• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Plant Based School
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • All Recipes
  • Mains
  • Pasta
  • Sweet
  • Collections
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes

    25 Easy Grain Bowl Recipes

    Published: May 31, 2023 · by Nico Pallotta

    Jump to Recipe

    Welcome to a list of flavorful vegetables, ancient grains, and wholefood salads with healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates.

    These 25 grain bowl recipes from all over the internet are easy to make and can be customed to your and your family's taste.

    Grain bowl recipes with protein and healthy fats

    You can even use these recipes as inspiration for meal planning, putlocks, office lunches, and school box meals.

    How to build a grain bowl

    When we build our grain bowl, we try to incorporate these five elements for a healthy and nutritious grain bowl.

    1. Greens (leafy greens, fresh vegetables, roasted vegetables, etc.)
    2. Protein (legumes, pulses, peas, tofu, nuts, seeds, plant-based dairy)
    3. Grains (ancient grains, pseudo-grains, pasta, couscous, corn, quinoa, rice, etc.)
    4. Fats (olive oil, tahini, avocado, coconut, nuts, seeds, etc.)
    5. Herbs and spices (parsley, basil, mint, cilantro, dill, chives, etc.)

    For example, this black bean salad bowl includes various whole foods that make a tasty and super delicious meal.

    Grain bowl elements with protein and fat examples

    Let's continue with these wholesome and colorful grain bowl recipes without further ado.

    1. Farro salad

    We start this grain bowl list with a quick, family-friendly meal: farro salad with roasted vegetables.

    Make it in 30 minutes with simple, Mediterranean ingredients and a creamy mustard dressing.

    Get the recipe here

    2. Barley salad

    This barley salad combines the best of ancient grains with an aromatic mix of roasted vegetables and Italian seasoning.

    This healthy serving of grains makes a great lunchbox meal or meal prep idea.

    Get the recipe here

    3. Pesto pasta salad

    Pasta is a beautiful way of eating grains while getting a good source of complex carbohydrates (through whole-wheat pasta).

    Our dairy-free pesto pasta salad is a creamy and crunchy fresh serving of grains that is great for spring and summer.

    Get the recipe here

    4. Couscous salad

    This easy grain bowl idea shows you how to pair couscous with crunchy fresh vegetables. 

    Drizzle with an aromatic lemon dressing to make a wonderful Mediterranean-inspired couscous salad.

    Get the recipe here

    5. Vegetable couscous

    We love using couscous in grain bowls, which take just 5 minutes to prepare. So prepare for a vegetable-packed meal with pan-roasted veggies.

    Add a refreshing lemon vinaigrette—a tasty 30-minute dish for the whole family.

    Get the recipe here

    6. Quinoa chickpea salad

    Quinoa is a nutrient-dense grain rich in B-vitamin and protein.

    Chickpeas and quinoa are combined to create a simple and healthy chickpea quinoa salad with seasonal veggies and a mustard vinaigrette.

    Get the recipe here

    7. Kale quinoa salad

    This delicious kale and quinoa salad is great for meal prepping, and you can eat it as a healthy lunch and quick dinner throughout the week.

    The salad is colorful and has different textures, meaning it's a super healthy meal packed with polyphenols and plenty of vitamins.

    Get the recipe here

    8. Vegan pasta bowl

    This Italian-inspired pasta salad combines the best of fresh veggies, creamy dressing, and al dente pasta.

    We recommend using seasonal veggies of different colors and textures so your pasta bowl is packed with vitamins and antioxidants.

    Get the recipe here

    9. Black bean bowl with quinoa

    Black beans are a powerhouse of nutrition, packed with plant-based protein, antioxidants, and fiber, and they'll keep you full for long.

    Mix some quinoa and drizzle with chipotle sauce, tahini sauce, or avocado spread to make the black bean bowl extra fulfilling.

    Get the recipe here

    10. Mediterranean farro salad

    Farro is an ancient wheat grain with plenty of nutrition and health benefits thanks to its fiber, antioxidants, and plant protein.

    You will love this farro salad because it has a satisfyingly chewy texture and loads of veggies.

    Get the recipe here

    11. Forbidden rice bowl with sriracha tofu

    EmilieEats always makes wholesome and inviting dishes, and this black rice power bowl is no different.

    Follow her recipe for a protein-rich and satiating meal you can put together in about 40 minutes.

    Get the recipe @EmilieEats

    12. Easy hummus bowl

    Quinoa, creamy hummus, and crunchy vegetables make a colorful meal with Yumna's delicious hummus bowl.

    It's a complete meal ready in just 15 minutes.

    Get the recipe @FeelgoodFoodie

    13. Mexican burrito bowl

    Chelsea has a beautiful Mexican burrito bowl with whole-grain rice, corn, and black beans.

    Drizzle with a creamy avocado oil dressing for a scrumptious and healthy grain bowl.

    Get the recipe @ChelseysMessyApron

    14. Vegan freekeh bowl

    Deryn's freekeh bowl is a vegan dish with loads of flavor, crunch, and nutritious veggies.

    Butternut squash, kale, roasted red pepper, and turmeric dressing are some of the delicious ingredients.

    Get the recipe @RunningonRealFood

    15. Baja grain bowl

    HowSweetEats mixes rice and quinoa for this copycat Panera grain bowl with Mexican flavors.

    Drizzle with cilantro lime vinaigrette, and add fresh veggies and avocado for an inviting and healthy dish.

    Get the recipe @HowSweetEats

    16. Jamaican power bowl

    Carrie made a healthy and colorful grain bowl with vegetarian protein and a quick homemade chimichurri sauce.

    Prepare for a delicious mix of red peas, quinoa, butternut squash, and more.

    Get the recipe @WalderWellness

    17. Quinoa tofu buddha bowl

    With Chloe's Asian-inspired Buddha bowl, you can get your plant-based protein and eat a flavorful meal too.

    You can serve this colorful bowl in just 30 minutes with a mix of peanut butter, chickpeas, veggies, and fluffy quinoa.

    Get the recipe @ForkfulofPlants

    18. Italian broccolini bowl

    Here's a whole food recipe with millet, broccolini, white beans, and fresh herbs.

    This spring-friendly and Italian-inspired bowl is a great lunch and dinner idea.

    Get the recipe @MoneyandMeKitchenAdventures

    19. Harvest quinoa bowl

    Danae from RecipeRunner made a Thanksgiving and holiday-friendly grain bowl (but we would eat this any time of year).

    So get some quinoa, butternut squash, red apple, and pepitas seeds to start building this harvest bowl.

    Get the recipe @RecipeRunner

    20. Japanese quinoa bowl

    Here's another protein-rich Buddha bowl with crispy roasted tofu, quinoa, and raw vegetables.

    The total cooking time is just 35 minutes, a weeknight-friendly meal that is also great for meal prepping.

    Get the recipe @simplyquinoa

    21. Moroccan grain bowl

    Here's a super quick 10-minute grain bowl recipe that is easily assembled.

    Almost raw and gluten-free, this Moroccan-inspired chickpea grain bowl is suitable for most eaters.

    Get the recipe @KaleJunkie

    22. Winter roasted veggie bowl

    Get ready for winter with this rainbow-colored roasted veggie bowl.

    Sue uses red quinoa cooked in broth for the best flavor paired with various aromatic roasted veggies.

    Get the recipe @TheViewfromGreatIsland

    23. Summer veggie lemon grain bowl

    Jeanine truly is the queen of veggies, and she makes these summer grain bowls with broccoli, kale pesto, and sauerkraut.

    It's a wonderfully refreshing meal for spring and summer, and it's great for meal planning too.

    Get the recipe @LoveandLemons

    24. Sheet pan Buddha bowl

    Steven created this easy sheet pan veggie bowl to prepare for his marathon.

    It's full of healthy greens, avocado, and farro; a must-try for any grain bowl fan.

    Get the recipe @theNutFreeVegan

    25. Falafel bowl

    Our last recipe on this list is a falafel recipe beautifully coupled with fresh veggies and hummus.

    You can quickly build a filling falafel bowl with greens, roasted bell pepper, warm pita bread, and tahini sauce.

    Get the recipe here

    How to store these grain bowl recipes

    • Make ahead: most of these grain bowl recipes are excellent to make ahead as they keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

      We like to chop and separate veggies, grains, and protein sources separately and mix them on the day of eating.
    • Refrigerator: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    • Freezing: we do not recommend freezing these recipes; however, you can freeze most cooked grains for up to 3 months.

      Please refer to each recipe's storage section to ensure the grain is freeze-able.
    • To freeze, let the grains cool down completely, transfer them into freezer-friendly zip-lock bags, and freeze. Then, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, microwave, or boiling water.
    cooling farro on a baking tray

    More salad inspiration

    Get more salad and vegetable-packed inspiration with these nutritious and beautiful veggie recipes:

    • 45 easy salad recipes (including salads as a meal, side dishes, and lunch ideas).
    • 40 vegetable side dishes (roasted, steamed, grilled, and microwave veggie ideas).
    • 30 raw vegan recipes (fresh and raw vegan meal inspiration).
    • 30 tasty vegetarian dishes (vegetarian lunch, dinner, and dessert inspiration).
    • Vegetable sides with salad and mashed veggies
      40 Best Vegetable Sides
    • Vegan Chickpea Recipe ideas
      35 Vegan Chickpea Recipes
    • Vegan salads ideas with pasta, grain and raw ideas
      25 Vegan Salad Recipes
    • raw vegan recipes including bliss balls and salads
      30 Raw Vegan Recipes

    For many more salad ideas, check out our salads category page.

    Recipe

    Grain bowl recipes with ancient grains and pseudo grains

    25 Healthy Grain Bowls

    Author: Nico Pallotta
    These 25 grain bowls from all over the internet are colorful, easy to make, and delicious to eat!
    Try this black bean salad with roasted sweet potatoes, corn, green or red bell pepper, creamy avocado, jalapeños, and a cilantro lime dressing with fresh cilantro and lime juice.
    Perfect for wholesome make-ahead meals and food prep. You are going to love it!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Boiling Beans 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main, salad
    Cuisine International
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 341 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    FOR THE SALAD

    • 1 cup cooked black beans
    • 1½ pound sweet potatoes peeled and chopped into 1-Inch cubes
    • 1 cup green bell pepper diced
    • 1 medium avocado diced
    • ½ cup corn
    • ½ red onion chopped
    • ¼ cup pickled jalapeños chopped

    FOR THE CILANTRO LIME DRESSING

    • 1 cup packed cilantro
    • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup lime juice
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • ½ clove garlic
    • ½ teaspoon grated ginger
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    Keep screen on

    Instructions
     

    STEP 1: BOIL THE BEANS

    • Rinse, then boil the black beans in a large pot with plenty of lightly salted water for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
      cooking black beans in water
    • Taste the beans to check if they are done, then drain them in a colander.
      drained black beans

    STEP 2: COOK THE SWEET POTATOES

    • Preheat oven or air-fryer to 400°F or 200°C.
      Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1-Inch cubes. Toss them in ½ tablespoon of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a few twists of black pepper.
      diced sweet potatoes
    • Oven Roasting: transfer cubed sweet potatoes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and roast in the oven for 25 minutes, or until tender and browned.
      oven roasted sweet potatoes
    • Air frying: transfer cubed sweet potatoes into the air fryer basket.
      The cubes CAN overlap. Air fry for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking the air fryer basket every 4 minutes to allow for even cooking.
      air fried sweet potato cubes

    STEP 3: MAKE THE DRESSING

    • To a blender add all ingredients: cilantro, lime juice, maple syrup, garlic, peeled and grated ginger, salt, and olive oil.
      all ingredients for cilantro lime dressing in a blender
    • Blend for a couple of minutes until smooth. Taste and adjust for salt and lime before serving.
      cilantro lime dressing just made

    STEP 4: MIX THE BLACK BEAN SALAD

    • To a large bowl, add the black beans, diced avocado, finely chopped onion, sliced jalapeños, roasted sweet potatoes, corn kernels, and diced green bell pepper.
      Next, pour in the cilantro lime dressing.
      avocado, corn, green peppers, black beans, jalapeno, red onion, and sweet potatoes in a bowl
    • Toss well, taste and adjust for salt, and let the flavors meld for at least 15 minutes before serving.
      black bean salad with cilantro lime dressing
    • Optionally, you can add about 1 cup of boiled quinoa.
      black bean salad with quinoa and sweet potatoes

    Video Recipe

    Easy Black Bean Salad with sweet potatoes

    Notes

    Nutrition information is for 1 portion out of 6 without quinoa.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    25 Healthy Grain Bowls
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    341
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    17
    g
    26
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    12
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    0
    mg
    0
    %
    Potassium
     
    788
    mg
    23
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    43
    g
    14
    %
    Dietary Fiber
     
    9
    g
    38
    %
    Sugar
     
    11
    g
    12
    %
    Protein
     
    6
    g
    12
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    16610
    IU
    332
    %
    Vitamin B6
     
    0.4
    mg
    20
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    28
    mg
    34
    %
    Vitamin E
     
    3
    mg
    20
    %
    Vitamin K
     
    31
    µg
    30
    %
    Calcium
     
    64
    mg
    6
    %
    Folate
     
    95
    µg
    24
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    Manganese
     
    1
    mg
    50
    %
    Magnesium
     
    70
    mg
    18
    %
    Zinc
     
    1
    mg
    7
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?Leave us a comment below or find us on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

    If you liked these grain bowl recipes, you might also enjoy:

    • Meatless meals for easy dinners
      40 Easy Meatless Meals
    • Vegetarian lunches
      35 Best Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
    • Italian Vegetarian Meal ideas
      40 Italian Vegetarian Dishes
    • Vegan salads ideas with pasta, grain and raw ideas
      25 Vegan Salad Recipes

    « 35 Vegan Chickpea Recipes
    30 Cherry Tomato Recipes »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment and star rating :-) Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico Pallotta and Louise Vestergaard, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

    Here we share veggie-packed recipes for the whole family.

    Omnivores, flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans, you are ALL WELCOME!

    More about us →

    Trending

    • lentil curry with basmati rice
      Lentil Curry
    • Rice salad with olives and tomatoes
      Rice Salad
    • Creamy pasta salad with mayo and olives
      Creamy Pasta Salad
    • Black bean salad with lime and avocado
      Black Bean Salad

    Seasonal

    • Broccoli salad in a white bowl
      Broccoli Salad
    • Dill Potato Salad
    • Buddha bowl with grilled tofu, mango, and peanut sauce
      Buddha Bowl
    • zucchini fritters with tzatziki
      Zucchini Fritters
    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico Pallotta and Louise Vestergaard, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

    Here we share veggie-packed recipes for the whole family.

    Omnivores, flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans, you are ALL WELCOME!

    More about us →

    Trending

    • lentil curry with basmati rice
      Lentil Curry
    • Rice salad with olives and tomatoes
      Rice Salad
    • Creamy pasta salad with mayo and olives
      Creamy Pasta Salad
    • Black bean salad with lime and avocado
      Black Bean Salad

    Seasonal

    • Broccoli salad in a white bowl
      Broccoli Salad
    • Dill Potato Salad
    • Buddha bowl with grilled tofu, mango, and peanut sauce
      Buddha Bowl
    • zucchini fritters with tzatziki
      Zucchini Fritters

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Top Recipes
    Vegan Custard
    Falafel
    Easy Focaccia
    Lentil Soup
    Vegan Ricotta

    Top Compilations
    Best Tofu Recipes
    Easy Sauce Recipes
    Easy Meatless Meals
    Best Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
    Best Eggplant Recipes

    Most Shared
    Vegan Mayo
    Bruschetta
    Roasted sweet potatoes
    Black Bean Soup
    Mushroom Gravy

    Home About Recipes Subscribe Privacy Policy Nutrition Disclaimer Terms & Imprint

    Copyright © 2023 The Plant Based School