Mexican AmericanMedium · Hot
A hearty, reheat-friendly meal prep bowl featuring caramelized roasted sweet potatoes, smoky spiced black beans, and fluffy brown rice. Perfect for Sunday prep sessions and stays delicious all week.
15 min
30 min
45 min
Method
Rinse 1.5 cups brown rice and add to rice cooker with 3 cups water. Cook according to rice cooker instructions until fluffy and tender.
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Cube 2 medium sweet potatoes into 1-inch pieces.
Toss sweet potato cubes with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp paprika. Spread in single layer on baking sheet.
Roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until caramelized and fork-tender.
Dice 1 medium yellow onion. Mince 4 cloves garlic.
Add 2 cans drained and rinsed black beans, 2 tbsp soy sauce, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Stir to combine.
Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beans are heated through and slightly caramelized. Remove from heat.
Portion ¾ cup cooked brown rice into each of 4 meal prep containers.
Top each rice portion with roasted sweet potato and smoky black beans.
Let cool completely before sealing and refrigerating. Reheats well in microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Nutri-Score
Excellent balance
A–E · lower is better · score -6
Calories
1177
per serving
Protein
51g
Carbs
209g
Fat
16g
Sat. fat
3g
Fiber
40g
Sugar
10g
Sodium
1237mg
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
Environmental impact
Low impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
0.8
per serving
Water
1.4m³
Runoff
0.06g P
Black Beans drives 45% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
Umami
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Spicy
Textures
Aromas
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Large SkilletSafety & Storage
Storage
Cool components completely before sealing containers. Placing hot food in refrigerator raises internal fridge temperature and creates bacterial growth risk.
Shelf Life
Consume within 4-5 days for optimal food safety. Recipe claims one-week shelf life but perishable onions and garlic in beans decrease safety margin.
Cross Contamination
Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw components and ready-to-eat rice to prevent bacterial transfer.
Cooking Temperature
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Allergen Warning
Label containers clearly with soy allergen. Verify all shared kitchen equipment and seasonings are free from soy cross-contact.
Handling
Drain and rinse black beans thoroughly to remove excess sodium and any canning liquid residue before cooking.
Pro Tips
Batch Cooking
Roast the sweet potatoes on a single baking sheet with plenty of space between cubes — crowding causes steam and you lose that caramelization. Flip them once at the 15-minute mark for even browning on all sides.
Storage
Keep the rice in separate containers or compartments if possible. Rice tends to absorb moisture from the beans and sweet potato over time, so a little compartmentalization goes a long way in maintaining texture through day five.
Substitution
Swap the black beans for chickpeas if you want a lighter protein, or add a fried egg on top when reheating for extra richness and satisfaction on those especially brutal Mondays.
Reheating
When microwaving, leave the lid slightly ajar for the first minute to let steam escape — this prevents the rice from getting gummy and keeps everything evenly heated throughout.
From the chef
This is my go-to plant-powered bowl when I need serious staying power without the meat prep. The sweet potatoes caramelize while the beans simmer, and by the time everything's ready, I've got four complete meals stacked in the fridge — each one a satisfying combination of smoky, sweet, and hearty. Sunday afternoons taste better when I'm not scrambling Tuesday at noon.
Source: generated · June 10, 2026