When in Doubt, Make a Bowl
Let’s be real—trying to cook a new recipe every night can feel like a full-time job. It’s time-consuming, expensive, and honestly, not always sustainable when life gets busy. That’s why when I’m short on time or energy, I stick to my go-to strategy: I make a bowl.
Instead of reinventing the wheel each week, I focus on batch prepping a few core ingredients—a couple of proteins, some carbohydrates, and a mix of veggies and sides. With those basics ready to go, I can mix and match ingredients into quick, well-rounded meals that are both nourishing and satisfying.
One of the easiest proteins to prep and build around? Chicken breast. Here's how to bake it:
First, prep your chicken:
For each of these, bake boneless, skinless chicken breasts at 400°F for 25 minutes with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can shred it, slice it, or cube it depending on the dish.
Then comes the flavor. Here are 5 ideas:
- Balsamic Veggie-Packed Bowl:
- Chicken breast
- Roasted vegetables: broccoli, onion, brussel sprouts, and zucchini. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and roast at 375 for 20 minutes.
- Top with fresh edamame and balsamic glaze
- Serve over your choice of base.
- Chicken Fajita Bowl:
- Chicken breast
- Roasted or sautéed bell pepper and onions with fajita seasoning
- Top with salsa, black beans, cheese, fresh avocado, and nonfat plain Greek yogurt.
- Serve over your choice of base.
- Buffalo Chicken Bowl:
- Shredded chicken breast
- Buffalo sauce
- Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- Lime juice, salt, and pepper
- Mix all ingredients, top with chopped green onions. Optionally, add fresh coleslaw on top, like this one.
- Serve over your choice of base.
- Mediterranean Lemon Feta Bowl:
- Chicken breast
- Tomato and cucumber salad (chopped tomato, cucumber, red onion, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, fresh herbs)
- Feta cheese
- Squeeze of lemon
- Dollop of hummus
- Serve over your choice of base.
- Chicken Salad Bowl:
- Shredded chicken breast
- Nonfat plain Greek yogurt and dijon mustard
- Lemon juice
- Chopped celery, bell pepper, red onion, and grapes
- Sliced almonds
- Parsley, dill, salt and pepper.
- Mix together all ingredients and serve over your choice of base.
For your base, here are some options to choose from. Find what works best for you and your family!
- Roasted sweet potato
- Russet or baby potatoes
- White or brown rice
- Cauliflower rice
- Quinoa or lentils
- Leafy greens for a salad-style bowl
Why do these bowls offer a great option for a quick and easy meal to use your batch prepped ingredients?
- Flexible – Adapt to what you have in your fridge
- Efficient – Prep once, eat many ways
- Balanced – Easily incorporate protein, fiber, and healthy fats. These are a great way to introduce vegetables in a more unique and flavorful way!
- Satisfying – Endless flavor combinations
Which bowl will you try first?
