Simple Power Bowl Recipes & Protein Ideas [Step By Step Guide] (2024)

Didn’t manage to get anything prepped this weekend? Too tired to cook, but know that fast food isn’t what you want? A power bowl is the solution!

Quick easy, lunch or dinner meals that are going to be packed with protein to keep you full and veggies to keep your nutrition on point. All while being delicious.

Sure, you could call it a high protein salad—but where’s the fun in that?

In fact, you could get even more creative and call it a Buddha bowl:

Buddha bowls, sometimes referred to as glory or hippie bowls, are hearty, filling dishes made of various greens, raw or roasted veggies, beans and a healthy grain like quinoa or brown rice. Sometimes they also include toppings like nuts, seeds and dressings for added texture and flavor. – Per Eat This

Power Bowls

A power bowl, or protein bowl, is a quick and easy meal focused around “power foods” that are satisfying physically and mentally.

Cheaper than eating out, and just as fast, power bowls could be any of the 20 lunch salad ideas I recently provided…OR it could include a little more cooked food.

In fact, I’d say the ingredients are what make a protein bowl slightly different than a standard salad.Power bowls also prove that it’s possible to eat clean with packaged food.

Too often the “eat better” goal starts with making radical shift, rather than little steps and feels hard to maintain. Power bowls are a great way to start upping the veggies, while still using some of the frozen or prepared foods you might be right now.

Another bonus to creating these high protein meals is that we’re balancing blood sugar, which can help control hunger and help us to lose body fat. Win, Win.

Food bowl recipes are really as easy as 1, 2, 3…so let’s go!

Are Power Bowls Healthy?

Absolutely, power bowls can be a health-conscious choice, depending on how you build them. The foundation lies in your selection of greens, grains, and proteins. You should opt for whole, unprocessed foods like fresh veggies, quinoa or brown rice, and lean proteins.

The toppings and dressings are where many people go astray. While nuts and seeds offer healthy fats, piling them on can quickly escalate the calorie count. The same goes for dressings—stick to options like lemon juice or a dash of extra virgin olive oil to keep things on the lighter side.

Don’t overlook the perks of using frozen fruits and veggies, either. They’re not just convenient; they can also be equally nutritious as their fresh counterparts, and they’re often a lot cheaper. Plus, they won’t go bad if you don’t get around to prepping them for a week or so.

How to Build Your Protein Bowl

A power bowl is literally throwing a number of things in to a bowl for a quick nutritious meal. The term has been around for awhile thanks to R.D.’s trying to give people ideas on eating healthier.

It’s reminding you that you don’t always need a recipe to make a meal. Sometimes, you can act fast without tons of meal prep to create different healthy lunch ideas throughout the week.

To build the perfect power bowl, you’ll want to start by building a base, then add a source of protein, and then finish off with some delicious toppings.

Step 1: Power Bowl Base Options

For the foundation of your power bowl, the base is your chance to integrate grains, greens, and healthy carbohydrates to provide a satisfying texture and essential nutrients. Any and all vegetables are game (fiber and nutrients keep you feeling full longer). Especially in the fall, I love sweet potatoes or butternut squash as a delicious and filling option for your base.

Whole grains like brown rice and quinoa are also great base options, and you can mix them with veggies like cucumbers, brussels sprouts, or roasted carrots for some variety.

Tips for creating a great base:

• Fresh veggies: pre-chop on weekends or grab what you need to make the bowl {yes, I rip broccoli off the head and keep on moving}.
• Pre-chopped: I am willing to spend the extra $1 on pre-chopped if it means that I eat more meals at home because that saves A LOT on eating out and calories
• Frozen: 3 minute prep – toss in a bowl with a tiny bit of water to steam.
• Canned: rinse before eating to clear out some of the sodium and watch for BPA cans {again it’s a process}.
• Aim for fruits with fiber that don’t cause spikes in blood sugar {i.e. apple, pear, orange}.
• If you don’t want to use the whole fruit, rub lemon on the remaining half to prevent browning while you store it in the fridge to finish later.Wild Rice Protein Bowl from Lean Green Bean

Step 2: Power Bowl Protein Options

Once you have a good base, you’ll want to get some high-protein options in there to make your meal more fulfilling and nutritionally balanced. Protein is key for muscle repair and growth, and it also helps keep you feeling full longer.

Animal-based protein sources—like chicken, salmon, and steak—are quick and easy ways to meet your protein goals. If you prefer a veggie power bowl, go with plant-based picks like tempeh and lentils to increase the nutritional value of your meal.

Here are some good protein sources you can use:

Egg Whites

• Five grams of lean protein and just 25 calories per serving
• For recipe purposes: 3 tbsp of egg whites = Approx. 1 large egg

Tempeh

• Doesn’t have to be cooked before serving, so you could just warm it in your bowl.
• Avg 8 to 10g fiber and 18g protein from a plant-based option

Meat

• Canned salmon or tuna is quick and easy (you can also have it on the shelf to always have available)
• Fresh fish, chicken breast, turkey, even lean steak are all good options (Always be willing to pay a bit more for the hormone free versions or your sacrificing short term for long term health)
• Frozen veggie burgers – If you’re making a dietary switch to vegan, these are definitely an option. Just realize many contain a soy isolate which can cause bloating if eaten frequently.

Don’t miss this fabulous plant-based cozy Quinoa Buddha Bowl from Simply Quinoa

Beans

• Lentils, black beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), edamame, peas
• Buy in bulk and cook a HUGE batch on the weekend, then divide and freeze {cheaper than canned}
• Rinse canned beans before use

Vegan

• Chia or hemp seeds
• Tofu
• Quinoa

Check out these plant based power bowls for ideas:

• Autumn Harvest Protein Power Bowl from Emily Kyle
• Quinoa Power Bowl with Maple Chipotle Brussels from Dishing Out Health
• Tumeric Tahini Roasted Beets from Jar of Lemons
• Spicy Chipotle Tofu Burrito Bowl from Whole Food Bellies
• Hawaiian BBQ Tofu Bowl from Emilee Eats

Step 3: Toppings/Add-Ons

The final piece is how you want to dress or add some extra flavor to your bowl. This is the piece where you can take the basics of veggies and protein and turn it in to either a deliciously healthy lunch idea or an unhealthy choice.

Sauces and dressings add some flavor to your meal, but make sure you aren’t choosing options that are super high in fat or calories, and try to stay away from sauces with a ton of sugar.

My favorite toppings and add-ons:

• Nuts {sunflower seeds, pine nuts, cashews}
• Avocado, coconut oil
• Salsa, hummus, lemon juice and ACV, EVOO – are all easy and delicious dressing options
• Goat cheese, feta, ricotta

7 High Protein Power Bowl Recipe Ideas

I always love new ideas to making clean eating easy, but sometimes I just can’t figure out how to make it happen without some specific examples.

In case you’re like me, here are a few ways to make some bowls using things you probably already have at home.

Power Bowl 1: Panera Breakfast Recreation at home

Toss red peppers and mushrooms in a sauté pan with a little EVOO
After a few minutes add in egg whites and handful spinach
Pour in to a bowl and top with sliced turkey, pesto or hummus

Another breakfast power bowl idea from C It Nutritionally>>

Power Bowl 2: Feed me now Mexican

– Pop a frozen bag of veggies in the microwave to steam
– Meanwhile open a can of roasted tomatoes and black beans, put in bowl
– Remove veggies, place bowl with tomato and beans in microwave for 1-2 minutes
– Combine in same bowl and top with smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and avocadoAnother Mexican power bowl idea from Chew Out Loud >>

Power Bowl 3: 15 minutes to dinner

Pre-Heat toaster oven to 425
Pop in the microwave one cup frozen green beans, one cup frozen brussel sprouts with a little water for 3 minutes
Cook salmon for 15 minutes in toaster over
Combine, yum!

Power Bowl 4: Mediterranean Power Bowl

Ok this recipe actually requires some prep or using left over foods, but it was too delicious not to share. Thanks to Real Food with Dana for another great healthy idea and it’s Whole30 compliant if that’s on your must have list.

There you have it, a slow of ways to make a quick meal without resorting to eating out. You can truly switch things up in so many different ways by changing just one component of the bowl!

Power Bowl 5: Classic Chicken Power Bowl

Start with a base of quinoa or brown rice. (I like to make this ahead of time and batch it out for use throughout the week
Heat up some pre-cooked grilled chicken strips
Top with avocado slices and some goat cheese

Power Bowl 6: Teriyaki Turkey Power Bowl

This is a low-cost option that can be made in less than 30 minutes and it’s one of my favorite weeknight meals.

Start with a base of brown rice
Add ground turkey, which is a leaner alternative to ground beef (optional: you can add some minced garlic for extra flavor)
Add some matchstick carrots and broccoli florets (you can heat them in the microwave or toss them in with the ground turkey)
Top with a low-sodium teriyaki sauce (like this organic option that has no soy or gluten)

There you have it, a slew of ways to make a quick meal without resorting to eating out. You can truly switch things up in so many different ways by changing just one component of the bowl!

Looking for more easy meal ideas?

• Daily Harvest vs Splendid Spoon
• Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It? A Cost Breakdown
• Ideas for more Plant Based Meals

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