It turns out we have a lot of Buddha Bowl recipes on the blog! Full of nutrients, Buddha bowls are easy, delicious, and perfect for meal-prepping ahead- a simple way to eat more plant-based foods during the busy week. (Updated January 2024.)
But First, What is a Buddha Bowl?
While visiting a small town in Laos, a few years ago, I learned the true meaning of a Buddha Bowl. Young Buddhist monks walked in a single file through the town center carrying empty bowls each morning. Local villagers would line the streets, filling each bowl with rice, veggies, and leftover bits and pieces of food, sharing what little they had. This would become the monk’s main meal for the day. It was such a beautiful ritual to watch, truly moving and rich with tradition, trust, and community; I’ll never forget it.
In essence, a Buddha bowl is a one-bowl meal, typically vegan, consisting of rice (or whole grains), fresh or cooked vegetables, plant proteins like beans, legumes, or tofu, leafy greens or herbs, seeds or nuts, and a flavorful sauce. Buddha bowls are typically served cold, but some versions are served with a warm base.
What you’ll need (Buddha Bowl ingredients)
- One Whole grain: rice, quinoa, farro, barley, millet, teff, bulgur, buckwheat
- One Protein: Tofu, Tempeh, Seitan, beans or legumes or other plant-based protein
- An assortment of vegetables: Opt for seasonal, organic if possible. Fresh or roasted vegetables both work!
- Greens: leafy greens, microgreens or sprouts, and fresh herbs.
- A Sauce or Dressing– Our favorite peanut sauce, tahini dressing, Creamy Cashew Basil Dressing, miso dressing, ponzu sauce, etc.
- Nuts or seeds- pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, almonds, walnuts, etc.
- Here is more useful info on meal prep!
And Now… Our BEST Buddha Bowl Recipes!
Oaxacan Buddha Bowl
This Oaxacan Buddha Bowl Recipe is grain and gluten-free, made with roasted chipotle sweet potatoes and roasted peppers over a bed of warm, seasoned black beans. It’s topped with crunchy cabbage slaw, avocado and my favorite thing ever, toasted Chipotle Maple Pecans. One of my personal favorites!
Bali Bowl with Peanut Tofu
Bali Bowl with Peanut Tofu, black rice, roasted sweet potatoes, shredded cabbage, radish, snow peas and Peanut Sauce. A delicious vegan buddha bowl recipe the whole family will love!
Lentil Bowls
These Lentil Bowls are simple and tasty! Loaded up with fresh seasonal veggies, greens, microgreens, nuts, avocado, fresh herbs and our everyday tahini sauce! Vegan and GF
Indian Cauliflower Buddha Bowl
Savory oven-roasted Indian Cauliflower, Chickpea, and Tofu Bowls served over fluffy basmati rice with Cilantro Mint Chutney, seasoned with a simple Madras Curry dressing. A simple dish rich with fragrant spice and amazing flavor. Healthy, flavorful, and vegan!
Crispy Sesame Tempeh Bowl
This Crispy Sesame Tempeh bowl is easy, flavorful, and has the best texture! Create a healthy vegan bowl with brown rice and veggies and dinner is good to go!
The winter Buddha
This winter Buddha Bowl recipe is made up of roasted Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), parsnips, mushrooms, onions and lacinato kale over barley (or other whole grain) drizzled with a Zaatar-spiced Tahini Sauce – a vegan plant-based Buddha bowl, perfect for fall!
Bulgogi Bowl
This Korean Buddha Bowl recipe is so flavorful! Made with bulgogi jackfruit in the most flavorful sauce with rice, kimchi and veggies!
Baked Falafel Bowl
Meal-prep these tasty falafels and freeze for the busy workweek. Serve with seasonal veggies, greens, warm grains and a drizzle of Every Day Tahini Sauce. So yummy! Perfect in vegan buddha bowls!
The Vietnamese Buddha (Bahn mi Bowl)
Made with Crispy Tofu, rice noodles, pickled carrots and radishes, crunchy cucumber and cabbage and spicy, vegan Bahn Mi dressing! This Buddha bowl recipe is bursting with Vietnamese flavor! Feel free to use zucchini noodles, sweet potato noodles or kelp noodles!
Roasted Cauliflower Chimichurri Bowls!
These filling vegan buddha bowls are full of flavor and loaded up with healthy veggies. Served over seasoned black beans (and optional rice) with Mexican Slaw, radishes, avocado, cilantro and pickled onions.
Miso Mushroom Buddha Bowl!
A flavorful Miso Mushroom Bowl with brown rice, avocado, cabbage, carrots, daikon, edamame and a delicious Miso Ginger Dressing. Vegan!
Green Goddess Bowl
Loaded up with steamed and fresh seasonal veggies and a vegan, this low-calorie Buddha Bowl recipe is drizzled with a Green Goddess Dressing that you will want to drink. Serve over grains or greens or both. A very clean-eating, plant-based, vegan buddha bowl.
Kabocha, Millet & Chickpea Bowl
Made with Berbere-Spiced Kabocha Squash, roasted chickpeas, shallots, and spinach over a bed of healing millet, drizzled with coconut lime mint sauce—a vegan, plant-based Buddha bowl recipe, full of vibrant flavor and spice.
The Zen Buddha!
This Japanese-inspired Zen Buddha Bowl recipe is made with fresh seasonal veggies and a light, citrusy Ponzu Dressing, which can be made with sesame ginger tofu (or seared ahi tuna). Vegan and Grain-free adaptable! (Try it with zucchini noodles or kelp noodles!)
Winter Bliss Bowl
Brighten up your day with this Winter Bliss Bowl! A simple vegan bowl made with beets, quinoa, avocado, and chickpeas that can be made in under 30 minutes! Great for meal-prepping and guaranteed to lift your spirits!
The Seoul Bowl!
This Korean-inspired buddha bowl recipe ( aka bibimbap) is made with Gochujang baked Tempeh, steamed spinach and shiitake mushrooms, kimchi, and pickled cucumbers- a tasty vegan version of Bibimbap.
Coconut Rice Bowl
Delicious Coconut Rice Bowl is healthy and adaptable! Curried jasmine rice cooked in coconut milk and topped with tofu or your choice of protein and seasonal vegetables. All tossed with a simple, flavorful sauce, fresh cilantro, mint and toasted coconut flakes.
Nourish Bowls
Warming flavors, perfect for fall or winter. This bowl is made with roasted cauliflower, lentils, brown rice, and kale, topped with a refreshing carrot slaw and a turmeric vinaigrette.
Fajita Bowls
Made with roasted portobello mushrooms and peppers served over Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice– a fast and flavorful bowl that can be made on a sheet pan – perfect for busy weeknights! Vegan and Grain-free.
Miso Tofu Bowl
This simple, tasty Miso Tofu Bowl with Rice and Veggies is easy and flavorful! It’s baked in the oven for an easy sheet pan dinner!
VEGAN Poke Bowls
Made with seasoned tofu, served over warm brown rice, surrounded with healthy veggies and a delicious citrus ponzu sauce! A healthy, delicious vegan Buddha bowl!
Moroccan Mujadara Bowl
A comforting, healthy vegetarian meal of lentils and rice, with fragrant Moroccan spices, served with caramelized shallots, fresh veggies, ( or roasted veggies) pine nuts and optional yogurt. Gluten-free and Vegan adaptable.
Cauliflower Rice Bowl
These Cauliflower Rice Bowls are topped with tofu, avocado, mushrooms and scallions in a flavorful miso sauce.
Sunshine Buddha Bowl
Made with fresh crunchy raw veggies- like grated beets, carrots, kohlrabi, sunchokes, radish & jicama over nutty brown rice and a delicious, sunflower seed “tahini” sauce. Vegan and GF!
The GlowIng Buddha
A healthy, hearty vegan Buddha bowl loaded up with fruits and vegetables that make the most impact on your skin, giving you a healthy glow! Vegan and delicious! (Plus a true story about my dad who went vegan at age 65- and what it did to his skin! )
Moroccan Cauliflower Chickpea Bowl
Made with Roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, onions, and flavorful Moroccan spices, over basmati rice all roasted one one sheet-pan in 30 mins flat!
Morning Grain Bowls
Vegan-adaptable Morning Grain Bowls-are full of nutritious, healthy plant-based ingredients. Energizing and healthy these will keep you fueled all day long!
Caribbean Blackbean and Mango Bowls
Made with roasted purple cabbage, sweet potatoes and tofu (or chicken) baked in the most flavorful Caribbean Marinade, served over a bed of seasoned black beans with fresh mango and lime! A delicious vegan bowl with bright, sunny Caribbean flavors!
Easy Burrito Bowls
Loaded up with healthy veggies, rice and beans and a flavorful Creamy Vegan Cilantro Sauce! So easy and healthy!
Shawarma Bowls
These vegan-adaptable Tofu Shawarma Bowls are loaded up with healthy veggies, and can be made on a sheet pan. Easy and delicious, this vegan buddha bowl is one of my favorites! ( Make sure to scroll to the recipe to see vegan option!)
More Favorite Bowls
Here’s a selection of bowls that contain fish, meat or dairy. A gentle way to incorporate more plants into the omnivore diet.
How to Build A Buddha Bowl
- Start with a base of rice or any whole grain which can be served cold or warm.
- Top with your favorite plant-based protein (tofu, seitan, edamame, beans or legumes) also warm or chilled.
- Top with leafy greens and/or fresh seasonal veggies or roasted veggies.
- Drizzle with flavorful dressing or sauce.
- Sprinkle with seeds or nuts.
- Top with fresh herbs and/or microgreens.
Hope you enjoy these Buddha Bowls! Pick out a few to try out in the next coming weeks. Make the components ahead for mid-week lunches!
I will be continually updating this list, so make sure to check back!
Happy healthy New Year!
xoxo
Print
31+ Best Buddha Bowls Recipes
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4-6
- Category: bowls, vegan,
- Method: assembled
- Cuisine: global
- Diet: Vegan
Description
31+ Best Buddha Bowl Recipes for 2024! All are plant-based, vegan-adaptable, and loaded up with healthy veggies, whole grains and plant-based protein. Globally inspired, these nourishing bowls are packed full of flavor! Scroll down to the recipe card to learn how to build the BEST bowl!
Ingredients
Buddha Bowl Ingredients:
- cooked whole grains- brown rice, quinoa, farro, brown rice, etc.
- plant-based protein- tofu, seitan, tempeh, beans or legumes
- fresh vegetables- cabbage, kale, arugula, spinach, cucumbers, carrots, beets, bell peppers, etc.
- microgreens
- seeds or nuts
- dressing or a sauce
Instructions
- Start with a base of brown rice or whole grains which can be served cold or warm.
- Top with plant-based protein ( tofu, seitan, edamame, or beans).
- Then add greens or fresh veggies.
- Sprinkle with seeds or nuts.
- Top with a mound of fresh sprouts.
- Drizzle with a dressing or sauce
Notes
These can be made ahead and are packable! Wait to add the dressing until serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 395
I didn’t follow the recipes exactly but more the guidelines of the bowls. I riffed on the Oaxacan bowl with a homemade cilantro dressing and I did a Mediterranean bowl with chickpeas, barley, cucumber, mint, and other veggies with a tzatziki dressing. They were a hit for our lunches and I’ll be riffing on these for years to come!
Perfect, love it!
I’ve just shared this with so many people. In fact, because of these delicious recipes a friend and I are planning a plant-based dinner party this month for our carnivore loving husbands. We may have converts!!
Oh wow! Such a great idea, let us know how it goes!
love your recipes, all the ingredients are my favorites, thank you!
Thanks so much Marcy!
I have tried 5 of these so far, and cant wait to try more. Some of my favorite meals ever!
Oh wow Quinn, so glad you are enjoying!
I love Buddha bowl
We do too!:)
Fantastic! Looks healthy and delicious at the same time.
😊
Vintage, brilliant, stupendous
Thank you so much for posting these! I’ve tried a couple so far and really enjoyed the glow bowl =) I just printed out a bunch more to make for my husband and I since we are trying to eat healthy whole food based meals.
Awesome Twila! Thanks so much.
Hi
How long the buddha bowls can stay fresh in the refrigerator?
Most ingredients stay fresh up to 4 days.
Hi, these all look good! I’m confused by the template recipe though, what do you mean by fresh sprouts?
It’s just a rough guide on how to build a buddha bowl. Click on individual links in the post to take you to specific recipes!
Thank you, Sylvia Fountaine! These are delicious and so wholesome…
Thanks so much!