This hearty and vibrant Corn and Pinto Brown Rice Bowl is a plant-based meal that checks all the boxes—vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free. It’s fresh, filling, and full of flavor, perfect for an easy dinner or a satisfying lunch prep option. With wholesome ingredients like brown rice, pinto beans, corn, avocado, and bell pepper, this simple grain bowl delivers balanced nutrition and irresistible taste. The creamy chipotle sunflower dressing takes it to the next level, adding smoky depth and a bit of spice.
This recipe is ideal for busy weekdays or weekend meal prep. The dressing can be made ahead, and the components come together quickly once everything is prepped. You’ll end up with a colorful, satisfying bowl that keeps you full without feeling heavy.
What You’ll Need To Make This Corn and Pinto Brown Rice Bowl
Serves: 4
Soak Time: 8 hours
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 25 minutes
Ingredients
2 ears (2 cups/300g) corn
1 2/3 cup (280g) cooked pinto beans, drained
3 medium (45g) green onions, sliced
2 medium (300g) avocados, sliced
1 medium (130g) red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil
1/2 tsp (1g) ground cumin
1 tsp (2g) ground coriander
1 tsp (2g) lime zest
1 clove (5g) garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (3g) salt
4 cups (500g) cooked long-grain brown rice
Creamy Chipotle Dressing
1 cup (130g) raw sunflower seeds, soaked 8 hours
4 tbsp (60ml) olive oil
2 tbsp (30ml) lime juice
1/2 cup (130g) canned chipotle in adobo
1/2 cup (120ml) water (plus more as needed)
2 tsp (9g) brown sugar or maple syrup
2 cloves (10g) garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
2 tsp (4g) ground cumin
2 tsp (4g) ground coriander
1 1/2 tsp (3g) smoked paprika
1 tsp (6g) salt (more to taste)
How To Make The Corn and Pinto Brown Rice Bowl
Make the dressing:
Rinse and soak the sunflower seeds in water for about 8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Once soaked, rinse thoroughly several times to remove some of the seed skins. Add the drained sunflower seeds, lime juice, olive oil, and water to a blender. Puree on high speed until completely smooth. Add the chipotles, brown sugar or maple syrup, garlic, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, and salt. Blend again until creamy. Adjust water to reach your desired consistency—thicker for dipping, thinner for drizzling.
This dressing can be prepared up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. For an even creamier consistency, you can substitute oat or soy milk for the water. When kept thick, it doubles as a flavorful dip for veggies, chips, or taquitos, or as a spread for wraps and sandwiches. Thinned out, it’s a perfect drizzle for grain bowls, tacos, or roasted veggies.
Prepare the rice bowl:
Remove the corn kernels from the cobs. Slice the green onions, separating the dark green tops (for garnish) from the white and light green parts. Mince one clove of garlic.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the corn, pinto beans, and the white and light green portions of the green onions. Sauté for about one minute to lightly sear. Add the cumin, minced garlic, coriander, lime zest, and salt. Continue cooking for around seven minutes, stirring often, until the beans are warmed through and the corn is tender and golden.
While the corn mixture cooks, wash and thinly slice the red bell pepper. Slice the avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
Assemble the bowls:
Add 1 cup of cooked brown rice to each serving bowl. Top with a generous scoop of the corn and bean mixture, a handful of sliced red bell pepper, and half an avocado. Drizzle each bowl with 2 to 3 tablespoons of creamy chipotle dressing and garnish with the dark green onion tops. Serve while warm for the best flavor and texture.
If you’re prepping this for lunches, portion the rice and bean mixture into meal containers and store the dressing separately. Add fresh avocado right before eating to keep it from browning. For easy transport, keep a halved avocado wrapped tightly in plastic—this will minimize oxidation.
The rice and corn mixture keeps well in the refrigerator for up to three days. The dressing stays fresh for about a week, making this recipe great for batch cooking.
Notes and Tips
This bowl combines satisfying textures and balanced flavors—chewy brown rice, tender beans, crisp bell pepper, and creamy avocado—all tied together by the smoky, spicy chipotle dressing. The dressing is completely nut-free thanks to sunflower seeds, which are a budget-friendly alternative to cashews. They blend up beautifully to create a silky, rich sauce that feels indulgent without being heavy.
If fresh corn isn’t available, frozen and thawed corn works perfectly. You can also use canned corn in a pinch—just drain it well before adding to the skillet.
For extra flavor, try lightly charring the corn kernels in the skillet or under a broiler before mixing with the beans. This adds a subtle smoky sweetness that complements the chipotle dressing perfectly.
If you prefer a milder flavor, start with half the amount of chipotle in adobo and taste before adding more. The heat level can vary between brands, and this allows you to customize it to your preference.
This recipe is high in fiber, rich in plant-based protein, and packed with nutrients. Brown rice provides complex carbohydrates and minerals, while pinto beans contribute iron and protein. Avocado adds healthy fats that help make the meal more satisfying. The colorful vegetables bring antioxidants and freshness, making this a complete and nourishing meal.
You can also get creative with the toppings. Add shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, or even grilled zucchini for extra veggies. A sprinkle of pumpkin seeds or pepitas on top adds crunch and another layer of nutrition.
For meal prep, store each element separately in airtight containers. Reheat the rice and bean mixture before serving and top with freshly sliced vegetables and dressing. The convenience of this dish makes it great for work lunches, picnics, or quick weeknight dinners.
Whether you’re new to plant-based cooking or just looking for wholesome meals that are simple and delicious, this Corn and Pinto Brown Rice Bowl is a great go-to recipe. It’s budget-friendly, adaptable, and bursting with flavor from whole, natural ingredients. The creamy chipotle dressing ties everything together and elevates the dish from basic to crave-worthy.
Serve it warm for cozy comfort or chilled for a refreshing summer meal. Either way, you’ll love the balance of smoky, tangy, and creamy flavors in every bite.
Corn and Pinto Bean Brown Rice Bown
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Rinse the sunflower seeds and soak in water in the fridge for 8 hours or overnight. Once soaked, rinse several times (this will help remove some of skin on the seeds).
- Combine drained sunflower seeds with lime juice, 4 tbsp/60ml olive oil, and 1/2 cup/120ml fresh water in a blender.
- Puree on high speed until very smooth.
- Add in chipotles, brown sugar, garlic, 2 tsp/4g cumin, 2 tsp/4g coriander, 1 1/2 tsp/3g smoked paprika, and 1 tsp/6g salt.
- Puree until smooth. Add more water to reach desired consistency.
- Dressing can be made and stored for up to 1 week in the fridge. For an even creamier dressing, add oat or soy milk in place of ½ cup/120ml water.
- Left thick, dressing can be used as a dip for vegetables and chips (or even taquitos) or a spread in sandwiches and wraps. Thin with water to drizzle on salads and grain bowls, fajitas, or other proteins.
- Remove the kernels from the corn cobs. Thinly slice the green onions and separate into dark green portions (reserve for garnish) and white and light green portions. Mince 1 clove garlic.
- In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp/15ml olive oil over medium-high.
- Once hot, add corn, beans, and white and light green portions of the green onions. Cook for 1 minute, stirring to distribute the heat for a quick sear.
- Add 1/2 tsp/1g cumin, minced garlic, 1 tsp/2g coriander, 1 tsp/2g lime zest, and 1/2 tsp/3g salt.
- Cook for 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until the beans are heated and the corn is fully cooked.
- Wash and slice the bell pepper into thin strips. Slice the avocado.
- For each bowl, top 1 cup/125g cooked brown rice with a quarter of the bean and corn mixture, a quarter of the sliced bell pepper, and 1/2 an avocado.
- Drizzle 2-3 tbsp/30-45ml dressing over the top and garnish with dark portion of reserved green onions.
- For best flavour, serve while rice and corn mixture are still warm.
- To prepare in advance, portion out the rice and corn mixture in their own container to be reheated. Have sliced red pepper and green onions on the side. Avoid cutting avocado until ready to eat. For easier transport, have half a cut avocado sliced, but still in the peel and tightly wrap it in plastic wrap. It will go slightly brown, but not as much as if left open.
- Rice and corn mixture can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Notes
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