I like Panera, but never enough to voluntarily walk in and buy their food. I do like Chipotle and Qdoba, and Qdoba occasionally offers 2 for 1s I'll gladly take advantage of. The missus loves Chipotle so I figured out how to make a really tasty burrito bowl at home that compares favorably. Not quite as good as Chipotle, but 1/3 of the cost and we don't have to drive.
The not as good as Chipotle, but pretty damn good, Burrito Bowl
Ingredients:
One tablespoon olive oil
1/3 to a 1/4 of a vidalia or yellow sweet onion, minced
One jalapeno, minced (a larger jalapeno if you prefer more heat, and I do)
One pound lean ground beef
One package of Goya red beans and rice
2 1/2 cups water
Two tablespoons butter
Mrs Renfros Jalapeno green salsa
Pepper jack cheese, chredded
Sour cream
Cilantro
In a large pan that can be covered, heat up the oil as you mince the onion and jalapeno
Cook the onion and jalapeno for five minutes over medium heat
Add the ground beef and brown partway, do not brown completely
Add the water, Goya red beans and rice, and butter just like you were preparing the Goya red beans and rice by itself (the package calls for the water and butter, double-check the amounts, I'm posting from memory)
Simmer until all the water has been absorbed, about 25 minutes.
Spoon into bowls and add green salsa (not optional, do not sub another red salsa, it doesn't work), pepper jack cheese, sour cream, and cilantro to taste.
This has been a hit every time I've made it for company.
You could probably sub chicken if preferred or eat vegetarian, I simply haven't tried either.
