Simple Grain Bowl (Printable)

A customizable nourishing bowl with grains, proteins, and fresh toppings

# What You Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup uncooked brown rice
02 - 1 cup uncooked quinoa
03 - 1 cup uncooked farro

→ Proteins

04 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
05 - 2 cups grilled chicken breast, diced
06 - 2 cups firm tofu, cubed and pan-seared
07 - 2 cups cooked shrimp

→ Toppings

08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
10 - 1 cup shredded carrots
11 - 1 avocado, sliced
12 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
14 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs

→ Dressing

16 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
17 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
18 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
19 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
20 - 1 clove garlic, minced
21 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Cook your selected grain according to package instructions. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool slightly before assembly.
02 - Prepare your chosen protein as needed: grill chicken breast until cooked through, pan-sear tofu until golden, or use pre-cooked chickpeas and shrimp.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - Distribute cooked grain evenly among serving bowls. Top with selected protein, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, avocado slices, red onion, feta cheese, pumpkin seeds, and fresh herbs.
05 - Drizzle vinaigrette over each bowl immediately before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You can build a completely different bowl every single time depending on what's in your fridge, so boredom is basically impossible.
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout, yet tastes like you actually planned something thoughtful.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, making weeknight dinners feel less chaotic and more like an act of self-care.
02 -
  • Cook your grain with a bit of salt in the water, or it'll taste flat no matter how good your dressing is—I learned this the hard way by making bland quinoa for months.
  • Toast your pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet for just a few minutes before adding them; this one small step changes them from forgettable to the thing people ask about first.
03 -
  • If you're making these for meal prep, wait to dress or add avocado until you're ready to eat, otherwise everything gets soggy and brown.
  • Warm grain plus cool vegetables equals the perfect temperature balance—don't chill your grains unless you specifically want a cold bowl.
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