Healthy Recipes

20 Grain Bowls You'll Want to Make Forever

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Published on March 5, 2024

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Bibimbap-inspired rice bowls recipe in a white bowl, with a cloth napkin a fork next to it, as well as a bowl of sliced scallions — Photo:
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

You’ll want to make one of these grain bowls ASAP. Topped with nutritious ingredients like beans and legumes, fish, chicken, veggies and more, these dishes pack flavor on top of your favorite grains. From brown rice and farro to quinoa, you seriously can’t go wrong since these meals are rated with four and five stars by EatingWell readers. Recipes like our Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl and Bibimbap-Inspired Rice Bowls make for a delicious and satisfying addition to your food rotation.

01 of 20

Fish Taco Bowls with Green Cabbage Slaw

a recipe photo of the Fish Taco Bowls with Green Cabbage Slaw — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Fresh salsa verde, green cabbage and avocado all contribute to the vibrant green color of this light and bright fish taco bowl. We love the mild flavor and firm, meaty texture of halibut but any firm white fish like mahi mahi or tilapia will work well in its place. We garnish this flavorful taco bowl with cilantro, but if you want to take it a step further, try toppings like sprouts or watermelon radishes for even more bright green color.

02 of 20

Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl

Black-Bean Quinoa Buddha Bowl

This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We've loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.

03 of 20

Bibimbap-Inspired Rice Bowls

Bibimbap-inspired rice bowls recipe in a white bowl, with a cloth napkin a fork next to it, as well as a bowl of sliced scallions — Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

While not traditional, these protein-rich brown rice bowls take inspiration from Korean bibimbap, with a mix of sweet and spicy ground beef and sliced veggies topped with a fried egg. Gochujang, a fermented paste made from chiles, soybeans and rice, adds subtle spice and tons of complexity. Toasted sesame oil finishes the dish with a nutty flavor.

04 of 20

Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls

Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls

These shrimp, pesto and quinoa bowls are delicious, healthy, pretty and take less than 30 minutes to prep. In other words, they're basically the ultimate easy weeknight dinner. Feel free to add additional vegetables and swap the shrimp for chicken, steak, tofu or edamame.

05 of 20

Salmon Rice Bowl

Salmon Rice Bowl — Ali Redmond

Inspired by the viral TikTok trend, this salmon rice bowl makes for a tasty lunch or dinner. With healthy ingredients like instant brown rice, salmon and veggies, you'll have a flavorful meal in just 25 minutes.

06 of 20

Vegan Grain Bowl

Vegan Grain Bowl

This easy grain bowl has so much to love--sweet potatoes, protein-packed chickpeas, creamy avocado and homemade tahini dressing. Make the full recipe on the weekend and pack into individual serving containers for ready-to-go lunches for work all week.

07 of 20

Grilled Vegetable & Black Bean Farro Bowls

a recipe photo of the Farro Burrito Bowls — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

These bowls are filled with all the hearty goodness of a black bean and veggie burrito, minus the tortilla. Nutty, chewy farro takes the place of rice, and the veggies are grilled with a zesty lime vinaigrette. The bowls are delicious at room temperature, but you can also heat the beans with a splash of vegetable broth and reheat the vegetables in a small skillet.

08 of 20

Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Mediterranean Chickpea Quinoa Bowl

Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and pack them in lidded containers to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab-and-go lunches all week long.

09 of 20

Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

A bold, smoky marinade elevates roasted cauliflower in this meal-prep version of our popular Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos by Carolyn Malcoun. To cut down on prep time for these healthy taco bowls, look for precut cauliflower in the produce department. You can also save time by using microwaveable quinoa pouches (you'll need one 8-ounce pouch for this recipe) instead of cooking quinoa.

10 of 20

Tofu & Roasted Vegetable Grain Bowl with Pumpkin Seeds

tofu & roasted vegetable grain bowl with pumpkin seeds

Crispy tofu lends protein to this burrito bowl-inspired veggie-packed grain bowl that's perfect for a quick and easy dinner or packable lunch for work.

11 of 20

Salmon Sushi Grain Bowl

Get all the delicious flavors of sushi without the time-consuming rolling with this quick grain bowl recipe. All you need is 15 minutes to get this healthy dinner on the table or to pack it up for lunch at work.

12 of 20

Slow-Cooker Black Bean & Quinoa Bowls

This taco-bowl-style recipe will be a hit with both adults and children. The 10-minute sit time allows the cheese to melt into the quinoa, making this dish super decadent. If you cannot find Cheddar-Jack cheese, use Monterey Jack or sharp Cheddar. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, lime wedges and additional cheese, if desired.

13 of 20

Chickpea & Quinoa Grain Bowl

It seems grain bowls have as many variations as there are stars in the sky, and there is no wrong way to build one! But we prefer to keep things classic and simple with hummus, quinoa, avocado and loads of veggies!

14 of 20

Lemony Chicken & Kale Brown Rice Bowl

a recipe photo of the Lemon Chicken Citrus Bowls — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Bowl meals build texture and flavor with layers of nutritious ingredients. Since there's no center stage in a bowl, a small portion of meat travels far, putting more emphasis on the vegetables and whole grains. Use time-saving ingredients like precooked microwavable brown rice and prepared guacamole from the supermarket deli section.

15 of 20

Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl with Lemon Vinaigrette

Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl with Lemon Vinaigrette

Our favorite part of these vegetarian grain bowls is the tangy lemon vinaigrette, which ties together a satisfying combo of quinoa, toasted pumpkin seeds, and roasted chickpeas and kale. Whip them up for easy meal-prep lunches or a healthy and satisfying dinner.

16 of 20

Quick Gochujang Pork & Rice Bowls

a recipe photo of the Korean Style Pork And Rice — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Deeply savory gochujang adds a mild heat to these quick-cooking grain bowls. Look for gochujang, a fermented red pepper paste, in Asian markets or in the Asian foods aisle of your local supermarket. Leftover brown rice can also be used in these grain bowls.

17 of 20

Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl

Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl

Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and just go for this grain bowl. Start with a base of brown rice and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious and easy meal.

18 of 20

Sweet-and-Sour Chicken Bowls

a recipe photo of the Sweet-and-Sour Chicken Bowl — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Bone-in chicken thighs are pan-seared before being basted with sticky-sweet sauce and slow-cooked to fork-tender perfection. Sear the chicken thighs in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan and hindering browning. Though we swoon over the superiorly moist meat, the real magic lies within the sauce, which masters the balance of savory and sweet. For a burst of freshness, we add a simple cabbage slaw that rounds out the meal with a satisfying crunch. To get an extra dose of veggies, pair it with sugar snap or snow peas.

19 of 20

Anti-Inflammatory Vegetable-Packed Grain Bowls

Spring Vegetable Grain Bowls

Farro provides satisfying chew, while the raw shaved veggies soften slightly in the vinaigrette to become perfectly tender-crisp. To blanch the peas, cook in boiling water for 1 minute, then dunk in an ice bath for 1 minute to stop the cooking. A mandoline or vegetable peeler makes quick work of thinly slicing vegetables. Beets contain a phytochemical called betalains, which can help fight inflammation in the body.

20 of 20

Spinach & Fried Egg Grain Bowls

a recipe photo of the Wilted Spinach and Fried Egg Wheat Berry Bowl — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Wheat berries, a nutty-tasting whole grain with a pleasantly chewy texture, are the base of this hearty breakfast bowl recipe. The fiber-rich grain freezes very well, so cook up a batch to stash away for salads, bowls and more. Topped with spinach, peanuts and an egg, these bowls make for a satisfying breakfast. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper for extra heat.

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