15 Satisfying Meals in a Bowl You Can Make Instead of Soup (2024)

These meals aren't soup, and they're not cold cereal, either. They're just as flavor-packed and nutrient-rich as a plated meal, but they happen to be served in a bowl. (Which, in our opinion, makes them even better.) So get in on the trend of burrito bowls, smoothie bowls, noodle bowls, and other meals in bowls to inspire this week's menu.

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Quinoa and Butternut Bowl

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Stir cinnamon and nutmeg-infused butternut squash, maple syrup, and lemon juice into cooked quinoa. While this is technically a brunch recipe, we think it's savory and filling enough to pass for lunch or dinner. A poached egg on top complements the flavors perfectly.

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Sesame-Shrimp Noodle Bowl

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Colorful vegetables, succulent shrimp, and an irresistible sesame-soy sauce make this noodle bowl practically a work of art. Since we've added shrimp and tofu to the mix, it packs a whopping 33 grams of protein per serving. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's truly a recipe worth bookmarking for later.

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Korean Bibimbap

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Build your own Korean-inspired rice bowl using our recipe, which starts with a delicious bulgogi-marinated steak and ends with a just-spicy-enough gochujang (red chili paste) sauce. Don't forget to put an egg on it.

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Butternut Burrito Bowls

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Chicken and Chickpea Buddha Bowls

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Vegetables galore, a bit of chicken, and crunchy chickpeas: This healthy buddha bowl recipe feeds both your stomach and your soul. And while you can opt for purchased chickpeas, we highly recommend roasting your own. That way, you'll have leftovers for a nutritious snack later.

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Bacon and Egg Rice Bowls

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Is it breakfast? Is it lunch? We won't judge if you make this cheesy bacon and egg breakfast bowl for every meal of the day. It's a five-ingredient meal (plus a few pantry staples) you can easily make whenever you need a bowl of nourishment.

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Winter Garden Polenta

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Creamy polenta is topped with a variety of vegetables in this healthy bowl recipe that's perfect for warming cold nights. Top everything with crumbled Parmesan (because why wouldn't you?). Even better, this easy bowl meal comes together in your slow cooker.

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Ginger-Berry Smoothie Bowl

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Breakfast in a bowl is not limited to cereal. For this smoothie bowl recipe, we've combined beautiful strawberries and beets. Bonus: The berries, beets, and ginger can help reduce inflammation.

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Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry

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No need to order takeout with this easy bowl recipe for dinner. Make a sauce, add the squash and chickpeas, and voila! Serve the curry over your favorite hot-cooked whole grain and a sprinkle of cilantro.

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Chicken Meatball Noodle Bowl

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This recipe is part salad, part pasta with meatballs. Just toss the mixture in a bowl with the delicious from-scratch lime juice and honey sauce and no one will ask questions. Complete with rice noodles, this dinner is also entirely gluten-free.

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Spicy Beef-Noodle Bowl

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Skip the takeout menu drawer and make this beef and broccoli dish instead. With only seven ingredients and a start-to-finish time of 20 minutes, making it yourself is probably easier, anyway. No chopsticks are required.

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Veggie and Fish Noodle Bowl

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If you're looking for a new way to use tilapia, this is the bowl meal for you. Fresh broccoli and carrots add nutrients and color to this stunning noodle bowl. By quickly baking the fish under high heat, your dinner will be ready in 25 minutes flat.

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Hot Grains Power Bowl

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Sure, oatmeal is always served in a bowl. But this recipe is so much more filling than the typical version. Multigrain hot cereal combined with carrots and dried fruit takes plain oatmeal almost to the level of carrot cake. We use almond milk to keep the dish nondairy, but you can use whatever you like.

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Soba Noodle Bowl

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At first glance, you may think "this looks like soup." It might, but we'd argue that the ratio between broth and chicken, soba, carrots, and sugar snap peas disqualifies it from the soup category. Either way, jalapeño pepper and soy sauce give the noodle bowl an unexpected kick.

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Burrito Bowls

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Considering how delicious these burrito bowls are, the kids will never know you swapped the rice for cauliflower rice. The toss-together one-dish dinner is an easy, low-carb meal anyone can enjoy by adding their favorite toppings. And if you've got leftovers on hand, you can add pork loin or chicken.