21 Healthy Rice Bowls That Are High in Protein (2024)

These healthy rice bowl recipes are customizable meals that everyone will want to get their hands on. With black, brown, wild or cauliflower rice as a tasty, filling base, we pile these bowls high with all of your favorite veggies, beans, fish, meat and herbs to create delicious flavor combinations that you'll love, from spicy shrimp taco-inspired bowls to bright, fresh sushi bowls. Each serving has at least 15 grams of protein, so you know these recipes will help keep you feeling full. Whip up recipes like our Salmon Rice Bowl and Easy Chicken Tinga Rice Bowls for dinner, then box up the leftovers for a totable work lunch.

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Salmon Rice Bowl

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Inspired by the viral TikTok trend, this tasty bowl makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner. With a handful of healthy ingredients, like instant brown rice, heart-healthy salmon and lots of crunchy veggies, you'll have a filling and flavorful meal in just 25 minutes. Looking to cut down on carbs? Try swapping in riced cauliflower in place of the brown rice.

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Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing

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For this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp.

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Turmeric Rice Bowl with Garam Masala Root Vegetables & Chickpeas

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This fragrant turmeric rice bowl topped with leftover spiced roasted root vegetables and chickpeas is inspired by flavors from India for an easy, vegetarian dinner.

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Shrimp Poke

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Not a fan of raw fish? No problem--this poke (pronounced poke-ay) recipe substitutes cooked peeled shrimp instead. This fast, veggie-loaded dish includes seasoned brown rice for a hearty boost of fiber.

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Easy Chicken Tinga Rice Bowls

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Leftover chicken tinga, pinto beans and bell peppers combine to make a hearty, flavorful rice bowl. Finish with your favorite toppings like avocado and lime wedges.

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Southwestern Cauliflower Rice Bowls with Shrimp & Avocado Crema

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These healthy Southwestern cauliflower rice bowls, topped with black beans, corn and smoky chipotle shrimp, get a cool-down from homemade avocado crema and take just 30 minutes to make.

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Chickpea Rice Bowls with Chicken & Halloumi

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Present this meal buffet-style so everyone can craft their own bowls and get what they want (including an argument-free dinner). Chickpea "rice" has twice the protein and five times the fiber of brown rice. Find it in many supermarkets or online.

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Coconut Black Rice Bowls with Tofu & Purple Asparagus

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Black beans, black rice and black sesame seeds all contain anthocyanins, potent antioxidant compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation. So "forbidden" rice isn't just striking, it's also a serious nutrition upgrade. Simmering it in coconut milk adds rich aroma and flavor.

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Roasted Veggie & Tofu Brown Rice Bowl

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A healthy and satisfying vegan lunch for one, featuring roasted butternut squash, broccoli, peppers and onions with simple brown rice, lime-marinated tofu and creamy cashew tahini sauce.

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Banh Mi Black Rice Bowls

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For this easy dinner recipe, we've taken inspiration from the popular Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, but lost the bun to make room for one of our favorite whole grains: black (aka forbidden) rice. To make these healthy grain bowls vegetarian, simply use additional tamari in place of the fish sauce.

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Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl

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Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and just go for this grain bowl. Start with a base of brown rice and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious and easy meal.

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Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl

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Simple brown rice and black beans serve as the backdrop for sautéed veggies and taco toppings!

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Tuna Poke

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Poke (pronounced poke-ay), a Hawaiian word meaning "to chop" or "to cut," refers to a traditional Hawaiian salad of diced raw fish in a simple, soy-based sauce with punchy seasonings like toasted sesame and chopped scallion greens. These tuna poke bowls feature seasoned brown rice and fresh veggies for a healthy, satisfying meal packed with protein and fiber.

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Tofu & Roasted Vegetable Grain Bowl with Pumpkin Seeds

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Crispy tofu lends protein to this burrito bowl-inspired veggie-packed grain bowl that's perfect for a quick and easy dinner or packable lunch for work.

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Salmon Sushi Grain Bowl

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Get all the delicious flavors of sushi without the time-consuming rolling with this quick grain bowl recipe. All you need is 15 minutes to get this healthy dinner on the table or to pack it up for lunch at work.

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Teriyaki Tofu Rice Bowls

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With a handful of shortcut ingredients from your local specialty grocery store, you can prepare an entire week's worth of high-fiber meals in about 15 minutes. Look for precooked wild rice packets to cut down on prep time. Plus, wild rice is a good source of fiber and each pouch of cooked rice heats in 3 minutes. Topping these bowls with prebaked tofu also cuts down on the time it takes to make this quick meal-prep lunch.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & Rice Bowls

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A bowl of tender shredded chicken, hot cooked rice and slightly spicy black beans served with fresh toppings is a meal that will satisfy anytime. Make this slow-cooker chicken dish on the weekend and reheat throughout the week for easy at-work lunches or dinner at the end of a long day. For a variation, swap the brown rice for a grain medley.

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Gochugaru Shrimp & Black Rice Bowls

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This shrimp rice bowl gets its kick from fiery gochugaru—Korean-style red pepper flakes. Don't let that carrot-pickling liquid go to waste! We stir it into the cooked rice in these bowls to really bump up the flavor.

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Black Bean-Cauliflower "Rice" Bowl

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This aromatic cauliflower rice bowl comes together in minutes and is a simple meal for one. Using frozen riced cauliflower instead of rice keeps the carbs in check--and makes for quicker prep.

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Meal-Prep Curried Chicken Bowls

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Curry doesn't have to take hours to prepare. With the help of our sheet-pan meal-prep chicken (see associated recipe) and some cooked whole grains, you can make these meal-prep bowls in just a few minutes! Keep them in the fridge for an easy dinner on a busy weeknight or for healthy grab-and-go lunches throughout the week.

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Cuban Cauliflower Rice Bowl

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In this riff on a healthy grain bowl recipe we use cauliflower rice instead of another whole grain like brown rice to cut back on carbs and load up on veggie servings. A simple citrusy mojo sauce drizzled on top gives this easy lunch or dinner a Cuban flair.

21 Healthy Rice Bowls That Are High in Protein (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest high protein rice? ›

Wild rice

It has 6.5 grams of protein per cup cooked, and it has a very nutty flavor. "Wild rice a great source of manganese, phosphorus, and zinc, and has a really lovely chewy texture," says Hilbert. Cooking wild rice takes about 50 to 60 minutes, which is a bit longer than white or brown rice.

Are rice bowls healthy for weight loss? ›

Studies that have analyzed the effects of serving size have shown that reducing the size of the rice bowl reduces calorie intake, body weight, and blood sugar levels ( 28 ). Therefore, rice can be weight-loss-friendly or calorie-dense, depending on the serving size.

How much protein is in a rice bowl? ›

Rice, white, long-grain, parboiled, enriched, cooked, 1 cup
Protein (g)4.6
Folate, total (mcg)127.98
Vitamin B-12 (mcg)0
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) (mcg)0
Folic acid (mcg)124.82
34 more rows

What protein goes well with rice? ›

Protein. Now that we have our core rice base, we can choose which proteins to add on. A few example proteins include chicken, eggs, beef or vegan and vegetarian options include: beans, quinoa, tofu and tempeh.

What is the healthiest rice to eat for weight loss? ›

Brown rice is the most recommended variety for those hoping to lose weight. Loaded with dietary fibre, brown rice boosts metabolism and has 111 calories for every 100 grams.

Can I eat a bowl of rice everyday? ›

Cardiologists say that while sugar is considered the top enemy for your heart, people who overeat rice are at an equal risk of getting a heart disease. So, people who eat too many candies or too much rice should watch out their heart health.

How to eat rice to reduce belly fat? ›

Immune Boosting Faux Fried Rice

Made with cooled or chilled brown rice, this recipe can help promote belly fat loss, as the resistant starch that forms during the rice's cooling process has been found to increase fat burning and reduce fat storage in the body, The Nutrition Twins explain.

What to eat instead of rice to lose weight? ›

8 Healthy alternatives to white rice
  • Brown Rice. Brown rice is a whole grain that retains its bran and germ. ...
  • Quinoa. Quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that the body needs. ...
  • Cauliflower Rice. ...
  • Wild Rice. ...
  • Barley. ...
  • Bulgur Wheat. ...
  • Farro. ...
  • Chickpea Rice.
Nov 28, 2023

Are potatoes high in protein? ›

A medium potato has 3 grams of protein, more than most vegetables and about the same amount as 1/3 cup of milk. The quality of the potato protein, including how easy it is to digest and the amino acids it contains, is considered to be high.

How many calories are in 2 eggs? ›

Egg Nutrition

Eggs are one of nature's most nutritious foods. Each serving of 2 eggs (105 g) contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals, only 160 calories and an incredible amount of nutrition. The nutrition tables speak for themselves! So include eggs as part of your healthy diet!

How much protein should I be eating a day? ›

The recommended dietary allowance to prevent deficiency for an average sedentary adult is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. For example, a person who weighs 165 pounds, or 75 kilograms, should consume 60 grams of protein per day.

What is high protein rice examples? ›

Brown rice is the crowd favorite of high-protein grains. It is nutritious, hearty, and delicious. Brown rice is also a versatile grain that can be used in many different types of cooking, such as Mexican- and Asian-style cuisines.

What fruits are high in protein? ›

A Quick Review. Though most fruits are low in protein, a few types are higher in this nutrient than others. Guava, avocado, jackfruit, passionfruit, blackberries, apricots, pomegranate arils, kiwis, and cherries are among the highest protein fruits you can eat and may help you reach your daily protein needs.

Which vegetable is high in protein? ›

Some vegetables that have high amounts of protein include Brussels sprouts, green beans, yellow sweet corn, asparagus, broccoli, and potatoes.

What kind of rice has the highest nutritional value? ›

Brown rice is an intact whole grain, containing both the bran and the germ, which are the most nutritious parts of the grain. They contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For this reason, brown rice may contain more fiber and nutrients than white rice.

Is there such a thing as protein rice? ›

In contrast to other prominent cereal proteins, rice protein is recognized for its hypoallergenic nature, exceptional digestibility, and robust nutritional profile (Tian et al., 2023). Rice protein is composed of glutelin (60–80%), albumin (4–22%), globulin (5–13%), and prolamin (1–5%) (Kim et al., 2014).

What kind of rice do bodybuilders eat? ›

Although white rice is a great alternative for bodybuilders and athletes, it may not be the best option for sedentary people. For those bodybuilders training fewer than 4 days per week or suffering from a metabolic disease, brown rice is considered a better choice.

What are the healthiest high protein grains? ›

While there's no official definition of what a high-protein grain is, dietitians agree that grains with at least 5 grams of protein per serving make the list. Some of the best grains high in protein include spelt, kamut, amaranth, quinoa, and oats.

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