Best-Ever Meals in a Bowl (That Are NOT Soup)

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.

With colorful veggies, succulent shrimp, and an irresistible sesame-soy sauce, this noodle bowl is 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 dinner bowl recipe worthy of bookmarking for later.

Related: 5-Ingredient Dinners You (Yes, You!) Can Create on the Busiest Evenings

Winner, winner, chicken dinner (in a bowl). This well-rounded recipe ensures everyone gets enough of everything: fried chicken, slaw, beans, bread, and veggies. Make sure the whole family is hungry—this dinner bowl makes 10 servings!

Buy It: 84-Ounce Classic Glass Serving Bowl ($8, Target)

Build your own Korean-inspired rice bowl at home using our DIY formula that starts with a delish bulgogi-marinated steak and ends with a just-spicy-enough gochujang (red chili paste) sauce. Don't forget to put an egg on it!

This burrito bowl is going to taste amazing to anyone, but especially those following a Paleo diet. The classic burrito bowl gets a healthy makeover here by using spiralized butternut squash as the base instead of rice. It's a delicious plant-based meal as-is, but you can definitely add some chicken or protein of choice to the dish.

Buy It: OXO Good Grips Tabletop Spiralizer ($42, Bed Bath & Beyond)

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

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 5-ingredient meal (plus a few pantry staples) you can easily make whenever you need a bowl of nourishment.

Related: Our Best Breakfast-for-Dinner Ideas

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

Buy It: Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Slow Cooker ($25, Kohl's)

With only a handful of ingredients, this colorful dinner bowl is super easy to make. Just combine pork chops, Asian salad dressing, whole wheat spaghetti, and broccoli slaw for a healthy dish with surprising flavor. Then top with sliced almonds for extra crunch.

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

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

Related: Homemade Curry Recipes You Can Make in Under 45 Minutes

This recipe is part salad, part pasta with meatballs on top. 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 bowl recipe for dinner is also entirely gluten-free.

Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and celery don't just add color to this grain-based dish, they add tons of flavor too (oh yeah, and some nutrition). Using chewy farro in this slow-cooker grain bowl recipe makes it easy to let the flavors meld without risking the grain getting mushy.

Related: Slow Cooker Soups, Stews, and Chilis to Fill Your Stomach (Not Your Schedule)

Skip the takeout menu drawer and make this beef and broccoli dish at home instead. With only seven ingredients and a start-to-finish time of 20 minutes, making it yourself is probably easier anyway. Chopsticks aren't required, but will definitely complete the takeout experience.

Looking for a new way to use that tilapia sitting in the fridge? 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.

Subtly-flavored bulgur and chickpeas collide with feta, mint, lime, and lots of garlic in this whole-grain salad. If you prefer, swap bulgur for cooked brown rice or quinoa (just omit step 1). And eliminate chicken for a vegetarian meal.

Related: Your Complete Guide to Cooking Grains in Your Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, or Stove Top

Lentils and quinoa both bring enough plant-based protein to this bowl meal without having to add meat. We used a berbere spice blend (popular in Ethiopian cuisine) to amp up the flavors. Top with radishes or apples for a crunchy finish.

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

Related: Love Oatmeal? Try These Overnight Oats!

Sausage and peppers, plus vinegar and mustard, give quinoa a zesty flavor in this three-step recipe. Mix the ingredients together in the morning, then let your slow cooker do the rest of the work. Serve with shredded cheese (because everything is better with cheese!).

Related: 25 Quinoa Recipes That Will Have You Excited to Eat Whole Grains for Every Meal

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.

With how delicious these burrito bowls taste, 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. Oh, and you can use pork loin or chicken to utilize whatever's in the fridge this week.