It’s 5:00 pm, I just got home from picking up my last kid and there are no dinner plans. I know veggies are sitting in the fridge on the edge of going bad and I don’t want to order takeout again so what do I do? I make one of these healthy rice bowl recipes and win the night.
Countless weeknight dinners have been saved by my coconut sriracha veggie bowl or some asparagus stir-fry. Why? Because they’re super easy, versatile and can be made-to-order for those picky eaters. Everyone’s happy and I didn’t have to order takeout.
Let’s talk about the five rice bowl recipes that are served on repeat at my table as well as how to make a killer healthy rice bowl that fits your preferences and your family just right. We’ve got something for everyone.
I’ve got vegan and gluten-free options so that you can make easy rice bowl recipes without worrying about bloat or inflammation. I see rice as a hearty vessel for delicious vegetables, nuts, seeds and sauces.
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Delicious Rice Bowl Recipes
I’m not joking when I say these are recipes my family eats all the time. We got a rice cooker early on in parenting and use it on a weekly basis. It started out as an easy way for our young kids to “help” make meals and became a well-loved appliance.
Along with my rice cooker, I discovered how easy it is to sauté or roast a tray of vegetables. Once I dialed in a few great sauce options, I knew I had the makings of great and easy dinner options.
Most of these recipes are included in my 30-minute meals round-up because they are so fast to throw together. Read through these options and let me know which one sounds like a winner to you!
Rice Options
The first question I get when sharing a rice bowl recipe is, which is better, white or brown rice? Aside from taste preferences, here’s what I know:
- First, brown rice is a whole grain. This means it includes all parts of the grain. Meanwhile, white rice removes the bran and nutritious germ, leaving it with a very limited amount of nutrients.
- Brown rice contains more fiber. 100 oz of brown rice (1 serving) contains 1.4 grams of fiber compared to just .4 grams of the same serving of white rice.
- High consumption of rice may lead to higher levels of arsenic in the body, and brown rice seems to have higher levels than white. Note that moderate consumption of rice should be fine.
These two aren’t your only options! Cauliflower rice is on the rise in popularity and a cauliflower rice bowl is a great grain-free option. Quinoa is also a hearty choice for those wanting to lower their rice intake yet still wanting the comfort of a warm grain.
Sauce Choices
In my opinion, a healthy rice bowl isn’t complete without the perfect sauce. Oftentimes store-bought sauces just don’t do it for me (plus they’re typically full of not-great ingredients), so I really get into creating my own.
Sometimes a simple guacamole or salsa does the trick, yet when I really want flavor, I go for something with flair. Since a lot of my bowls are plant-based, I also use the sauce to deliver more protein and healthy fats. Here are a few of my go-to sauces:
And don’t forget the finish! Sometimes you need a little cashew cream (it’s my vegan version of sour cream) or vegan parmesan cheese for a lovely finish along with green onions and cilantro.
If you love the idea of a gluten-free meal, then swap soy sauce with tamari. It’s the gluten-free version and tastes just as good!
Protein Varieties
Let’s talk protein. You can easily add grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, ground turkey and more to these bowls. My son does a lot of meal prep on the weekends and usually makes a big batch of chicken to add to dishes like these throughout the week.
If you want plant-based options then I recommend using nuts, seeds and tofu. You can even make a batch of my crispy tofu nuggets and pair them well with any of these healthy rice bowl recipes.
Pro Tips
I love any meal I can prep ahead, and the more I don’t have to prepare at dinner time, the better.
Here’s what I like to prep on the weekend and have on hand to make weeknight dinners easier and tastier:
- Chop vegetables: You can chop and store (individually) red cabbage, onion, garlic, ginger, radishes, and peppers. You name it! This makes the day of prep a breeze. Even if you only get a few onions chopped and stored, your future self will thank you! It saves a lot of time when prepping in batches.
- Double (or triple) a batch of rice: You can make one cup of rice in the same amount of time as four cups, so why not make more? You can store it to use in stir-fry, another rice bowl, casserole or turn it into a side for taco night. Easy!
- Spice mixes: While sauces are best made the day of, I like to whip up spice mixes ahead of time. I have a go-to homemade taco seasoning that I store in a mason jar for easy access. I also like to make my own curry powder mix, so I typically make a large batch at a time when I make it.
What are your prep tips to make homemade meals easier on you?
Rice Bowl Recipes FAQs
If your rice bowls end up bland and boring then you can easily turn them into crave-able dishes by adding in a homemade sauce. A simple coconut sriracha sauce can really jazz up those veggies and rice! All my sauces are made in five minutes or less, so you can’t complain that they are hard to make. Don’t be afraid to play with flavors as well. Try adding in some toasted sesame oil or citrus like lemon or lime juice to brighten up a dish.
You can use the rice you prefer in your bowls. Try a few different ones to hone in on your favorite. Decide if you like white or brown rice better, then choose the type as well. My family’s go-to is jasmine rice. When I want a grain-free option I choose cauliflower rice.
I love rice bowls because they are easy to make, can be customized based on my preferences and are a great way to use up leftovers in the fridge. Simply roast a tray of veggies with some olive oil, salt and pepper, cook some rice and toss it all together. Then grab some sriracha sauce, a bit of coconut milk or coconut cream, tamari and ginger to whip up a great sauce and you’re good to go!
What are your favorite rice bowl ingredients? I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below.
Thanks for sharing sauces, too! We usually toss whatever we have into a bowl with rice, yet the sauce is what makes it. That tahini sauce is so good.
The sauce definitely makes the bowl, Erin!
Can all the recipes be made accessible here, or do I need a subscription? Thanks.
Yum! I love the variety here. Such great ideas for weeknight dinners. I like to prep my rice on the weekend, so the rice is ready when I need it.
Love how easy this makes it to use whatever is on hand in my fridge! And thank you for the different combo suggestions to pull me out of my flavor ruts.
I could LIVE off of Rice Bowls— they are so easy to build a meal that my whole family will eat. I usually add some meat for my husband and kids, but I always pack them with veggies. The broccoli one in the video looks really good.
This made for an easy and quick dinner. Used frozen pineapple and frozen broccoli and it still turned out great.