Want to shake up your weekly lunch routine with something healthy and tasty? Add a few grain bowl recipes into the mix. Bowls are always my go-to because they’re quick and easy. And these 17+ ideas are some of my favorites.
17+ Healthy Grain Bowl Recipes To Try This Week
1. Creamy Farro & Sweet Potato Harvest Bowl
Nutrient-dense farro is the star of this grain bowl, which is loaded with healthy ingredients like Brussels sprouts, kale, avocado, sweet potato and tofu. A tangy tahini dressing tops off the dish and adds a rich flavor.
What I love about this recipe is that it’s so easy to make it your own. Can’t find farro or don’t like it? Use quinoa, wild rice or barley instead. Not vegetarian? Add grilled chicken or salmon instead.
2. Harvest Buddha Bowls Recipe
A rich and colorful bowl that’s nutrient-dense and so delicious. Farro is the base of this dish, but you can use any type of grain you want. Butternut squash, garbanzo beans, pecans, feta, pomegranate arils, spices and a balsamic vinaigrette round out the flavors.
I love to make this bowl in the fall, but you can really enjoy it anytime.
Related: 17+ Simple Bowl Recipes That Are Perfect for Meal Prep
3. Green Goddess Bowl
Fluffy rice, juicy chicken, fresh vegetables and a delicious homemade green goddess dressing make this bowl extra-special.
The dressing is worth the effort to make (it’s divine). Feel free to use whatever veggies you like in this dish, but the recipe calls for green onions, avocado and quick pickled onions. I sometimes add grilled zucchini or roasted tomatoes to my bowl.
4. High-Protein Chimchurri Grain Bowl
One of my favorite grain bowl recipes is this chimichurri dish. It has so many delicious and nutritious ingredients, like sweet potato, radishes, romanesco, farro and egg.
The chimichurri is easy to make and only takes a few ingredients.
I love the addition of egg to this dish, but feel free to use any protein you like. Even tofu would work well if you’re vegan or vegetarian.
5. High Protein Thai Quinoa Salad
Protein-rich quinoa, fresh veggies, crunchy cashews and a creamy peanut butter dressing. These are just a few reasons to love this dish. The ingredients are so simple, but they’ll keep you full and satisfied – red cabbage, bell peppers, carrots, edamame, green onion and red onion.
Of course, you can use whatever vegetables you want. While this dish calls for edamame, you could add any type of protein you wish.
I promise the peanut butter dressing is so worth it, and the Sriracha gives it an extra kick.
6. Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl
Cinnamon-spiced sweet potatoes, tender chicken and a zesty salad make this bowl one of my favorites. The salad ingredients are flexible, but I love the recipe’s suggestions: kale, apple, wild rice, goat cheese and almonds.
The rich and hearty flavors make this such a comfort food, especially with the coconut yogurt dressing.
7. Mediterranean Power Bowl
Full of Mediterranean flavor, this power bowl will quickly become a staple in your routine. Quinoa is the grain of choice, but you can use wild rice or even barley. You’ll pair your grain with herbed chickpeas, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives and feta cheese.
Add a spoonful of hummus and a tangy, homemade tzatziki dressing to complete this bowl.
The roasted chickpeas add just the right amount of crunch.
8. Chicken Baja Bowls
This Panera copycat recipe is delicious. Quinoa and brown rice are the base of this bowl, topped with some lemon juice and spiced with coriander.
Add a tasty black bean and corn salsa, chicken and toppings like avocado, tomato, yogurt, cilantro and fresh salsa.
If you’re not a fan of chicken, you could use shrimp instead. Vegetarians can add tofu or just leave out the chicken.
9. Harissa Chicken Bowls
If you prefer spicy grain bowl recipes, you’ll love this recipe. Harissa-spiced chicken and vinaigrette pair well with steamed rice, pickled onions, feta, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, corn, lettuce and hummus.
Serve with pita bread on the side to make this a full and satisfying meal.
Related: 30-Minute Mediterranean Chicken Bowl Recipe
10. Vegetarian Green Grain Bowl
Wholesome grains. Roasted vegetables. A tasty homemade vinaigrette, there’s so much to love about this bowl. I especially love the peppadew peppers.
For this recipe, you’ll use quick-cooking farro to save some time.
Pair it with spinach, kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onions, hummus, tomatoes and those delicious peppadew peppers.
The red wine vinaigrette is wonderful, but feel free to use any dressing you want.
11. Asian-Style Grain Bowl with Charred Broccoli and Sesame Ginger Sauce
Quinoa and millet pair so well with the charred broccoli, kale, edamame, vibrant purple cabbage and rich sesame ginger sauce.
Just be warned – the sauce is hearty. It pairs peanut butter with soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, avocado, ginger and garlic.
If you don’t like quinoa or millet, you can use any grain you want.
12. Korean Rainbow Power Bowls
One of my favorite high-protein grain bowl recipes (23g per serving). This vegan grain bowl is so delicious.
For the no-meat protein, you’ll mix LifeLight Smart Ground (or any type ground meat substitute) with shiitake mushrooms, liquid aminos, coconut sugar, herbs and spices.
Shredded cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, cucumber and quinoa round out the rest of the dish. Don’t forget the kimchi! It adds so much fermented, tasty flavor to the bowl.
13. Autumn Grain Bowls
Autumn is one of my favorite times of year, and this grain bowl always reminds me of the season. You’ll build a heart bowl with apple and smoked gouda, kale, wild rice, quinoa and roasted sweet potatoes.
Cook your wild rice and quinoa, roast your sweet potatoes and then make a maple balsamic vinaigrette using a food processor to blend the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, ground cinnamon, salt and pepper, fresh rosemary and thyme.
While allowing the vinaigrette to settle, pull the chicken, shred your kale, dice a few ingredients, chop the nuts and shred your cheese.
Assemble your bowl once the sweet potatoes are done roasting.
14. Mediterranean Lentil and Grain Bowls
Gourmet lunch or dinner in less than an hour. Your bowl will include:
- Pickled red onions, which you’ll make with apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and salt.
- Hummus that is creamy and made in just 5 to 10 minutes.
You’ll also add in lentils and farro. If you want to add in even more flavor, cumin seeds go great with these bowls.
What’s great about this recipe is that you can swap the farro for brown rice, add cucumbers and peppers or even some roasted sweet potatoes, if you like.
15. Egg Roll in a Bowl
Egg rolls are one of my faves, and it’s a lot easier to make than I thought it would be. Pull out a large skillet and heat it on medium with some avocado oil. Add your cabbage once the skillet is hot and coat it with oil.
Stir in carrots and cook until they’re soft.
Add coconut aminos, garlic and sesame oil while stirring. Cook until all components are soft and remove from the pan when ready. Place the ingredients in a large bowl before adding the ground meat to the same pan.
Season, cook and then strain the meat. Add the meat and green onions to a bowl and enjoy.
16. Grilled Steak Grain Bowl
Mediterranean and delicious, this grain bowl offers a creamy herb yogurt that tastes divine. Juicy grilled steak with feta, olives, tomatoes, quinoa and bell peppers makes this dish a favorite.
Start by patting your steak dry and seasoning it. Allow the steak to sit for 30 minutes or more with the seasoning. Place on a cast iron grill on medium heat, brush with olive oil and use your trusty thermometer to monitor the internal temperature:
- 130-135℉ for medium-rare
- Higher for well done
While your steak is cooking, make your herb yogurt and prepare your bowl of quinoa, hummus and Mediterranean-inspired ingredients.
17. Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl
Grain bowl recipes like these take all but 40 minutes to make. Main ingredients include chicken breasts, apple, cranberries, kale, sweet potatoes, lemon and kale. Honey and tahini go on top, and for your grain, you’ll need two cups of quinoa.
You’ll also add almond seeds, goat cheese and a honey balsamic vinaigrette on top for a burst of flavor.
18. Shawarma Bowl
Cauliflower bowls take just 40 minutes to make, but be warned that the ingredient list is extensive because you’ll make a Shawarma spice blend out of:
- Cracked black pepper
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Salt
- Turmeric
- Red pepper flakes
- Garlic powder
With this in mind, heat the oven, bring two cups of water to a boil and rinse your quinoa before adding it in. Next up, rinse and drain your chickpeas. Dry them with a towel before placing on a baking sheet with a tablespoon of olive oil.
Toss your cauliflower with olive oil and add some spice blend before placing on a separate baking sheet.
While everything is baking and filling the room with a lovely aroma, you’ll make a tomato and cucumber salad. Assemble and enjoy.
Related: These Lunch Bowls Are So Good, You’ll Meal Prep Them All Week
19. Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Power Bowls
Healthy and balanced are two words that come to mind when making these power bowls. Farro is the author’s first choice for a grain, but you can use:
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
You’ll add protein with chickpeas, seasoning for flavor, olive oil, broccoli, red onion, sweet potatoes and kale. On top, you’ll add a fresh ginger tahini dressing made from tahini, coconut aminos, lemon juice, garlic and ginger, water and sea salt.
Cook time is just 25 minutes, mainly because the root veggies need to bake for 25 minutes on a large baking sheet.
