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Main Dish and Entrees recipes
55 Hearty Meals in a Bowl

55 Hearty Meals in a Bowl

October 07, 2019

Jennifer Causey

Sometimes simplicity is the best solution. Treat yourself to a one-bowl meal (and we're not talking about soup) that mixes everything up in a great tumbled combination of awesome flavors. Whether you're into seafood, rice, burritos, noodles, or any other favorite dish or flavor, you can find a fantastic bowl that suits your tastes and feeds your appetite. If all you've ever used those bowls for are soup, salad, or cereal, get ready to widen those horizons!

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Shrimp and Bean Burrito Bowl

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Shrimp and Bean Burrito Bowl Recipe

Sweet chili sauce is not too sweet, spicy, or salty--great for an instant glaze on the shrimp, in marinades, or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or chicken kebabs. Find it in the international aisle of most supermarkets. If you can't find it, sub regular chili sauce (such as Heinz), or skip the sauce and squeeze a lime wedge over top. For a vegetarian main, use cubed tofu instead of shrimp, and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock in the bean mixture. Serve with Mango-Jalapeño Slaw.

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Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl

Photo: Jennifer Causey Prop: Lindsey Lower

Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl Recipe

This is a Tex-Mex riff on the Korean rice dish bibimbap, in which various toppings are arranged over a bed of rice. Here, burrito bowl must-haves such as smoky black beans, fresh pico de gallo, and slaw top brown rice.

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Quinoa Bibimbop Bowls

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Quinoa Bibimbop Bowls Recipe

Bibimbop is a Korean dish that means "mixed rice." For this version, we took a hearty grain like quinoa and served it with crunchy vegetables and a fried egg. Jalapeño seeds add heat to the spicy-sweet beef mixture; remove the seeds and membranes before mincing for sensitive palates. Let the family build their own bowls, so this way, everyone's happy.

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Carne Asada Bowls

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Carne Asada Bowls Recipe
Instead of a fried shell, crunchy tortilla chips mingle in a base of crisp, sturdy romaine. Serve with rice.

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Chicken Gyro Bowls

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Chicken Gyro Bowls Recipe

The spice rub for the meat marries just as well with fish fillets, shrimp, or lean ground lamb or beef. Make a few extra batches of the rub and store it in an airtight container to use all summer long.

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Tangy Chicken-Farro Bowl

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Tangy Chicken-Farro Bowl Recipe
This fresh and colorful bowl is high in protein and makes a good post-workout dish. If you have trouble finding lingonberry, cranberry preserves are a fine substitute.

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Millet Amaranth Buddha Bowls

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Christine Wolheim

Millet Amaranth Buddha Bowls Recipe
Imagine a classic Asian-style rice bowl, but with a risotto-like blend of millet and amaranth as the base. At Vital Root in Denver, chef-owner Justin Cucci tops the grains with loads of vegetables and tofu, then drizzles on a silky tahini sauce.

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Peruvian Steak and Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Lydia Purcell

Peruvian Steak and Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl Recipe
This hearty steak dish is chock full of protein and healthy fats.

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Mushroom and Chicken Marsala Bowls

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Mushroom and Chicken Marsala Bowls Recipe
Rich chicken thighs are supremely satisfying when paired with lots of buttery browned mushrooms.

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Kasha with Kale and Pancetta

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Christine Wolheim

Kasha with Kale and Pancetta Recipe
In our favorite new weeknight meal, kasha and a poached egg rev up greens and smoky pork. The recipe comes from Sandy Sonnenfelt, prepared-foods director at Market Hall Foods and its flagship store, The Pasta Shop in Oakland.

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Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Vegetarian Burrito Bowls Recipe
These easy, delicious veggie bowls can be on your table in less time than it takes to drive to the local taco joint.

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Tex-Mex Rice Bowl

Photo: José Picayo

Tex-Mex Rice Bowl Recipe
Tex-Mex Rice Bowl is your answer to a quick & easy one-dish meal for those busy weeknights. A pouch of precooked brown rice gives a head-start to getting this meal to the table fast. Serve with Avocado-Butter Lettuce Salad.

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California Caprese Bowl

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Lydia Purcell

California Caprese Bowl Recipe
The bright and fresh flavors of caprese salad are combined in this one-bowl meal.

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Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Kale

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Jessie Baude

Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Kale Recipe

Poke (pronounced POH-keh) is a popular Hawaiian salad featuring raw tuna. "Sushi-grade" tuna means that it is the highest-quality fish offered at the market. Seek out a reputable fishmonger or retailer, and don't be afraid to ask where the fish came from and how long it has been there.

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Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Bowl Recipe
Making stock has never been easier, thanks to the slow cooker. You can also use unsalted chicken stock as a substitute.

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Banh Mi Bowls

Photo: Victor Protasio; Styling: Paige Hicks

Banh Mi Bowls Recipe

We deconstruct the classic Vietnamese sandwich for a whole-grain bowl that's perfect for make-ahead lunches or dinner. If you haven't quick pickled your own vegetables before, you'll be suprised by how easy it is. Not sure how to use the rest of the chile paste? Try tossing green beans with a couple teaspoons (along with honey, soy sauce, garlic, and canola oil) and roasting, spread a little on grilled cheese, and add it to dressing for cucumber salad.

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Shrimp and Pea Rice Bowl

Photo: José Picayo

Shrimp and Pea Rice Bowl Recipe
Serve this delicious shrimp bowl with a side of bread to round out the meal if desired.

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Southern Barbecue Bowl

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Lydia Purcell

Southern Barbecue Bowl Recipe
This bowl offers some big Southern flavors. With tangy white sauce, barbecue pork shoulder and pickles, this bowl tastes like it's straight out of a great BBQ joint.

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Chicken Yakitori Rice Bowl

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Chicken Yakitori Rice Bowl Recipe
Mirin is a rice wine low in alcohol, and most of it cooks off in this recipe. For a nonalcoholic substitute, use a mixture of equal parts rice vinegar and sugar.

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Quinoa and Brown Rice Bowl with Vegetables and Tahini

Quentin Bacon

Quinoa and Brown Rice Bowl with Vegetables and Tahini Recipe
"While in Los Angeles filming the second season of Top Chef Just Desserts last year, I discovered Café Gratitude, a vegan café with a cult following," Gail Simmons says. "For me, its fresh, simple food was the perfect antidote to all that sugar. I became addicted to aptly named dishes like I Am Fortified—a bowl of whole grains with lots of cooked vegetables. When I got back to New York, I developed my own version."

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Egg-Topped Quinoa Bowl with Kale

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele

Egg-Topped Quinoa Bowl with Kale Recipe

Here, the yolk of the fried egg serves as a dressing (without you having to do anything extra) to coat nutrient-dense quinoa. Pancetta adds a snap of savory satisfaction to earthy kale, while all-season cherry tomatoes, meaning you can make it whenever, lend a fresh pop of bright flavor. Sub steel-cut oats, bulgur, or leftover brown rice for quinoa. The hot sauce gives this simple dish a kick in the pants.

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Crunchy Bulgur Bowl with Kale, Chicken, and Pear

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Crunchy Bulgur Bowl with Kale, Chicken, and Pear Recipe
This quick grain dish is a great meal for the whole family.

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Thai Crunch Bowl with Salmon

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Lydia Purcell

Thai Crunch Bowl with Salmon Recipe
Edamame and carrots offer a great texture for the star player in this dish, the salmon.

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Glazed Salmon and Rice Bowl

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen

Glazed Salmon and Rice Bowl Recipe
A soy sauce, honey, and vinegar mixture doubles as a marinade for the salmon and a drizzle over the finished dish.

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Brown Rice Bowl with Miso, Poached Egg, and Kale-Radish Slaw

Photo: Brian Kennedy; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Brown Rice Bowl with Miso, Poached Egg, and Kale-Radish Slaw Recipe
Nutrient-rich kale has a mild flavor and becomes tender very quickly, making it a snap to add to speedy meals like this one.

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Grilled Hawaiian Bowl

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Lydia Purcell

Grilled Hawaiian Bowl Recipe
Simple grilled ingredients make for a tropical vacation in one bowl.

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Southwestern Bowl

Photo: Travis Rathbone; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth

Southwestern Bowl Recipe
Mango salsa, quinoa, black beans, red pepper, avocado, corn and pumpkin seeds? You can call this the healthy burrito bowl.

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Korean Shrimp BBQ Bowl

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Lydia Purcell

Korean Shrimp BBQ Bowl Recipe
This zesty bowl combines great barbecue flavors with Korean influences, topped with shrimp and a fried egg.

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Fresh Thai Noodle Bowl

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Fresh Thai Noodle Bowl Recipe
Our simple, speedy trick for creating deep and full-bodied flavor: infusing store-bought vegetable stock with sautéed fresh garlic and ginger.

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Chicken and Broccoli Rice Bowl

Photo: José Picayo

Chicken and Broccoli Rice Bowl Recipe
The whole family will love this cheesy chicken and broccoli rice dish. Don't leave out the almonds—they add flavor and crunch to this one-dish meal. Serve with cremini mushrooms sauteed in butter and white wine and seasoned with fresh thyme.

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Bok Choy and Tofu Noodle Bowl

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Bok Choy and Tofu Noodle Bowl Recipe
Ginger and garlic flavor this brothy Asian noodle bowl full of tofu and bok choy. Serve Bok Choy and Tofu Noodle Bowl as a complete "one-bowl" meal.

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Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Karen Shinto

Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg Recipe
Technically a seed (so no gluten), quinoa is touted as a superfood for its high fiber and protein. The runny yolk of a poached egg creates a little sauce on top.

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Summer Veggie Rice Bowl

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Summer Veggie Rice Bowl Recipe
Fresh tomatoes, zucchini, basil, and toasted pine nuts bring this rice salad to life. Serve it with 1 pound roasted fresh green beans.

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Brown Rice Bowl With Turkey

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Brown Rice Bowl With Turkey Recipe
This is a delicious dinner that makes it a cinch to eat a nutritious meal during the week. This one-dish meal serves up about one-fourth of your daily requirement of vitamin B6--which is crucial for a healthy immune system. It's also super lean and very low in sugar.

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55 Hearty Meals in a Bowl

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Shrimp and Bean Burrito Bowl

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Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl

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Quinoa Bibimbop Bowls

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Carne Asada Bowls

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Chicken Gyro Bowls

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Tangy Chicken-Farro Bowl

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Millet Amaranth Buddha Bowls

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Peruvian Steak and Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl

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Mushroom and Chicken Marsala Bowls

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Kasha with Kale and Pancetta

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Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

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Tex-Mex Rice Bowl

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California Caprese Bowl

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Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Kale

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Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

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Banh Mi Bowls

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Shrimp and Pea Rice Bowl

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Southern Barbecue Bowl

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Chicken Yakitori Rice Bowl

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Quinoa and Brown Rice Bowl with Vegetables and Tahini

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Egg-Topped Quinoa Bowl with Kale

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Crunchy Bulgur Bowl with Kale, Chicken, and Pear

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Thai Crunch Bowl with Salmon

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Glazed Salmon and Rice Bowl

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Brown Rice Bowl with Miso, Poached Egg, and Kale-Radish Slaw

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Grilled Hawaiian Bowl

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