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20 Best Healthy Meals You Can Make and Serve in a Bowl

Fuel up for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

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healthy meals in a bowl
Danielle Daly

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It's okay to admit that it's hard to eat healthy! The food can be a little uninspired to say the least, but it doesn't have to be that way. Take a cue from many of the fast casual restaurants you stop by for a quick lunch or dinner and make a bowl for an all-in-one meal. You can layer everything you need―proteins, veggies, carbs―to fill you right up and also layer in the flavor you so desperately crave. Looking for inspo? Try these 20 recipes for healthy meals in a bowl.

Naturally, you'll find a lot of healthy salad recipes on this list because they come together in no time. Quick work lunch ideas for the win that are anything but boring! You'll find flavorful salmon recipes, quick shrimp recipes, and lean grilled chicken recipes that make sure you get in the right amount of protein while you also get your greens. There's even a breakfast salad that'll fuel you all morning.

You'll also find plenty of rice bowl recipes that layer in veggies and meat, just like you'd get your favorite chain restaurant. But making them from scratch saves money and lets you customize them however you want without annoying that poor worker behind the counter. So grab your favorite bowl, see what you've got in the fridge, and get layering a flavorful yet healthy meal that will nourish your mind, body, and soul.

1

Southwestern Salad

southwestern salad healthy meal in a bowl
Will Dickey

Top crispy romaine with black beans, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, avocado, and pepper jack cheese. Then treat yourself with a from-scratch creamy avocado dressing drizzled on top.

Get the Southwestern Salad recipe.

SHOP SALAD BOWLS

2

Harvest Bowl

savory apples recipes
Danielle Daly

Add a base of broth-soaked wild rice then layer with baby kale, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and chicken. Add lots of fun toppings like crunchy apples, tangy goat cheese, chopped almonds to finish.

Get the Harvest Bowl recipe.

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3

Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl

salmon rice healthy meal in a bowl
Antonis Achilleos

You know what makes everything better? Spicy mayo. It mixes up really fast and adds another layer of flavor to this Asian-inspired mix of rice, salmon, cucumber, and avocado.

Get Ree's Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl recipe.

4

Greek Salad with Chicken

greek salad healthy meal in a bowl
Con Polous

If you're looking for a complete meal in one salad, try a classic Greek salad topped with marinated grilled chicken. The toasted pita chips on top are such a treat and add just the right amount of carbs for balance.

Get Ree's Greek Salad with Chicken recipe.

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5

Stuffed Butternut Squash

stuffed butternut squash healthy meal in a bowl
C.W. Newell

If you want to make your meal even more nutritious, skip the bowl entirely and serve your dinner in some squash! The sausage, rice, and kale filling makes it a full meal.

Get Ree's Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe.

SHOP SHEET PANS

6

Tex-Mex Grain Bowl

tex mex grain healthy meal in a bowl
Ryan Dausch

Want to make plain quinoa more flavorful? Add chopped cilantro, lime zest and juice. Then layer on veggies, beans, and avocado for a taste of Tex-Mex in every bite.

Get Ree's Tex-Mex Grain Bowl recipe.

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7

Ginger Shrimp Salad

ginger shrimp salad healthy meal in a bowl
Ryan Dausch

Hello, burst of flavor! This simple salad will pop in your mouth with ginger, soy, lime, and jalapeño. And thanks to how quickly shrimp cook, it comes together in less than a half hour.

Get Ree's Ginger Shrimp Salad recipe.

8

Steakhouse Mashed Potato Bowl

steakhouse mashed potato healthy meal in a bowl
Ralph Smith

If you still want feeling of indulging at a steakhouse, make a bowl and provide yourself with some portion control! Pile up on the salad side and you can still enjoy a juicy steak and creamy mashed potatoes.

Get Ree's Steakhouse Mashed Potato Bowl recipe.

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9

Mediterranean Salmon-Veggie Grain Bowl

mediterranean salmon veggie grain healthy meal in a bowl
Con Poulos

Making salmon couldn't be easier: Just bake it on a foil-lined sheet pan. Then, mix it in with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese on a bed of quinoa.

Get Ree's Mediterranean Salmon-Veggie Grain Bowl recipe.

10

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Grain Bowl

instant pot bbq chicken grain healthy meal in a bowl
Ralph Smith

Letting your pressure cooker make your chicken means you can make this any time of year. Layer the chicken with rice, avocado, mango, jalapeño, sliced radishes, and a sprinkle of cilantro for endless flavor.

Get Ree's Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Grain Bowl recipe.

SHOP INSTANT POTS

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11

Breakfast Salad

breakfast salad healthy meal in a bowl
Caitlin Bensel

Yes, you can have salad for breakfast! Spread hummus on a plate and then layer with spinach, tomatoes, avocado, a light vinaigrette, a hard-boiled egg, and some pita chips. Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning to finish.

Get the Breakfast Salad recipe.

12

Grilled Pork Salad with Strawberries

pork strawberry salad healthy meal in a bowl
Ryan Dausch

Treat yourself to something a little different in less than 30 minutes. Grilled pork loin combines with sweet strawberries and tangy goat cheese, layered atop a bed of mixed greens.

Get Ree's Grilled Pork Salad with Strawberries recipe.

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13

Greek Salmon Couscous Bowl

greek salmon couscous healthy meal in a bowl
Danielle Daly

If you love the idea of a Greek salad but want something a little bit heartier, try adding couscous and some baked salmon. To give these bowls more flair, top with feta, olives, and a drizzle of tzatziki.

Get Ree's Greek Salmon Couscous Bowl recipe.

14

Chicken Fajita Salad Bowl

chicken fajita salad healthy meal in a bowl
Erica Kastner

Get all the flavor of your favorite Mexican-inspired meal but in a salad form! Layer spiced chicken, peppers and onions on a bed of greens and add all the fixings you want like guac, cheese, and salsa.

Get the Chicken Fajita Salad Bowl recipe.

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15

Sesame Pork Noodle Salad

sesame pork noodle salad healthy meal in a bowl
Ralph Smith

If you love ramen, here's an easy way to make it healthier! Discard the flavor packets and load the noodles with veggies, a fresh dressing, and grilled pork.

Get Ree's Sesame Pork Noodle Salad recipe.

SHOP SERVING BOWLS

16

Cauliflower Fried Rice

cauliflower fried rice healthy meal in a bowl
David Malosh

Love fried rice but want to stay low carb? Swap it out for cauliflower! That way you get a ton of veggies too, but they're disguised to make you feel like you're cheating a bit.

Get Ree's Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe.

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17

Kale Salad with Salmon

kale salmon salad healthy meal in a bowl
Ralph Smith

Salmon is not only a good source of of protein, but Omega-3 fatty acids, too. The crunchy kale salad with savory mushrooms will be so satisfying with the sweet and sticky glaze on the fish.

Get Ree's Kale Salad with Salmon recipe.

18

Poke Bowl

poke healthy meal in a bowl
Sommer Collier

You may have noticed a poke bowl place pop up in your town. They're so popular right now, and it's easy to see why once you assemble one for yourself. Layers of sushi-grade fish, rice, and veggies make a quick and flavorful meal.

Get the Poke Bowl recipe.

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19

Brown Rice Power Bowl

brown rice healthy meal in a bowl
Heather Christo

Powerful, indeed! This bowl has broccoli, brown rice, chickpeas and loads of fresh herbs for a delicious meal that would either make a light dinner or hearty lunch.

Get the Brown Rice Power Bowl recipe.

20

Sushi Rice Bowl

sushi rice healthy meal in a bowl
Erica Kastner

Skip the complicated rolling process and still get all the flavors of your favorite sushi rolls. Simply layer rice with fish, veggies, seaweed, ginger, and anything else you like and then dig in!

Get the Sushi Rice Bowl recipe.

SHOP CHOPSTICKS

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