Vegan Buddha Bowl (Gluten Free, Easy)

Name: Vegan Buddha Bowl (Gluten Free, Easy)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 16 ounce bag frozen butternut squash; 1 cup rice (cooked per package directions); 1 medium red bell pepper; 2 cups red cabbage chopped; 1 15 ounce can chickpeas; 2 1/2 tbsp. olive oil; 1/2 tsp. cinnamon; 1/4 tsp. turmeric; salt & pepper to taste; 3 cups Kale; 4 cloves garlic finely chopped; tahini salad dressing (to taste)

Published: Feb 2, 2021 by Stephanie 29 Comments

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A Vegan Buddha Bowl is the perfect dish to add to meal prepping. This nutritious bowl is packed with rice, roasted chickpeas, butternut squash and red bell pepper. And topped with the best ever tahini dressing! Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy, Easy.

buddha bowl in a white bowl with silver spoon that's topped with tahini sauce

A buddha bowl is amazing on so many levels. It's healthy, hearty and packed with tons of flavor.

And the name alone just makes you feel all Zen like!

But best of all it's customizable with all your favorite proteins and veggies!

Another one of our favorite bowl recipes is this vegan Burrito Bowl. It's also great for meal prepping!

What is a buddha bowl

It's a one bowl meal that typically consists of a grain, a protein and an array of different veggies topped with a delicious sauce.

A balanced vegetarian meal consisting of several different foods. You can serve it hot or cold.

Ingredients

butternut squash, kale, chickpeas, rice, red cabbage, lime juice, red bell pepper, tahini, seasonings, olive oil and garlic

Ingredient notes

Butternut squash- I used a bag of frozen butternut squash just for convenience, but you could easily swap that out for fresh squash.

Rice- You can use any of your favorite rice here or you could swap out with quinoa or any other grain.

Chickpeas- this is my favorite protein to use. But the chickpeas or garbanzo beans can be swapped out with black beans, tofu or your favorite vegetarian protein.

Veggies- such as bell peppers, cabbage, broccoli, kale or whatever you have on hand would work.

Dressing- I personally recommend and love a good tahini dressing. Some other options that would work well would be a peanut sauce, avocado dressing or a cashew butter dressing.

How to make a vegan buddha bowl

First you'll need to choose a grain for your bowl. I used rice in this bowl. Mainly since I always have it on hand along with quinoa, which would work equally as well.

Then decide your protein. I love using roasted seasoned chickpeas since they add a ton of flavor.

Next pick your veggies. I recommend including some greens, cabbage and roasted vegetables.

Roasted veggies just add another level of flavors. And you can easily roast frozen veggies such as butternut squash, broccoli, or bell peppers.

butternut squash and red pepper chunks in a clear glass serving bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper

Buddha bowl sauces

I used a tahini sauce which is in the recipe card below.

Some other variations I would recommend would be a light lemon vinaigrette, a peanut sauce, or an avocado sauce.

buddha bowl drizzled with tahini sauce and a bowl of tahini sauce in the background

Other recipes to make ahead

Black Bean Quinoa Burgers

Layered Pea Salad

Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Salad

buddha bowl in a white bowl with a a silver spoon drizzled with tahini sauce. lime slices and bowl of tahini sauce in the background

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