Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Quick & Easy Meals 15 Food Bowls Packed With Protein, Fiber, and More Savory, sweet, and everything in-between. By Lacey Muinos Updated on August 11, 2024 Close Photo: Victor Protasio Building a balanced plate sounds intimidating until you realize you can toss all your favorite ingredients into a bowl and call it a meal. At breakfast, build your bowl around oats or fruit for an energizing and fiber-rich start to your day. When it comes to lunch and dinner, grains make for the perfect base upon which to add protein and veggies. Delicious and nutritious food bowls are hearty, and easy to throw together, and the combination possibilities are endless. Here are 15 tasty recipes to get you hooked. 44 Easy No-Cook Recipes to Make for Lunch or Dinner 01 of 15 Summer Squash Farro Bowl Caitlin Bensel Rice and quinoa have a lot to offer, but if you’re looking for variety, farro is the next grain you should try. It’s nutty with a chewy texture, which is the secret to building a bowl you’ll keep coming back to — aim for several different textures. This bowl has chewy farro, crunchy veggies, and creamy avocado to take your taste buds on an adventure. It’s vegetarian, but don’t let that scare you. With chickpeas and Greek yogurt, it’s full of protein. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 15 Halloumi Grain Bowls With Figs and Charred Lemon Dressing Jen Causey This food bowl is full of good-for-you ingredients that will fuel you for the rest of your day. It takes under an hour to prep, plus, the has a variety of textures and flavors that keep you intrigued. Nutty farro and kale are high in protein (29g per serving!) and fiber. You'll top the bowl with a sweet lemony dressing, plus a sprinkling of mint leaves and sliced almonds. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 15 Tropical Instant Oatmeal Mix Victor Protasio This DIY instant oatmeal mix is going to set you up for success during the week. Gone are the days where you’re rushing to make breakfast on busy weekdays. Prep this dry mix ahead of time so you can quickly make a steaming bowl of tropical oatmeal that fills the air with aromas of coconut and mango. This recipe can even be made vegan for a plant-based start to your day. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 15 Feta and Watermelon Grain Bowls Caitlin Bensel Fruit and cheese are a match made in heaven, and this bowl with watermelon and feta is angelic. It combines the best of both sweet and savory notes, and includes a bed of farro topped with watermelon, avocado, pumpkin seeds, feta, and a drizzle of lime juice and olive oil. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 15 Avocado Grain Bowl With Beet Ginger Dressing Greg Dupree Some of us enjoy the finer things in life, and this grain bowl will transport you to a 5-star restaurant—the kind that doesn’t have prices on the menu. A beet ginger dressing acts as decor and deliciousness, while a serving of tri-color quinoa offers a complete source of protein. Fennel, avocado, and micro greens complete the plate for stunning visuals and complex flavors. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 15 Roasted Root Veggie Quinoa Bowls Victor Protasio Sometimes you just want a quick, comforting meal, and this bowl delivers just that. It calls for rainbow quinoa mixed with spinach for some extra color and nutrients, though you can throw together any combo of grains and leafy greens for the base. Roasted veggies like squash, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts add some heartiness, while a dollop of hummus and drizzle of vinaigrette add creaminess and flavor. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 15 Farro Bowl With Pomegranate Vinaigrette CAITLIN BENSEL Nothing against store-bought salad dressings, but making it yourself is so much fresher. And it’s easier than you’d think to whisk together. The star of this vegetarian grain bowl is the homemade pomegranate vinaigrette, which combines cooked shallots, reduced pomegranate juice, vinegar, mustard, oil, and spices. You can use it to your heart’s content, but we recommend it atop a bowl of cooked farro, spinach, fennel, and feta cheese. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 15 Crunchy Mediterranean Chickpea Bowl Jen Causey The Mediterranean way of eating has been dubbed one of the best meal plans around. It’s delicious, nutritious, and packed with fresh, whole ingredients. Here, we present a Mediterranean-inspired dish that will whisk you away to the Middle East. It’s built around favorites like chickpeas, baba ganoush, couscous, tahini, and parsley. This recipe is vegetarian, but can easily be made vegan by omitting the honey or swapping it for agave nectar. GET THE RECIPE 29 Best Dinner Ideas With Sausage for Fast Weeknight Meals 09 of 15 Watermelon Poke Bowls Victor Protasio Poke bowls are essentially deconstructed sushi rolls, so you know they’re going to be tasty. But you don’t need fish to make a yummy poke bowl. In fact, this bowl is vegetarian and uses a surprising ingredient—watermelon. That’s right, you’ll let watermelon sit in a flavorful marinade while you whip up some sushi rice and prepare sriracha mayo. You can add other toppings, such as sliced cucumber, avocado, and sesame seeds, for a balanced, on-brand poke bowl. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 15 Raspberry Smoothie Bowl Christopher Testani A smoothie bowl is not only a quick and easy solution to figuring out what to eat for breakfast, it’s also a great way to increase your intake of fruits, nuts, and seeds. This raspberry banana smoothie bowl is the perfect base for almonds, chia seeds, and sliced kiwi. You can also add granola to make it even heartier. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 15 Rice Bowl With Chipotle Black Beans Gentl & Hyers People have been eating rice and bean bowls for thousands of years, and humanity shows no signs of slowing down. Since this bowl is powered by rice and beans, it’s full of fiber, protein, and flavor. It has a simple base, but the nacho-inspired toppings really pull it together. If you’re not sure what to make for dinner but don’t want to stand over a hot flame, this recipe can be made with premade ingredients for a hearty, healthy meal that comes together in a flash. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 15 Spanish Beef and Rice Bowls With Avocado Christopher Testani While many bowls lean on the vegan and vegetarian side, this one’s for the carnivores. It’s a Spanish-inspired dish with brown rice and seasoned ground sirloin as the base. You’ll top it with romaine lettuce to add some greens, and roasted red peppers, green olives, and capers for that Spanish flair. And don’t forget the avocado, of course. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 15 Slow Cooker Birria Bowls Antonis Achilleos Birria is commonly enjoyed in tacos and burritos, but if you’re on a bowl kick, this dish is for you. It’s a Mexican-inspired meat stew that tastes like it belongs on restaurant menus. It’s comforting, oh so flavorful, and surprisingly simple to make. As long as you have time to let it slow cook (about six hours), you have time to make this delicious dinner. Once your meat is ready, add it to a bowl along with rice, avocado, cheese, and cilantro. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 15 Nutty Tofu Bowls Caitlin Bensel Tofu bowls are a go-to source of protein for vegans and vegetarians, but everyone will love this recipe. Tofu by itself is plain Jane, but when you press out the moisture, bake until crispy, and toss in a tangy peanut sauce, the ingredient really shines. Simply pair with fluffy white rice and crunchy veggies for a super easy and plant-forward lunch or dinner. GET THE RECIPE How to Cook Tofu 5 Different Ways—Including Grilled, Fried, and More 15 of 15 Acai Coconut Smoothie Bowl Grace Elkus Smoothie bowls have to be the quickest breakfast there is (OK, aside from cereal and toast). You can make this tropical smoothie bowl by popping frozen packs of acai and blueberries into a blender with some coconut water. Blend until smooth, and pour the purple mixture into a deep bowl. Add your favorite toppings like berries, granola, and coconut flakes for a variety of tastes and textures. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit