It’s true: Food just tastes better in a bowl! Which is why we eat most of our meals out of them. From breakfast to dinner and sweet to savory, there’s no meal or flavor a bowl can’t accommodate — even when you’re watching what you eat. These 11 Whole30 bowl recipes are great for any time of day and in multiple Whole30-friendly ways.
1. Egg Roll in a Bowl With Creamy Chili Sauce
We admit: We were nervous when we saw “crack slaw” included in this recipe. But fortunately, it’s just a nickname, not a name based on its addictive qualities (though it is pretty flippin’ delicious). With a whopping 14 ingredients, including pantry staples like salt—way above our norm—it’s not the easiest weeknight dinner, but it is great for nights when you’re looking for a break from simple protein and veg.
2. Grain-Free “Oatmeal”
It’s all too easy to overdo it on eggs when you’re doing Whole30. If this sounds familiar, we urge you to run to the kitchen and make this oat-free “oatmeal.” Apples, dates, chia seeds, almonds, and coconut are pulsed in a food processor (or high-speed blender) until grainy and topped with almond butter and your nut milk of choice. Buh-bye, eggs. Hello, flavor-filled heaven.
3. Chile-Lime Fish Taco Bowls With Citrus Crema
The best fish tacos always fall apart anyway. We say skip the soggy tortilla and pile the good stuff into a bowl. Start by marinating the fish for a solid 2-6 hours — patience is a virtue? — mix together the homemade crema while the citrus soaks into the flaky fish; prep the cabbage, salsa, and guac; and grill or roast the fish when it’s ready. All that’s left is filling your bowl (and your belly).
4. Paleo Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl
Finally! We didn’t think it was possible, but we found a Whole30 meal with minimal ingredients. (And by minimal, we mean three.) Make the sweet potato porridge by adding roasted potato, almond butter, and almond milk to a food processor or blender, thoroughly mix the ingredients, and top with whatever you please.
5. Epic Whole30 Poke Bowl
Have you ever made your own poke bowl? Not only are they crazy-easy to make, but they’re more affordable than buying out (and they taste much better too). We love the crunch from cucumber, mango, and seaweed, and the protein-rich mix of tuna and salmon (why choose one?). But the best part is definitely the sauce, a rich mix of coco aminos, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, and ginger.
6. Pesto Cauliflower Rice Breakfast Bowls
Sometimes store-bought is simply better. But that isn’t the case when it comes to pesto. Homemade pesto is almost always tastier, and you can whip it up in minutes. This Whole30 pesto uses kale, lemon, garlic, almonds, sea salt, olive oil, and nutritional yeast to create a thick paste-like sauce that you’ll want to put on every meal. But before you toss it on everything, give this filling breakfast bowl a go.
7. Whole30 Chipotle Burrito Bowl
What would we do without cauliflower rice? This Whole30 burrito bowl lets you enjoy everything about burritos — yes, including the perfectly spiced rice — in a low-carb, super-healthy way. This recipe uses grilled chicken, but feel free to substitute steak, shrimp, salmon, or anything other Whole30-friendly protein. It also calls for homemade guac and salsa, but buying store-bought is totally fine (just make sure they’re Whole30 compliant).
8. Whole30 Thai Breakfast Bowl
You don’t need to turn to takeout to enjoy some seriously awesome Thai food. This breakfast salad has one of the most satisfying dressings we’ve ever tasted — thanks in large part to the curry powder and cashew butter — and is so full of colors we can actually taste the rainbow. For extra protein, top with a fried egg, diced avocado, or grilled chicken.
9. Grilled Tropical Chicken Bowls
Does it get any better than vacation in a bowl? We don’t think so. This tropical chicken bowl may not be as heavenly as a work-free week and beachfront view, but it gets pretty close. Tangy, sweet, creamy, crunchy, and packed with protein, this is definitely our new go-to for when those Monday blues hit.
10. Plantain Buddha Bowl With Cilantro Avocado Sauce
Buddha buddha buddha buddha rockin’ everywhere. Anyone who’s done Whole30 knows that breakfast can be tough. But this breakfast bowl combines some classic ingredients, like avocado and bacon, with new flavors, like plantains and turmeric, making it way more exciting than another plain, hard-boiled egg. Yup, this recipes gets it right—and the debloating effects from doing Whole30 can make us feel pretty tight too.
11. Slow Cooker Mango Jalapeño Pulled Pork Taco Bowls
We saved the longest ingredient list for last. But trust us, it’s worth every pinch, chop, squeeze, and sauté (not to mention there are tons of double items on there). It’s safe to say this isn’t the best meal to attempt when you’re already hangry, but it is a wonderful meal for when you plan in advance. (Psst… Using a slow cooker for the pork makes things way easier.) We love the juicy pulled pork, sweet pineapple, and heartiness the citrus-infused cauliflower rice gives it.
