make assembly super quick.
Tips
- Flip the sweet potatoes halfway through roasting to get those delicious caramelized edges!
- Warm the hot honey slightly for an even drizzle that melts into every bite.
- Customize your bowl with extra veggies like sautéed spinach, roasted broccoli, or even corn.
RELATED: Hot Honey Chicken Bowls
Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowl Recipe Variations
Spicy Hot Honey Beef Bowls: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef for an extra kick!
Turkey Hot Honey Bowls: Swap the beef for ground turkey to lighten things up even more.
Vegetarian/Dairy-Free Option: Use plant-based ground “beef” crumbles and dairy-free cottage cheese or dairy-free sour cream.
Sweet Potato Swap: Use butternut squash or even regular roasted potatoes for a different vibe.
How to Store Ground Beef Bowls
- Refrigerator: Store the components separately in airtight containers for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Warm the ground beef and sweet potatoes in the microwave or a skillet before assembling your bowls.
- Meal Prep Tip: Assemble the bowls without the avocado and hot honey if you’re prepping ahead. Add those fresh when you’re ready to eat!
More High-Protein Bowls You’ll Love
- Greek Chicken Bowl Recipe
- Korean Beef Bowls
- Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe
- BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls
- Honey Glazed Salmon Bowl
- Orange Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
More Recipes from Jar of Lemons
Want to save this recipe? Enter your email below and I’ll send the recipe to your inbox. Plus you’ll get new healthy recipes every week!
Viral Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups cubed sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
- 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
- 1 large avocado (or 2 small)
- 4 Tablespoons hot honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Add the cubed sweet potatoes to a large baking sheet and spray with avocado oil.
- Add salt, pepper, and cinnamon, then mix to evenly coat.
- Roast the sweet potatoes for 30 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Meanwhile, cook the ground beef with the taco seasoning and tomato paste on a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Assemble the each bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, cooked ground beef, cottage cheese, avocado slices, and a drizzle of hot honey. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Flip the sweet potatoes halfway through roasting to get those delicious caramelized edges!
- Warm the hot honey slightly for an even drizzle that melts into every bite.
- Customize your bowl with extra veggies like sautéed spinach, roasted broccoli, or even corn.
- These bowls are perfect for meal prep! Roast the sweet potatoes and cook the beef ahead of time to make assembly super quick.
Michael says:
Great recipe, works with different beef seasonings.
I did an Asian take and seasoned the beef with soy, hoisin, seasame seeds, garlic powder, ginger powder and a bit of sesame oil and it tasted so great!
JOL Team replied:
I love the Asian take on it! Thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoyed them!
Marilla says:
Very good healthy bowls!
Simple to meal prep.
I served it with roasted broccoli and zucchini. Was sceptical about the cottage cheese but we couldn’t taste it! Might be the beginning of a cottage cheese journey ☺️
JOL Team replied:
Yum! I love roasted broccoli and zucchini. So glad you loved it! And you’ve come to the right place for cottage cheese recipes that you can’t even tell it’s there! I even have ice cream recipes for when you’re craving a healthy sweet treat this summer!
Eleyna says:
I rarely rate recipes, but considering we’ve been making this religiously every week for the last two months, I figured I should chime in and say this recipe is excellent!
It’s so flavor packed and a great way to meet your daily protein goal (if you’re tracking that kind of thing)!
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks so much for the review, Eleyna! I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe!
Kellyn says:
The minute I saw this recipe I knew I had to make it! The flavors were so unique, yet it worked perfectly to create a nourishing, high protein dinner bowl. My husband loved the bowl as well and we have already made them a second time! They are now in our regular dinner rotation.
P.S. Hot honey is not sold in the country where I live, so I easily made it on the stovetop with honey and chili flakes… It was easy and perfect.
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks, Kellyn. I’m so glad you enjoyed this viral recipe!
Patty says:
I love that it’s so high in protein. These bowls were super easy to put together – my kind of lazy dinner!
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks, Patty!
Maria says:
I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I wasn’t sure what to make of it when I first saw it, but I’m so glad I made it.
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks, Maria! It’d definitely a favorite!
Terri says:
This is a great recipe. I love the beef and sweet potatoes together.
Ava says:
I don’t trust viral recipes until someone tries them first! So once I saw your recipe, I gave it a try. Delicious bowls!!
Dagny says:
The hot honey adds the perfect touch to this recipe. Delicious!
TARA says:
such an odd combo. subbed broccoli for sweet potatoes for my son, used both for mine. i didn’t use the cottage cheese since i am dairy free. my son went back for seconds – so it must be good!
Jess says:
I love the flavor profile of this recipe! I’ve tried it exactly as the recipe states – very delicious.
Recently I’m dairy free, so my swap for cottage cheese is an over-medium egg. I also add in a little bit of arugula, and it’s still just as amazing! Thanks for a great and easy recipe.
Jar Of Lemons replied:
I love your substitutions for this. Thanks for the review and kind words!
Sally says:
Why is this so good? SO GOOD!!! It’s a flavor explosion that is on my permanent rotation for the week. The cinnamon was a nice add for sure. I used 99% lean ground turkey that’s typically so dry. It worked perfect in this recipe. Thank you!!!
Jar Of Lemons replied:
So glad to hear you enjoyed this, Sally! Thanks for the review!
Liz says:
Really good! Loved how the cottage cheese and avocado balanced out the spices in everything else, and how quick and easy this was to throw together. Perfect for lunches – I just reheated the ground beef and sweet potatoes, then added the cottage cheese, avocado, and hot honey after. Will definitely be making again.
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks, Liz! I’m glad you enjoyed this Viral recipe.
Mary Ransier says:
So if done as meal prep, you heat up the cottage cheese and Avocados??
Christine McMichael replied:
No, I would keep those separate and add them fresh after heating the bowls!