Grain bowls are one of the best ways to get a quick, healthy meal on the dinner table. All you need are three basic components: warm grains, vegetables, and a source of protein (like egg, beans, or chicken). Use my mix and match formula to create a satisfying weeknight dinner. One that tastes really, really good.
I heart grain bowls
Why grain bowls are a great weeknight meal:
- You can use cold leftover grains (with optional hot toppings like thinly sliced steak or a poached egg), or cook grains in a rice cooker with a warm setting, and serve it whenever you’re ready
- They’re a great way to use up leftover vegetables (raid your fridge and skip the market)
- Family members can customize their own bowls
How to Make The Perfect Grain Bowl:
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Ingredients
- 1 serving of cooked grains per person e.g., quinoa, rice, barley
- Unlimited fruits and vegetables raw, baked, steamed, and/or sautéed (e.g., bell peppers, snow peas, sugar snap peas, baby bok choy, carrots, celery, shredded lettuce, corn, sea vegetables, radish, tomato, butternut squash, zucchini, broccoli, avocado, asparagus, kohlrabi, mushrooms, cabbage, and/or bamboo shoots)
- 1 serving of protein e.g., poached eggs, chicken, steak, beans, tofu, edamame, turkey, tuna, salmon, lentils
- 1 serving of sauce e.g., soy sauce, spicy peanut sauce, vinaigrette-based dressing, sriracha, or pesto
- add-ons e.g., grilled hallmoumi cheese, pistachios, toasted almonds or walnuts, crushed peanuts, salsa, kimchi, fresh herbs, fresh ginger, sesame seeds, fresh berries, pickled vegetables, grated parmesan, and/or citrus zest
Ingredients
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Instructions
- Add cooked grains (hot or cold) to the bowl
- Top with vegetables
- Add protein
- Dress with sauce
- Finish with your add-ons
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Need some inspiration? Here are some of my favorite combos:
(These grain bowls are snatched)* 
- Bowl #1: Jasmine rice mixed with diced fresh ginger + roasted asparagus + snow peas and sliced bell pepper sautéed in soy sauce + sliced avocado + sriracha + two poached eggs (photo on left)
- Bowl #2: Red quinoa + shredded lettuce + chopped tomatoes + olives + green beans + thinly sliced red onions + grilled chicken + grilled halloumi cheese + fresh basil + Greek vinaigrette dressing (photo on right)
- Bowl #3: Jasmine rice + leftover pomegranate roasted butternut squash + thinly sliced celery + two poached eggs + furikake (seaweed) rice seasoning + dried seaweed + soy sauce + sriracha (top photo)
*‘snatched’ is the new ‘on fleek,’ which was the new ‘cool’ (Trying to keep up here ;))
Question for you: What makes your grain bowls taste so darn good? Share with everyone in the comments below!
(For more dinner ideas, check out the recipes from other Recipe Redux bloggers):
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Caroline is a freelance writer, nutrition communication consultant, and counselor with a holistic approach to healthy living. 
Love these grain bowls (and I’m offically old as I didn’t even know “on fleek” let alone “snatched” as the new cool) Welcome aboard to ReDux!
Thanks Deanna! I try to sprinkle in what the cool kids are saying to keep us all snatched. Just one more thing you can look forward to every month – ha 😉
I love how you give tons of ideas to make different scenarios! Sometimes I look at leftovers or veggies and can’t think of any to pull together quickly and this is a super reference….thanks!! 🙂
Thank you Karielyn!! 🙂