Quinoa bowls are fast and easy to make, packed with nutrition, and alpha-gal friendly. Check out these 18 delicious quinoa bowl recipes and make one for your next meal!
The information provided on this site is based on my personal experience living with alpha-gal syndrome. I consistently cite and link to expert sources, but nothing published on this site should be perceived as medical advice.
Alpha-gal sensitivities vary by person. You should understand your dietary restrictions, making any adjustments needed, and directing any questions to your physician.
Quinoa is a nutritious, gluten-free grain. And because quinoa is plant-based, this complete protein is an excellent ingredient for alpha gals to incorporate into their diets.
Enter the quinoa bowl.
Like other grain bowls featuring rice or barley, a quinoa bowl recipe begins with a grain base. It’s then topped with a variety of ingredients, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, and sauces. Quinoa bowls are incredibly versatile and can be easily tailored to meet the dietary needs of someone living with alpha-gal syndrome. They are also quick and easy to whip up, making them a fantastic option for a healthy meal on a busy weekday. And because they travel well, leftovers make a perfect healthy lunch the next day.
Whether you enjoy spicy, savory, or sweet, this list of delicious quinoa bowl recipes has you covered!
Related Article: Power Up with Quinoa: A Complete Protein for Alpha Gals
In This Article
What is a Quinoa Bowl?
Similar to other bowl dishes you may know — like Buddha bowls and grain bowls — a quinoa bowl is a meal that layers a variety of ingredients to create a nutritious and filling entree. While Buddha bowls are typically vegan dishes made of entirely plant-based ingredients, and grain bowls may use any type of grain as a base, a quinoa bowl is built on a serving of this specific ancient grain and may include animal-based ingredients. Whether you follow a vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian, alpha-gal, or omnivore diet, quinoa bowl recipes are easy to customize to your dietary needs.
Fun Fact: A cup of quinoa has more grams of protein than a cup of white rice, brown rice, or wild rice, making it an awesome base for any grain bowl.
Best Type of Quinoa for Grain Bowls
There are four types of quinoa:
- White quinoa
- Red quinoa
- Black quinoa
- Tri-color or rainbow quinoa
My favorite is white quinoa because I find it to be the most versatile. It’s light and fluffy when cooked and works well in sweeter dishes (like hot breakfast cereal) as well as savory and spicy dishes (like quinoa salads and grain bowls).
Red quinoa and black quinoa are good options for savory and spicy quinoa dishes, but I find them to be a little too nutty for sweeter recipes. Tri-color quinoa isn’t a different variety of grain, but rather a blend of the other three types — white, red, and black.
How to Make a Quinoa Bowl
The overall recipe for quinoa bowls is pretty straightforward. Cook a batch of quinoa using your favorite method — in a rice cooker, on the stove, or in an Instant Pot — prepare your favorite toppings, and assemble the bowls.
While quinoa bowls are typically savory or spicy dishes served for lunch or dinner, several of the recipes below include ways to enjoy quinoa for breakfast. But no matter what time of day you dig into a quinoa bowl, you’ll find that the combinations are endless, allowing you to be creative in the kitchen and easily adjust any recipe to your taste.
What to Put in a Quinoa Bowl
Start with a fluffy quinoa base, then add the ingredients that appeal most to you!
Breakfast Quinoa Bowls
For a filling quinoa bowl first thing in the morning, top this versatile ancient grain with ingredients like sliced bananas, chunks of fresh fruit, shredded coconut, pomegranate seeds, or mini dark chocolate chips. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon and drizzle with a little honey, agave, or maple syrup to taste.
Protein
Although quinoa is a protein-packed grain, most savory and spicy quinoa bowls include an additional protein source. Vegan options include chickpeas, tofu, and black beans. Vegetarians may want to top their quinoa bowl with an over-easy egg. And alpha gals can also use poultry, fish, and seafood ingredients like grilled chicken, seared ahi tuna, and steamed shrimp.
Related Article: The Best Beans for Protein (Includes 30+ Tasty Recipes)
Vegetables
Once you’ve picked your protein, it’s time to add veggies for color, flavor, and nutrients. You can toss them in raw, steamed, or roasted. My favorite raw veggies for grain bowls include shredded carrots, shelled edamame, and fresh tomatoes. Good roasted vegetables include broccoli florets, bell peppers, butternut squash, beets, and sweet potatoes.
Toppings
Add a little crunch to your bowl with slivered almonds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, or sesame seeds. Sliced avocado and fresh herbs also make great quinoa bowl toppings.
Dressing or Sauce
The final step for a tasty quinoa bowl is to drizzle a dressing or sauce over your creation. Some of my favorites are balsamic vinaigrette, lemon-tahini dressing, and sriracha sauce.
NOTE: Because the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reports that most people with alpha-gal can tolerate “moderate, lean dairy,” some of the recipes below may include butter, cheese, or another dairy product. If you are an alpha gal who avoids dairy, please make a dairy-free substitution. From vegan butter to plant milk cheeses, Miyoko’s is one of my favorite brands. And, even if you can tolerate dairy, I recommend that alpha gals stick with vegetarian cheese.
Quinoa Bowl Recipes
1
Breakfast Quinoa Apple Bowl
2
Coconut Quinoa Fruit Bowl
3
Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
4
Quinoa Oatmeal Breakfast Bowls
5
Quinoa Hummus Bowl
6
Fall Lentil and Quinoa Bowls with Walnut Pesto
7
Veggie Power Bowl with Dijon Dressing
8
Quinoa Poke Bowl with Seared Tuna
9
Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
10
Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Quinoa Bowls
11
Chicken Burrito Bowl with Cilantro Lime Crema
12
Quinoa Spring Veggie Bowl
13
Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl
14
Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl
15
Mexican Baked Tofu Quinoa Bowl
16
Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Buddha Bowls
17
Tofu Buddha Bowl with Quinoa
Do You Like Quinoa Bowls?
What do you like to put in quinoa bowls? Do you have a favorite quinoa bowl recipe? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I’ve been searching for possible quinoa recipes and came across this! Such a helpful compilation! I would definitely try the breakfast variations!
Breakfast quinoa bowls are a great alternative to oatmeal in the morning.
I sent this post to my friends! And they love this list of delicious quinoa bowls! Such a keeper!
Made a chicken one for lunch yesterday. It was so easy to make and tasted great. Can’t wait to try another.
So glad you loved it!
I made the coconut quinoa fruit bowl, and it was so good! It was nice and hearty, and that tropical coconut was perfect for summer. I’ll have to make my way through the rest of the list!
Ooooh, that’s one of our favorites, too! A great alternative to oatmeal.