Our Best Rice Bowl Recipes I Healthy Bowl Recipes

If you like making rice bowl meals, you know they’re a blank canvas waiting to be created: just pile on protein, veggies and a light sauce, and dinner is done. That’s why we’re sharing our best rice bowl recipes—a collection of healthy bowl recipes made with tasty and nutritious ingredients for a balanced meal that’s ready to eat with just a few simple steps.

The whole‑grain rice in these heart healthy meals lays a fiber‑rich foundation that keeps you full and fuels steady energy. Lean proteins like chicken, shrimp or beans deliver muscle‑building power without excess saturated fat. Top it off with colorful produce for added crunch, vitamins and antioxidants, and a drizzle of low‑calorie sauce or avocado for a balanced meal in minutes.

Whether you like a classic chicken and rice recipe, crave a zesty shrimp rice bowl, favor Asian‑inspired dishes or prefer simple veggie bowls, we have a recipe idea for every food you’re craving.

Why Are Rice Bowls Popular?

Because everything goes in one bowl, rice bowls curb food waste and simplify cleanup. Leftover veggies, cooked meat or last night’s stir-fry can all find a second life over rice, transforming odds and ends into quick rice bowl recipes for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner. Plus, they’re endlessly customizable—swap in brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice, then top with your favorite protein for a shrimp rice bowl on Monday and a chicken and rice bowl on Tuesday. The make-ahead nature of healthy bowl recipes also makes them a meal-prep superstar: assemble the components on Sunday, store them separately and mix-and-match flavors all week long.

Why Are Rice Bowls Healthy?

Making rice bowls at home lets you trim salt, sugar and oil—so each bite is as kind to your heart as it is to your busy schedule. Starting with whole-grain rice adds fiber for steady energy, while lean proteins boost energy and muscle power without adding unhealthy fats to your diet. Piling on colorful produce means every forkful delivers vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The end result is a balanced meal that checks the boxes for protein, healthy carbs and veggies—no complicated nutrition math required.

Healthy Rice Bowl Recipes

Power up your day with these healthy bowl recipes loaded with good‑for‑you grains, colorful produce and smart fats. Whether you’re craving a plant‑based risotto, seafood paella or a veggie‑packed grain bowl, each dish is designed to keep sodium and saturated fat low while packing in fiber, vitamins and tons of textures and flavors.

Egg and Kale Grain Bowl

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

30 mins

Garlicky kale, creamy avocado and jammy eggs crown brown rice for this balanced bowl that’s meal‑prep friendly and ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes.

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Risotto Primavera

Photo Credit: iStock

45 mins

For this flavor packed risotto, creamy Arborio rice gets its richness from slow stirring instead of cream, while asparagus and spring veggies brighten each bite with color and vitamins.

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Shrimp Paella

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

75 mins

Saffron‑infused brown rice, chicken sausage and shrimp come together in a single skillet for a festive Spanish‑inspired dish that doubles as a flavorful shrimp rice bowl that’s surprisingly low in saturated fat.

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Butternut Squash Risotto

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

60 mins

Sweet roasted squash melts into velvety rice, creating a cozy vegan entrée that relies on olive oil and vegetable broth for its silkiness.

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Asparagus Rice Bowl

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

60 mins

Lemon zest, fresh herbs and tender asparagus keep this vegetarian bowl light and bright, yet satisfying enough to fill you up at lunch or dinner.

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Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

30 mins

Juicy shrimp, crisp bell peppers, snow peas and water chestnuts flash‑cook in one wok with olive oil and toasted sesame seeds, giving you a balanced, high‑fiber dinner in just 30 minutes. Serve it over brown rice for an easy shrimp rice bowl.

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Chicken and Rice Bowl Recipes

When you want comfort food that still feels light, a chicken rice bowl recipe strikes the perfect balance. Lean chicken delivers filling protein without extra fat, while brown or wild rice supplies fiber to keep you energized. Add a rainbow of veggies and a tasty sauce—barbecue, soy‑ginger or creamy coconut—and you’ve got a one‑dish meal that’s easy to prepare, quick to clean up and friendly to both your heart and your wallet.

Taco Bowl

Photo Credit: Adam Fisher, Baldwin Publishing

35 mins

This flavor packed bowl is made with lean ground chicken seasoned with low-sodium taco spices and loaded with fiber-rich brown rice and black beans. Drizzled with a tangy Greek yogurt salsa verde, this bowl has big taco flavor in a quick and easy recipe.

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Southern BBQ Chicken Stir-Fry

Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

30 mins

Leftover chicken and rice turn smoky‑sweet with reduced‑sodium BBQ sauce in this chicken and rice bowl. With 33 g of protein, this low‑fat meal is ready to eat in no time with minimal work.

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Ginger Chicken

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

15 mins

Ready in just 15 minutes, this chicken and rice bowl relies on lean chicken breast, fiber‑rich brown rice and a bright ginger‑scallion sauce for big taste with very little prep work.

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Chicken Stir-Fry

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

30 mins

Broccoli, peppers and strips of chicken soak up a low sodium soy glaze for this delicious stir fry recipe. Use pre‑cut veggies to get this meal from stove to table in under 30 minutes.

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Rice Bowl Recipes with Asian Flair

Take a quick trip across Asia without leaving your kitchen. From classic stir‑fried rice to ginger‑soy chicken and fragrant Indian curries, these rice bowl recipes showcase bright herbs, warming spices and umami sauces that make every bite exciting. Better yet, our recipes use lean proteins, brown rice and reduced‑sodium seasonings so you get all the flavor and none of the fat or sodium found in standard Asian takeout.

Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry with Brown Rice

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

45 mins

Lean flank steak, crisp broccoli and a hoisin‑ginger glaze transform classic takeout meal into this lighter, fiber‑rich dinner you can make at home.

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Stir-Fried Rice

Photo Credit: Taylor Ann Spencer, Baldwin Publishing

15 mins

For a simple and delicious dish full of your favorite Asian flavors, make this recipe using leftover brown rice, frozen veggies and low‑sodium soy sauce. Cooked up in one wok, this healthy vegetarian meal is on the table in just 15 minutes.

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Red Lentil Carrot Curry Bowl

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

150 mins

Roasted carrots, protein‑rich lentils and a cashew cream sauce layer over basmati rice for plant‑powered comfort that packs 11 g of fiber per serving.

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Build Your Own Rice Bowl Recipes Tonight

Healthy bowl recipes are made to fit many different appetites. For even more variety, use quinoa instead of rice or swap in tofu for meat. With these healthy rice bowl recipes as your guide, you’ll have endless, heart healthy meals ready in no time without the hassle of a ton of dishes to clean.

Here are more simple and healthy dinner recipes to try:

9 Easy Summer Meal Prep Recipes

Easy Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less

Low Sodium Asian Recipes to Try Now

Easy Mediterranean Dinners in 30 MInutes

High Protein Salads

Our Best Rice Bowl Recipes