Best Healthy Buddha Bowls (2024)

Buddha bowls, meal prep bowls, veggie bowls, nourish bowls, whatever you want to call them, these recipes are the perfect way to pack a lot of goodness into one meal.

You can make them vegan or include your favorite animal protein like salmon, chicken or shrimp. Plus, you can eat buddha bowls hot or cold, so they’re perfect all year round and great for an on-the go lunch.

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Building the perfect bowl

Whole Grain: I love quinoa as the base of my buddha bowls, but white or brown rice, millet, or barley if you aren’t gluten free are great options as well. Starting with a grain base helps add bulk to the dish and keeps you full for hours.

If you want a lighter option, you can try arugula, spinach or chopped romaine lettuce as your base instead of a grain.

Protein: Chickpeas are a staple in many of my vegan buddha bowl recipes, but I can never say no to a good salmon bowl either if I’m looking for a non-vegan option! Tofu, tempeh, black beans, grilled chicken are all great options too.

Veggies: The options are endless when it comes to what vegetables to use in a buddha bowl. A few staples in mine are broccoli, sweet potato, arugula, and kale.

Other options include brussels sprouts, bell peppers, onions, carrots, cabbage etc. You can roast them, steam them or use them raw. Whatever you like!

Healthy Fat/Dressing/Sauce: I lumped all three of these into one category because even though I add avocado to most of my bowls, a lot of my dressings are tahini (peep lemon tahini dressing) or cashew based which are both really great fats to include in your diet.

They make the bowl creamy and add lots of flavor with fresh or dried herbs, garlic and more. Try my pesto vinaigrette in your next green and grain bowl!

1) Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl

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A real OG Eat With Clarity recipe! This recipe has been made by hundreds of people and loved by all. With crispy roasted chickpeas, roasted onions and fluffy quinoa. This chickpea bowl is a fan favorite.

2) Sesame Chickpeas

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I don’t technically call this a “buddha bowl” but it has all the right parts to be considered one! My most popular recipe, if you haven’t tried these sesame chickpeas yet, now is the time!

3) Peanut Butter Tempeh Bowls

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Tempeh is kind of a weird food, I’ll admit, but when it’s coated in peanut butter, it’s hard not to love!

4) Cauliflower Burrito Bowl

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Burrito bowls are my favorite. They’re so full of flavor, protein and good for you ingredients. This cauliflower burrito bowl is a healthy option you’ll love.

5) Orange Chickpeas

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Like orange chicken, only orange chickpeas! This recipe is easy to make and full of fresh flavor.

6) Baked Tofu Burrito Bowl

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Can we just admire that crispy tofu for a second? SO GOOD. Even if you think you don’t like tofu, you’ll love this burrito bowl.

7) Peanut Tofu Bowls

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Like I said, peanut butter will make anything taste good, and this peanut tofu is no exception! This is an easy to make buddha bowl that is perfect to meal prep.

8) 20 Minute Peanut Chickpeas

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Peanut butter and chickpeas might seem like an unusual combo, but give it a try. You won’t regret it.

9) The Ultimate Vegan Bowl

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Roasted sweet potato, crispy chickpeas, vegan pesto, this truly is the ultimate vegan buddha bowl. It has so much flavor and different textures to keep your palate happy.

10) Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowl

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My dad says this is one of his favorite recipes on my entire blog, and I think that’s saying a lot. There’s just so much good flavor in every bite, so I can’t really blame him! This vegan burrito bowl is a crowd pleaser.

11) Salmon Poke Bowl

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For the salmon lovers! This poke bowl is full of flavor, veggies and protein for a simple and delicious meal. It’s the perfect hot weather buddha bowl.

12) Vegan Sushi Bowl

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It might seem like a stretch to call it a sushi bowl, but once you try this recipe, you won’t even care what it’s called, you’ll just want to make it again and again.

13) Honey Sriracha Salmon Bowls

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Not all buddha bowls have to be vegan! These honey sriracha salmon bowls are crispy, easy to make and loaded with veggies.

14) Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

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Who said buddha bowls can’t be a breakfast thing? This recipe has quinoa, pesto, a perfect soft boiled egg for an easy morning meal. Enjoy it alongside my turmeric latte.

15) General Tso’s Chickpeas

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Chickpea bowls are kind of my thing. Serve this chickpea stir fry over white rice and a side of steamed broccoli, this recipe is packed with flavor and perfect for a quick weeknight meal.

16) Coconut Quinoa Bowls

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Sweet potato, coconut quinoa and a creamy dressing you’ll want to smother on everything. This bowl is healthy and packed with flavor.

Best Healthy Buddha Bowls (2024)

FAQs

Are Buddha bowls healthy for you? ›

Buddha bowls are a great example of the 'Healthy Eating Plate' model developed at Harvard, Debenham adds. Half the plate (or in this case, bowl) is made up of vegetables, a quarter carbohydrates and a quarter protein, making it a healthy, balanced meal.

What is the difference between a buddha bowl and a nourish Bowl? ›

What is the difference between a Nourish Bowl and a buddha bowl? Honestly, they can be very similar. Usually a nourish bowl includes some sort of protein to it, where a buddha bowl is more known as a grain bowl.

Why are Buddha bowls so good? ›

“The more varied the color in the food that you eat, the more nutrients you're getting,” said Lein. “I like to get a little bit of orange, red, and green.” At their core, Lein said, Buddha bowls are about “balancing the different types of food that you eat,” and not eating too much of any one thing.

Are Buddha bowls healthy to eat every day? ›

Buddha bowls are filling, healthy and fun meals that pack most of the nutrients your body needs. Preparing Buddha bowls can be a relaxing activity with a very rewarding payoff: you get a delicious and balanced meal that will enrich your day, body and soul, overall health and your Instagram/Pinterest feed.

What's the difference between buddha bowl and Poke bowl? ›

Buddha bowls have been compared to Nourish Bowls (a non-vegetarian version) and to Poké Bowls (a Hawaiian raw fish dish). There are several explanations for why the name refers to Buddha.

What makes a buddha bowl a buddha bowl? ›

Buddha bowl is a catchy name for a simple concept: a one-dish meal that's made by piling a healthy combination of whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and a luscious sauce in a large, single-serving bowl.

What is the formula for grain bowls? ›

My formula for simple and satisfying grain bowls includes the following: ½ – ⅔ cup grains. ½ cup green leafy vegetables. ½ – ⅔ cup vegetables (and fruits)

Can you put cheese in a buddha bowl? ›

Once the Bowl is built and dressed, it's ready for a final flourish: Some crumbled cheese, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, micro greens, chopped peanuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, sesame seeds, maybe some flax seeds. Go for one or two, but don't overload. The goal is to be able to admire all the components.

What are those healthy bowls called? ›

No matter what they're called—Buddha bowls, macro bowls, grain bowls, meal salads—we're crazy about meals in a bowl! They're colourful, comforting and the perfect way to turn our leftovers into a healthy feast.

What's in a wellness bowl? ›

A nourish bowl is a well-balanced, healthy meal containing a variety of nutrient dense ingredients, including vegetables, grains, healthy fats, quality proteins and carbohydrates. They are also known as buddha bowls, macro bowls, bliss bowls, power bowls, poke bowls, wellness bowls etc.

Why do dietitians support wellness bowls? ›

Bowl meals are a great way to include a variety of vegetables, protein sources and whole grains into your diet and are perfect for meal planning.

What ethnicity is a Buddha Bowl? ›

The custom still exists among some Buddhist monks in Southeast Asia, and the collaborative nature of Buddha's bowl has made its way into Western menus.

What are other names for Buddha bowls? ›

Buddha bowls are similar to another type of dish called nourish bowls – however, the main difference is nourish bowls can include animal protein. Buddha bowls are also known as grain bowls, hippie bowls, macro bowls or power bowls.

Are bowls of fruit healthy? ›

A well-stocked fruit bowl offers a variety of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber essential for the growth and development of young children.

How healthy are power bowls? ›

These nutrient-dense, high-protein, meal-sized salads are much more than an accompanying side. With the right mix of ingredients, they will satisfy your hunger and your craving for fresh flavor while giving your family the vitamins and minerals they need to live a healthy lifestyle.

Are healthy bowls good for you? ›

They incorporate proteins, vitamins and antioxidants to fill your body with energy. the way you need, without leaving you feeling heavy. And the key to healthy bowls is to exclude all types of processed food, with the purpose of leading a healthy and sustainable life.

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