"Once upon a time, if you had asked me what my favorite food was, I likely would have waffled between classics like pizza or tacos. But these days, it is undoubtedly some sort of grain bowl situation. Almost every week without fail, I will meal prep a few different ingredients and toppings to load up into a bowl, and it always hits. I’m convinced that almost any dish tastes better in bowl form.
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From burritos to falafel to sushi, the possibilities are endless, and each bowl is so customizable. Simply choose a grain for your base (rice, quinoa, and farro are my go-tos), add a protein, and then doctor it up with toppings and sauces to your heart’s content. Plus, grain bowl recipes are great for meal prep because you can store all the ingredients separately to prevent everything from getting soggy or mushy. What more could you want in a meal?
If bowls are also your most-used piece of dishware, I’m here to share a few new recipes to add to your rotation. These grain bowl recipes are deliciously balanced, super filling, and perfect for meal prep this week:
1. Buddha Bowl
Buddha bowls are essentially just grain bowls loaded up with a bunch of nutrient-dense, usually plant-based ingredients. This variation combines quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, crispy chickpeas, and fresh veggies with a garlic tahini dressing. It’s even delicious served cold, so it would make a great lunch to bring to the office.
2. Carnitas Burrito Bowl
The next time you’re craving Chipotle, whip up these burrito bowls instead. The carnitas take a while to cook (the results are worth it, I promise!), so save this recipe for a lazy Sunday when you have time to meal prep.
3. Greek Chicken Bowls
Blame it on a recent trip to Greece, but I could eat one of these Greek chicken bowls for lunch every day and be happy. There’s something about the combination of crunchy tomato cucumber salad, salty kalamata olives, and creamy tzatziki that just works. Pair that with some Greek-seasoned chicken and herby rice, and you’ve got the makings of a perfect grain bowl.
4. Bang Bang Salmon Bowls
If you’ve never tried bang bang sauce, rest assured you’re going to want to put it on everything once you taste it. These salmon rice bowls are topped with cucumber edamame salsa and a generous drizzle of bang bang sauce for the perfect combo of fresh and spicy flavors.
5. Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Bowls
These roasted sweet potato and chickpea bowls are easy to customize with whatever grain you prefer—brown rice, farro, or quinoa would all taste amazing. Paired with garlicky sautéed spinach and a 4-ingredient chipotle tahini dressing, you can’t go wrong.
6. Falafel Bowls
The beauty of this falafel bowl recipe is that you can choose exactly how much effort you want to put into it. Many of the ingredients (including the falafel, hummus, and tzatziki) are easy to find at the grocery store, so you can opt for store-bought to save time or get creative with your own homemade toppings.
7. Crunchy Roll Bowls
Sushi is not generally something I’d attempt to make at home, but these crunchy roll-inspired rice bowls are easy enough for any amateur to handle. All you have to do is make some rice, brown a block of tofu in some teriyaki sauce, and load up your bowl with toppings. No rolling required!
8. Hot Honey Chicken Bowl
Sweetgreen is a staple in The Everygirl office, but those $17+ bowls don’t come cheap. This recipe recreates their popular Hot Honey Chicken bowl with seasoned chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, red cabbage slaw, quinoa, and a zippy honey mustard dressing. The recipe makes four bowls, so you’re basically saving $70 every time you make it.
9. Korean Beef Power Bowls
I make a variation of this recipe approximately every three weeks. It’s just so good, and the actual cooking part only takes a few minutes. I like to make my bowls with rice and top them with pickled carrots, cucumber, and sliced jalapeños along with the sriracha mayo from the recipe.
10. Sheet Pan Chicken Tinga Bowls
Sheet pan recipes are always a win in my book. They’re so easy to throw together, and the cleanup couldn’t be simpler. This rice bowl recipe is no exception, with chipotle-spiced chicken and veggies that cook hands-off in the oven and a chunky avocado salsa that takes minutes to mix up.
11. Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowl
This recipe has you simmer the quinoa with coconut milk for added flavor, which takes these Thai-inspired bowls to the next level. Rounded out with crunchy veggies and a homemade peanut dressing, this recipe packs all the best flavors of Thai takeout into one healthy grain bowl.
12. Mediterranean Farro Bowl
These Mediterranean-inspired farro bowls are packed with protein and fiber for a balanced meal that’ll keep you full for hours. Tip: Simmer the farro in broth instead of plain water for even more flavor.
13. Summer Grain Bowl with Green Goddess Feta Dressing
I’m just imagining myself munching on one of these grain bowls while sitting outside on the patio in my backyard this summer, and it’s giving me the will to get through these last few weeks of not-quite-warm weather. The herb and feta green goddess dressing would go well on just about anything, but this combo of cucumbers, corn, cubed peaches, cherry tomatoes, and farro is especially delicious.
14. Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl
These roasted vegetable quinoa bowls are a tasty way to use up whatever veggies you have in your fridge or pantry. Roast what you’ve got on a sheet pan, cook up some quinoa, and drizzle everything with tahini sauce for an easy, nutrient-packed lunch or dinner.
15. Teriyaki Chicken and Rice Bowls
If you love a sweet and savory mashup, these teriyaki chicken and rice bowls are calling your name. Bookmark this recipe for later this spring and summer when pineapples are in peak season.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.