15 Healthy Buddha Bowl Recipes (2024)

What is a buddha bowl? A buddha bowl is a whole bunch ofgood stuff in a bowl topped with more good stuff. Today we are talking whole grains, lean proteins, tons of veggies, nuts, seeds, and dressings! Some people call buddha bowls, meal prep bowls. Whatever you call it, we are going to break it all down so you can make the best meal prep bowl for your week!

15 Healthy Buddha Bowl Recipes (1)

Table of Contents

All About Buddha Bowls

Bowls bowls bowls, I’m all about that bowl. Especially…buddha bowls! Why? Bowls = meal prep at its finest. If you haven’t jumped on the meal prep bowls bandwagon, get on it! Meal prep bowls will make your life so much easier during the week and it will help fuel healthy habits.

Today, we are breaking down the anatomy of a buddha bowl and we are sharing recipes to inspire you to start making meal prep bowls in your own kitchen! One way to shake up your Buddha bowl is with spices. Simply Organicand Penzysare my go-to spice brands for adding amazing flavor to anything that I make. They’ve got literally every spice under the planet, plus some awesome blends that I use daily.

Really the main goal of a buddha bowl recipe is to eat as many colors and nutrient dense foods as possible. No two buddha bowls have to be the same, so tailor your Buddha bowl to your taste preferences and get creative! Words of wisdom- when in doubt, if it’s a whole food, add it to your bowl. Below I’ve laid out some of my favorite Buddha bowl add-ins by category!

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Anatomy of a Buddha Bowl

What is a buddhabowl? My classic vegan buddhabowl recipe includes a whole grain, lean protein, tons of vegetables, nuts, seeds, and a dressing of your choice.

Whole Grains

Add your favorite whole grain to your buddha bowl. I think of it as the ‘base’ to my meal prep bowl. My go-to grain is always quinoa because it is a complete protein and it is ready in minutes! However, I have gotten out of my comfort zone recently and tried new grains like farro in this Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad with Farro. It’s pretty dang good! Now, I’ve listed out some of my favorite whole grains below!

Lean Protein

Think more about high protein and less about calorie count! Classic buddha bowls are vegan buddha bowl recipes (plant-based), but you always have the option to add in some animal protein to your buddha bowl recipe if you would like. Here are some protein options for a vegan buddha bowl or a meal prep bowl!

Vegetables

Vegetables are one of my favorites parts of a buddha bowl! Why? Because the options are endless. You can use any veggie that is left over in your fridge or decide on what direction you’re going to take your Buddha bowl based on what veggie you choose! In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with roasted sweet potatoes. Check out our post on how to roast sweet potatoes for a quick way to roast your taters!

Another easy way to add vegetables to your buddha bowl is to prepare a salad and divide it up between your meal prep bowl for the week! Try adding this Massaged Kale and Fennel Salador this Thai Chili Corn Salad.You can’t go wrong with some massaged kale, either.

  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Carmelized Onions
  • Butternut Squash
  • ANY OTHER VEGGIE

Nuts/Seeds/Dressing

Don’t forget to add crunch and more flavor to your buddha bowl with nuts, seeds, and dressing! I love to add roasted pecans or pumpkin seeds to my salad for extra crunch and fiber. Any nut or seed will do! As for dressing, I love a classic green goddess dressing. Sometimes I’ll even skip the dressing and use a dollop of hummus. It makes my buddha bowl creamy and delicious! Guys, the sky is the limit!

  • raw nuts (cashews, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc.)
  • seeds (sunflower seeds, pepitas, hemp seeds, etc.)
  • dressing:(vinegar-based, avocado-based, olive oil)
  • Hummus

Now that you know the ins and outs of what’s in a buddha bowl, I’m going to share a basic vegan buddhabowl recipe for you to sink your teeth into. This recipe is 100% plant based and a great starter buddha bowl recipe for you to add to.

Healthy Meal Prep Bowl Recipes

  • Meal Prep Vegetarian Kung Pao Quinoa Bowls
  • Grilled BBQ Chicken Bowls
  • Sheet Pan Meal Prep Tofu Quinoa Burrito Bowls
  • Slow Cooker Carnitas Burrito Bowls
  • Vegetarian Meal Prep Roasted Brussels Sprouts Polenta Bowls
  • Healthy Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowls
  • Cilantro Lime Shrimp Bowls
  • Black Bean Breakfast Bowls
  • Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken Bowls
  • Sweet Potato Vegan Buddha Bowl Recipe
  • Team Fit Foodie’s Go To Meal Prep Bowl
  • Butternut Squash Buddha Bowl
  • Copy Cat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe
  • Pesto Chicken Meal Prep Recipe

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5 from 4 votes

Basic Vegan Buddha Bowl Recipe

This is our basic vegan buddha bowl recipe. It's made with quinoa, roasted sweet potato, garbanzo beans, massaged kale, bean sprouts, and green goddess dressing. Get creative with your Buddhabowl and use whatever grain and protein you desire!

Prep:30 minutes minutes

Cook:45 minutes minutes

Total:1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Fat

Carbs 87

Protein 22

Yield: 1

Print Rate

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1/2 cup roasted sweet potato
  • 1/4 cup garbanzo beans
  • 1 cup massaged kale*
  • a handful of bean sprouts
  • 1 fresh radish sliced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon vegan dressing here's my fav green goddess dressing

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a bowl and dig in!

Tips & Notes

  • For 1 cup of massaged kale, you'll need about 2 cups of kale, .5 tablespoons olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Massage until kale is shiny and more wilty looking.

Watch It

Nutrition facts

Calories: 581kcal Carbohydrates: 87g Protein: 22g Fiber: 16g Sugar: 14g

Author: Lee Funke

Similar recipes:

  • Mediterranean Vegan Buddha Bowl Recipe

  • Sweet Potato Vegan Buddha Bowl Recipe

  • Meal-Prep Vegetarian Kung Pao Quinoa Bowls + 5 more bowl recipes!

  • Butternut Squash Buddha Bowls

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15 Healthy Buddha Bowl Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 key components of a buddha bowl? ›

In general, they're made up of five key components:
  • Whole grains.
  • Veggies.
  • Protein.
  • Dressing.
  • "Sprinkles," such as nuts, seeds, herbs or sprouts.
Jul 21, 2023

How healthy are Buddha bowls? ›

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

Unlike a pasta dish or a salad where all the ingredients are mixed, the items in a buddha bowl remain independent separate. Buddha bowls are similar to another type of dish called nourish bowls – however, the main difference is nourish bowls can include animal protein.

What is the difference between a buddha bowl and a 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 makes it a Buddha Bowl? ›

In summary, Buddha carried a bowl with him on his journeys and accepted food as donations, which he would eat at the end of the day. Katherine also mentioned that Buddha bowls are similar to macrobiotic (macro) bowls with whole grains and steamed or raw veggies.

Are rice bowls healthy for weight loss? ›

Studies that have analyzed the effects of serving size have shown that reducing the size of the rice bowl reduces calorie intake, body weight, and blood sugar levels ( 28 ). Therefore, rice can be weight-loss-friendly or calorie-dense, depending on the serving size.

What do you eat with a Buddha Bowl? ›

I love finishing a buddha bowl with peanut sauce, lemon vinaigrette, green goddess dressing, cilantro lime dressing, hummus, or drizzles of sesame oil and soy sauce or tamari. Try a different pickle.

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.

Are frozen Buddha bowls healthy? ›

However, while fresh is always best, frozen buddha bowls are far from the worst thing you can put in your body when you're pressed for time. "From a nutritional perspective, freezing is a good way to preserve the nutrient content of food.

What is a monk bowl? ›

An alms bowl is a round, oval-shaped eating vessel used by monastics, with a flat bottom and a narrowed opening with which they receive offerings from human and heavenly beings. Its composition and size is described in the monastic rules, so that it holds the appropriate amount of food for the stomach.

What is another name for a Buddha bowl? ›

(And, because these things have more nicknames than Puff Daddy, you don't even have to call them Buddha Bowls; they're also known as grain bowls, hippie bowls, macro bowls, and power bowls.) According to Dan Zigmond, a Zen priest and the author of Buddha's Diet, the name Buddha Bowl might have a very literal origin.

What is the crunchy stuff in a poke bowl? ›

Adding crunchy bits to your poke bowl makes it even more delicious. Common choices are crispy onions, garlic chips, and sesame seeds. Shredded nori (a type of seaweed) adds a seafood-like flavor, while sweet furikake, a Japanese seasoning, is another popular pick.

Why have Buddha bowls become so popular? ›

With veggies, whole grains, legumes, rice and a dressing or two in a round bowl, it imparts flavour and nutrition. A popular proverb goes: If you combine good flavours, food turns into an orchestra. And that can't hold more true than for a Buddha 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)

What are the seven bowls in Buddhism? ›

In Tibetan tradition, the offering of the seven or eight bowls (Tib: Ting) of water is a common practice by most practitioners. The making of offering is a practice that helps eliminate clinging and miserliness while also building up good potential.

What are the seven bowls of water Buddhism? ›

The seven offering bowls

As a guest is said to have been received and offered water to drink, water to wash the feet, flower garlands, incense, lamps, perfume and food, it is common to find similar offerings of the seven items in Buddhist rituals of deity worship.

What is the serving size for a Buddha bowl? ›

Whether your protein is animal-based or vegetarian, women should aim for a 3-ounce serving (which is about the size of a deck of cards) and men, a 6-ounce serving. Grains, starches and legumes: Quinoa, chickpeas, edamame, corn and squash are all healthy sources of carbohydrates commonly used in Buddha bowls.

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