one-bowl dinners

Ever get to 6pm, stare into the fridge, and wonder if “girl dinner ideas” can stretch beyond crackers and cheese? You’re not alone. In fact, recent Pinterest searches for one-bowl dinners have skyrocketed, proof that we’re all craving meals that are quick, filling, and don’t leave the kitchen looking like a war zone.

This post is your cheat sheet to 15 delicious one-bowl dinners that are as satisfying as they are simple.

Think flavour-packed protein, colourful veggies, and wholesome food all tucked into one tidy bowl. We’ll cover Asian-inspired rice bowls, protein dinner bowls, veggie-packed options, and even a few lighter choices perfect for hot summer nights.

Whether you’re after easy cheap healthy meals that still feel special, or you want to up your game with healthy meal bowls that double as Instagram-worthy recipe bowls, you’re in the right place.

Ready to swap dinner chaos for simple bowl recipes that taste amazing and keep you full? Let’s dive into these 15 healthy one-bowl dinners you’ll be making on repeat.


1. Bang Bang Chicken Bowl

Spicy, creamy, and crunchy, this one’s a crowd-pleaser. Pair crispy chicken with rice, fresh veggies, and that famous Bang Bang sauce.

It’s one of the best bowl recipes when you want a weeknight dinner that feels like a takeaway but is secretly a healthy recipe bowl.

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 cup cooked jasmine rice
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • ½ cucumber, sliced
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt
  • 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 1 tbsp sriracha

Instructions:

  1. Cook chicken in a pan until golden and cooked through.
  2. Mix yoghurt, chilli sauce, and sriracha to make the bang bang sauce.
  3. Assemble rice, veggies, and chicken in a bowl.
  4. Drizzle with sauce, dig in.

2. Chicken Poke Bowl

Fresh, colourful, and loaded with protein, this Hawaiian-inspired classic is perfect for dinner in a bowl recipes that don’t weigh you down.

Think tender chicken, rice, avocado, and sesame for a healthy power bowl vibe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 chicken breast, grilled and sliced
  • 1 cup sushi rice, cooked
  • ½ avocado, diced
  • 1 small carrot, shredded
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions:

  1. Mix soy sauce and sesame oil into the cooked chicken.
  2. Place rice in a bowl, then top with chicken, avocado, and carrot.
  3. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
a bowl of food sitting on a wooden table

3. Vietnamese Rice Bowl

Packed with fresh herbs, pickled veggies, and lean protein, this is a prime example of bowls recipe perfection.

Light enough for dinner ideas for hot days summer, but still filling thanks to rice and protein.

Ingredients:

  • 150g grilled pork, chicken, or tofu
  • 1 cup cooked rice noodles or rice
  • ½ cup pickled carrots & daikon
  • Fresh mint & coriander
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce or soy sauce

Instructions:

  1. Cook your protein of choice.
  2. Layer rice/rice noodles in a bowl.
  3. Add pickled veg, herbs, and protein.
  4. Drizzle with fish/soy sauce.

4. Seafood Rice Bowl

If you’re bored of chicken, this is one of those yummy dinner ideas that feels fresh and exciting.

Top fluffy rice with prawns, salmon, or mixed seafood, plus a zingy dressing for a nourishing bowl meal idea that ticks the nutritional food box.

Ingredients:

  • 200g prawns or mixed seafood
  • 1 cup cooked jasmine rice
  • ½ cup broccoli florets, steamed
  • ½ red pepper, sliced
  • Juice of ½ lime

Instructions:

  1. Sauté seafood in a little olive oil until cooked.
  2. Fill bowl with rice, broccoli, and peppers.
  3. Top with seafood, squeeze over lime juice.

A bowl of food with carrots, cucumbers and other vegetables

5. Easy Korean Rice Bowl (Bibimbap-Style)

Flavours that are bold but balanced. With egg, veggies, and a spicy kick, this healthy one bowl meal is hearty yet simple.

Perfect if you’re after easy bowl dinners that feel like a treat without the fuss.

Ingredients:

  • 1 fried egg
  • 100g beef mince (or tofu)
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • ½ cup spinach (steamed)
  • ½ carrot, julienned
  • 1 tbsp gochujang paste

Instructions:

  1. Cook beef mince with soy sauce and garlic.
  2. Assemble rice, veggies, beef, and fried egg in a bowl.
  3. Top with gochujang paste. Mix before eating.

6. Teriyaki Salmon Bowl

Sticky teriyaki salmon on a bed of rice and stir-fried greens makes for wholesome food that’s rich in healthy foods with protein.

Add sesame seeds and spring onion for that fresh bowl recipe finish.

Ingredients:

  • 1 salmon fillet
  • 2 tbsp teriyaki sauce
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • ½ cup green beans, steamed
  • Spring onions & sesame seeds

Instructions:

  1. Bake salmon in teriyaki sauce (200°C, 15 minutes).
  2. Serve over rice with beans.
  3. Sprinkle spring onions and sesame seeds.

7. Veggie Buddha Bowl

One of the best vegetarian options for healthy yummy dinners.

Fill your bowl with roasted veg, chickpeas, and quinoa for protein and veggie meal prep that doubles as bowls for lunch tomorrow.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa, cooked
  • 1 cup roasted veg (courgette, peppers, carrots)
  • ½ cup chickpeas, roasted with paprika
  • 2 tbsp hummus

Instructions:

  1. Roast veg and chickpeas at 200°C for 20 minutes.
  2. Layer quinoa, veg, and chickpeas in a bowl.
  3. Add hummus on top.

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one-bowl dinners

8. Spicy Beef & Broccoli Bowl

A proper hearty one for weeknight dinner cravings. Quick stir-fried beef with garlic, ginger, and broccoli makes one bowl meals healthy and satisfying.

Ingredients:

  • 200g lean beef strips
  • 1 cup cooked rice or noodles
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes

Instructions:

  1. Stir-fry beef and broccoli together.
  2. Add soy sauce and chilli flakes.
  3. Serve over rice or noodles.

9. Mediterranean Falafel Bowl

Fresh tomatoes, cucumber, olives, hummus, and falafel piled onto rice or couscous.

This is dinner bowls done the easy healthy bowls dinners way, with tons of flavour and variety.

Ingredients:

  • 4 falafels (shop-bought or homemade)
  • 1 cup couscous or rice
  • ½ cup cucumber & tomato salad
  • 2 tbsp hummus
  • 1 tbsp olives

Instructions:

  1. Cook couscous or rice.
  2. Add falafel, salad, hummus, and olives.
  3. Enjoy warm or cold.

10. BBQ Chicken & Sweet Potato Bowl

Perfect easy protein bowls, this recipe bowl combines shredded BBQ chicken, roasted sweet potato, and crunchy slaw.

A filling easy meal that feels like comfort food, minus the guilt.

Ingredients:

  • 1 chicken breast, shredded
  • 1 tbsp BBQ sauce
  • 1 medium sweet potato, roasted
  • ½ cup red cabbage slaw

Instructions:

  1. Roast sweet potato cubes at 200°C for 25 minutes.
  2. Shred chicken and toss in BBQ sauce.
  3. Serve with sweet potato and slaw in a bowl.

11. Greek Chicken Gyro Bowl

Think of this as a deconstructed wrap, juicy chicken, rice, tzatziki, and salad. It’s one of those amazing supper ideas that never gets old.

Ingredients:

  • 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced
  • 1 cup rice
  • ½ cup chopped cucumber & tomato
  • 2 tbsp tzatziki
  • 1 tsp feta cheese

Instructions:

  1. Cook rice and slice chicken.
  2. Layer rice, chicken, cucumber, tomato, and feta.
  3. Top with tzatziki.

12. Black Bean & Quinoa Power Bowl

Protein-packed and loaded with fibre, this one is perfect if you want health protein meals or power bowl meal prep.

Easy, cheap, and a great way to keep your energy steady.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • ½ cup black beans
  • ½ cup corn
  • ½ avocado, diced
  • 1 tbsp salsa

Instructions:

  1. Heat beans and corn together.
  2. Layer quinoa, beans, corn, and avocado in a bowl.
  3. Add salsa on top.

13. Caprese Grain Bowl

For fresh bowl recipes that scream summer, layer whole grains, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

It’s simple bowl recipes made stylish, and one of the best dinner ideas for one if you’re cooking solo.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cooked farro or rice
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 60g mozzarella, torn
  • Fresh basil
  • 1 tsp balsamic glaze

Instructions:

  1. Cook grains.
  2. Top with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
  3. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

14. Turkey Taco Bowl

Flavourful clean eating recipes don’t have to be boring, this one has lean turkey, salsa, beans, and avocado for a protein dinner bowl that’s quick, tasty, and family-friendly.

Ingredients:

  • 150g turkey mince
  • 1 cup rice
  • ½ cup black beans
  • 2 tbsp salsa
  • ¼ avocado, sliced

Instructions:

  1. Cook turkey with taco seasoning.
  2. Layer rice, beans, turkey, salsa, and avocado.
  3. Enjoy with a squeeze of lime.

15. Lentil & Veggie Curry Bowl

Warm, filling, and utterly comforting. This is one of those supper bowls recipes ideas that proves meals in bowls can be hearty while still being packed with healthy ingredients.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cooked lentils
  • 1 cup mixed veg (cauliflower, carrot, peas)
  • 1 tbsp curry paste
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup rice

Instructions:

  1. Cook veg with curry paste and coconut milk.
  2. Stir in lentils.
  3. Serve curry over rice.

Feeling Stuck with Food? This Might Help

If you’re constantly guessing what to eat, skipping meals, or grabbing last-minute takeaways that don’t match your goals – it’s not willpower that’s missing. It’s structure.

That’s why I created the Fuel & Feel Good Meal Prep Mini Guide – your no-fluff roadmap to planning, portioning, and prepping meals that actually work for your life.

Inside, you’ll get:

  • Simple meal-building formulas
  • Cheat sheets for protein, carbs, fats, and hand-size portions
  • Meal prep strategies for your energy and personality
  • Practical tips for staying consistent – without tracking every bite

Whether you’re new to meal prep or just want to feel more in control around food, this guide helps you stop winging it and start fuelling your body with confidence.


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Conclusion

There you have it, 15 one-bowl dinners that prove you don’t need a dozen pots and pans to eat like a queen.

From protein-packed bowls to veggie delights, these healthy recipes bowls are quick, tasty, and actually keep you full.

So go on, ditch the dinner drama and grab a bowl. Dinner just got a whole lot easier.


Next Steps

“Good food is all about balance, sometimes that means fitting everything into one bowl.”


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one-bowl dinners
Brooke